Sharing a database over the local network

Question

We have some plate nesting software at work which I use daily.

Recently, I thought I'd try to get the shared database up and working so the boys in the workshop could use the software on another PC (they could use the plate lists etc and as they use materials its updated on my computer as well).

My PC is running Windows 7, and the workshop computer is running Windows 8.1.

Here are the instructions that the software author gives:

• ProNest® 2012 and Shared Network Databases (pdf)

Where it says to add users to the local group, I can't see the workshop computer to add it. Essentially only user accounts on the Windows 7 machine can be added, and if i try from the workshop computer it does the same thing.

After spending hours reading forums etc I have found that the above instructions assume you have active directory (which we don't have).

The version of SQL is SQL Server 2008 (MSSQL10).

Can I somehow share this database over the network between 2 computers?

The contents of the ini file are:

[Database Connection]
Provider=SQLNCLI10
Initial Catalog=ProNest10
Integrated Security=SSPI
Data Source=.\MTCSOFTWARE
[Database History Connection]
Provider=SQLNCLI10
Initial Catalog=PN10History
Integrated Security=SSPI
Data Source=.\MTCSOFTWARE

Any input/web links on possibly getting this working would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

First off check to see if your shop computer and office computer are on the same domain/homegroup. You'll at the very least need to be on the same network/subnet in order to join them together.

It sounds like the computers are not on the same network or at the very least not visible to you. On your office computer, create the GROUP. Only when the computers can see/talk to each other can you add users from that machine to the GROUP so they can access the database.