Computers Connect to Each Other Through a Network

For our purposes there are two types of computers on a network. These are client computers where people do work and server computers which serve (or perform) requests. Servers serve its customers (clients) by performing the tasks asked of it.

When you visit an Internet website the page you request to see is provided by a server computer. The computer you are sitting at when you ask to see the page is the client computer.

Here is a typical arrangement:

Which to Install First? (client or server software)

Install the server software (the Mastertech Database Manager) first. It provides the settings needed for the Management by Statistics Client Software to connect to the server properly.

I just want the Management by Statistics Software on One Computer, What Should I Do?

You install both the Mastertech Database Manager and the Management by Statistics Software on that one computer. It will function as both client and server.

1. Install the Mastertech Database Manager first.
2. Run the Database Manager, which will take you through the steps you need, including activating the software. You will also be given the option of allowing other computers on your network to access the database.
3. Install the Management by Statistics Software.

What if Your Network Does Not Have a Dedicated Server?

The answer is that you select one of the computers on your network to be a server. A person can still sit at this computer and perform their regular duties.

Which Computer Should I Use as the Server?

If you intend to have multiple people running the Management by Statistics Software, which is the case for most businesses, then the selection of which computer to designate as the server is important.

Here are some things to consider when selecting which computer to designate as the server:

1. The server computer should be secure with limited personnel access. Anyone with a Windows Login to the computer may gain complete access to your information.
2. The server computer needs to be running during the hours personnel will need to access the information on it.
3. The server computer must be connected to your network.
4. The server computer should not be a computer which is connected directly to the Internet.

How the Management by Statistics Software Uses Client and Server Computers

The Management by Statistics Software stores your information on a single computer on your network. This is the server. The server is where the Mastertech Database Manager is installed.

Each client computer that you want the Management by Statistics Software to be run on needs the Management by Statistics Software installed on it. If you want to be able to enter statistics and other information at the server computer, then the Management by Statistics Software also needs to be installed on the server.

The Management by Statistics Software connects to the server and all information saved is saved on the server computer. When the Management by Statistics displays information to the user, that information is retrieved from the server computer.