Networking BookingCenter on Multiple Machines

BookingCenter works in a networked architecture so that there can be 'clients' and a 'server'. This allows for multiple people to work BookingCenter concurrrently. For every PC that runs BookingCenter, you must purchase a new serial number. Remember, if you are selling your rooms online, only ONE PC can connect to the BookingCenter Service to manage rates and availability. This one PC becomes the Management Computer that will be synchronizing rate, inventory, and content with the BookingCenter Central Reservation Service.

Unlock your additional PC

Go to the second computer you want to use. Place the Lock Code and Site ID that were emailed to you into your BookingCenter Software. To do this, open the BookingCenter application. If it asks you at startup to register, then paste the Lock Code and Site ID as they appear below. If your software has not yet expired, then do the following to unlock it:

  1. Launch BookingCenter
  2. Choose Parameters
  3. Click on Company Information
  4. Click on Register
  5. Enter the Site ID, Serial Number, and Password (pasted from the email). Click OK. Your additional PC is now registered and ready to connect to your existing BookingCenter datafile.

Network Multiple Machines Using BookingCenter

Networking BookingCenter Software is easy for Macintosh and PC networks.

For Windows PC Networks:

  1. First install BookingCenter on the server computer and make sure the datafile you create has the correct Site ID, Lock Code, and Serial Number. Remember where the datafile is on this machine. Note - this is usually in C:BOOKINGCENTER/. You have probably named the datafile (the profile of your property) a specific name. Know the name and location - we recommend keeping it in the C:BOOKINGCENTER/.
  2. Install BookingCenter Software on the second (client) machine.
  3. Open the Network Neighborhood for Windows networking and locate the server where the BookingCenter Datafiel resides. File Sharing must be turned on the server and permissions must be set to READ and WRITE for the directory that houses the datafile on the server.
  4. From the File menu of BookingCenter on the second (client) machine, choose Change Datafile. Choose Other from the Change Datafile screen.
  5. Locate the datafile on the server running the management copy of BookingCenter. When you see (it will have a suffix called .df1 usually), double-click it or click Open.
  6. While highlighting the remote datafile from the 'Choose Datafile" window, click the button called 'default' to make that the 'default' data file to be opened by the second computer each time it launches up BookingCenter.

The second computer is now connected to the server’s datafile and is ready to manage the property as well as the first.

For Macintosh OS X Networks:

Since Mac OS X has a limitation to how it handles file locking, all OS X networks must use the OMNIS DataBride on their server in order to securely network OS X machines.  If you are running a client or server on your network under OS X (10.1 to 10.5), then you must install the OMNIS DataBridge ODB. If you are using only Mac System 7, 8, or 9, then ODB is not a requirement.  In the old days of System 7, 8, or 9, anyone could successfully create and manage a Macintosh network. OS X changed that, by using UNIX ‘under-pinnings’, OS X became much more complicated than older Macintosh networks to setup and manage.  For this reason, we recommend working with a network administrator to set your network up, as sharing and assigning IP addresses under OS X requires more skill than most hospitality people possess.  Either get ready for an exercise in networking, or call in a pro – either way, download our ODB Instructions from: http://www.BookingCenter.com/help/network_odb.html

For Macintosh System 7, 8, or 9 Networks

  1. First install BookingCenter on the server computer. Remember where the datafile is on this machine. Note - this is usually in the BookingCenter folder on your hard drive. You have probably named the datafile (the profile of your property) a specific name. Know the name and location.
  2. Install BookingCenter Software on the second machine.
  3. Open the Chooser and select File Sharing. File Sharing must be turned on for the server to see it in the Chooser. Locate the server. Double-click to mount the server.
  4. From the File menu of BookingCenter on the second machine, choose Change Datafile. Choose Other from the Change Datafile screen.
  5. Locate the datafile on the server running the management copy of BookingCenter. Once you see the datafile, double-click on it to connect to the server datafile.
  6. While highlighting the remote datafile from the 'Choose Datafile" window, click the button called 'default' to make that the 'default' data file to be opened by the second computer each time it launches up BookingCenter.

The second computer is now ready to manage the property as well as the first.

If you purchased a second serial number to run multiple copies of BookingCenter on two different machines that are NOT networked, then please read the FAQ at http://www.bookingcenter.com/help/multiple_machines.html to learn how to best manage this scenario.

If you have any additional questions about networking BookingCenter, please read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).

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