Installing Spectra on a Network

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Network Assistance - StudioPlus does not provide technical support for networking. We recommend using a local network hardware provider to assist and help maintain your network.

Wireless networking technology is advancing all of the time, but the farther a computer is located from the wireless access point (WAP), the slower the network connection will be. Wireless networking is also subject to interference from cell phones, wireless phones, microwaves, and other wireless devices. These can hamper (or even cut off) the network database connection, leading to poor performance at best and corruption of the database at worst.  

 

If you have a network set up and now want to install Spectra on your network in order to use the software on each of your workstations, follow these steps. You will be installing the Spectra program on each of your workstations and your data files only on your server. If you do not have a dedicated file server, you can choose a designated workstation to work as your file server.

 

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Preferred Network Operating Systems - If you are using Spectra on a network, these are the optimal operating systems:

  • Workstations:  Windows XP Professional / Vista Business or Ultimate Editions / Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate Editions / Windows 8
  • Dedicated File Server*: Windows 2003, Server 2008, or Server 2012

*A dedicated file server is not required to run any of the single studio versions of Spectra on a network (Express, Standard or Professional). The only version that requires a dedicated file server is the multi-location Spectra Enterprise..

 

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Spectra does not support the following operating systems:

  • Windows ME
  • Windows 95
  • Windows 98
  • Windows NT
  • Windows 2000

If you are using one of these operating systems on any of your network workstations OR on your dedicated file server, your Spectra data may become corrupt!  

 

In addition, for optimal performance on a network, please avoid using the following operating systems:

  • Windows XP Home
  • Windows Vista Home or Home Premium
  • Windows 7 Home Basic or Home Premium

STEP 1: Setting Up a Shared Folder

The first step is to set up a shared folder, one that all your workstations can access and write data to. You will need to do this whether you have a dedicated file server or not. This shared folder is where you will store your Spectra data files, so each workstation will be connected to the same data files.

  1. Determine which computer you will be using to store your data files. If you have a dedicated server for your network, use that. If not, choose one central workstation for your data storage.

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Drive Mapping - For better administration we recommend you map to the same shared drive from all your workstations. Use the same drive letter for the shared folder where the data files will be stored. Even the computer where the files reside should use a drive mapping of the same drive letter (not the "C:" drive; although the files may be on the "C:" drive, you will still need a separate mapping in order to be consistent on all the computers).

 

NOTE: If you are using the Spectra digital imaging features this is a system requirement.

  1. Locate your shared folder or create a shared folder on a networked drive on the computer you have chosen.

  2. Then create a sub-folder for Spectra called “SpectraData.”

STEP 2: Installing Spectra on Your First Computer

  1. On your first workstation, go through the normal installation process.

  2. When choosing the type of installation you must select the "Network - First Workstation" option for the software you have purchased.

  3. Type in the multi-user product code(s) for the software you have purchased. If you have not purchased multi-user codes you cannot install Spectra onto your network. Then register your software.

  4. The installation will ask you where you want to put the data files. Select the shared folder and the “SpectraData” sub-folder you created in step 1.

  5. Complete the installation process.

STEP 3: Installing Spectra on Remaining Workstations

  1. Go through the normal installation process on each of your workstations.

  2. When choosing the type of installation, select the "Network - Workstation Add-On" option.

  3. The installation will ask you where the data files are located. Select the shared folder and the “SpectraData” sub-folder you created in step 1.

  4. Compete the installation process on each workstation.

 

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