Peer to Peer Synchronization Quick Start Guide
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Table of Contents 1. GETTING STARTED WITH PEER TO PEER SYNCHRONIZATION ................................................. 1 1.1 P2P - Peer to Peer Synchronization ...................................................................................... 1 1.2 P2P - Peer to Peer Synchronization Requirements................................................................ 1
2. PEER TO PEER SYNCHRONIZATION SETUP ........................................................................... 3 2.1 P2P - Setting up a Peer to Peer Synchronization in the Field ................................................ 3 2.1.1 Step 1: Before Leaving the Office .................................................................................... 3 2.1.2 Step 2: Creating Local User Accounts and Shared Folder ............................................... 3 2.1.3 Step 3: Connecting Peers to the Parent ........................................................................... 4 2.1.4 Step 4: Working Peer to Peer when Parent is Not Connected ......................................... 5 2.2 P2P - Ending a Peer Connection ........................................................................................... 6
3. PEER TO PEER SYNCHRONIZATION TROUBLESHOOTING ........................................................ 7 3.1 P2P Troubleshooting - Unlocking Local User Accounts ......................................................... 7 3.2 P2P Troubleshooting - Deleting or Editing Cached Remote User Accounts ........................... 7
4. WORKING PAPERS SUPPORT .............................................................................................. 8 4.1 Getting Help........................................................................................................................... 8 4.2 Getting Technical Support ..................................................................................................... 8
5. APPENDIX A - QUICKSHEET: WORKING WITH PEER TO PARENT SYNCHRONIZATION .............. 10 6. APPENDIX B - QUICKSHEET: WORKING PEER TO PEER WITHOUT A PARENT CONNECTION..... 11
Peer to Peer Synchronization Quick Start Guide
1. Getting Started with Peer to Peer Synchronization 1.1 P2P - Peer to Peer Synchronization Normally, synchronization requires access to the top-level parent, where sync changes flow from the synchronized copy up to the top-level parent, and then down to all other synchronized copies. Where such access is not available, such as out in the field, peer to peer synchronization allows users to connect to, and synchronize with, an offsite SmartSync peer instead. While our best practice recommendation is to always connect directly to the top-level parent, engagement teams working offsite may not have VPN resources. As a result, setting up peer to peer synchronization is recommended. The process of working in the engagement file remains the same. When multiple staff members work offsite with their own synchronized copy, one sync copy acts as a “peer parent” and shares their synchronized copy with other staff in the field. This way, each person in the field can work from their existing sync copies and transmit changes to each other through the peer parent. This guide provides users with the steps necessary to start working with Peer to Peer Synchronization.
Notes
If a VPN connection is available for the peer parent, then it can connect to the top-level parent back at the office and transmit all of the changes that the peer parent has synchronized.
It is important to note that when changes are made to a sync copy at any level in the synchronization hierarchy, it will attempt to connect to the top-level parent to transmit the changes unless a sync copy has been explicitly selected as a peer parent.
1.2 P2P - Peer to Peer Synchronization Requirements Hardware Requirements Before heading out into the field, ensure you have the necessary network equipment to enable peer-topeer networking.
Network equipment One of the following:
Router + network cables (minimum 2)
Switch/hub + network cables (minimum 2)
Wireless router
Wireless Access Point
Network configuration There is no network configuration required. Because Internet access is not required for a team to work in the field, the switch or router is not necessarily plugged into local network infrastructure available in the field. When using hub, or wireless access point without plugging into local network infrastructure, each laptop will automatically get an IP address in APIPA range which is 169.254.0.0/16. When using a router, the DHCP server inside router will assign IP address automatically in the range configured on the router.
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Peer to Peer Synchronization Quick Start Guide
Other Requirements To prepare for engagements at a client site, the person acting as the peer parent needs to set up their laptop to enable peer to peer synchronization through an external network. This peer parent also needs to make their SmartSync copy available to all other staff members working in the field. This requires that each staff member can:
Connect to the peer parent laptop through a router or hub, and
Access the shared folder where the peer parent is located.
Each staff member synchronizes with the peer parent and only the peer parent synchronizes with the toplevel parent on the office network. To accomplish this, the peer parent needs to:
Create local logins on their laptop for each person connecting to it in the field.
Share a folder on their laptop that contains the SmartSync copy of the client file and give the local logins permission to read and write to the shared folder.
Ensure that a hub, router, or wireless access point and adequate cables are available at the client site.
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Peer to Peer Synchronization Quick Start Guide
2. Peer to Peer Synchronization Setup 2.1 P2P - Setting up a Peer to Peer Synchronization in the Field 2.1.1 Step 1: Before Leaving the Office View Related Video: Preparing for Peer to Peer Synchronization Note: If you are the peer parent preparing for peer to peer synchronization, refer to Appendix A for a printable QuickSheet that will guide you through off-site preparation. Before heading out into the field, create a synchronized copy of the Top Level Engagement File on the Parent computer. This will become the Child Sync Copy which will be shared with Peers.
2.1.2 Step 2: Creating Local User Accounts and Shared Folder View Related Video: Preparing for Peer to Peer Synchronization Note: If you are the peer parent preparing for peer to peer synchronization, refer to Appendix A for a printable QuickSheet that will guide you through off-site preparation. Share the folder with the synchronized copy to users by setting up local user accounts on the Parent Laptop.
Set up local user accounts To set up local user accounts on the Parent laptop, follow these procedures: 1.
Open Control Panel from the Start menu.
2.
Access the User Accounts dialog: Windows XP: Click User Accounts. Windows 7: Click User Accounts, and then click Manage User Accounts.
3.
Click the Advanced tab and under Advanced User Management click the Advanced button.
4.
In the Local Users and Groups window, right-click the Users folder and select the option New User.
5.
In the New User dialog enter, at minimum, the User name and password and click Create.
6.
Check the Users folder to ensure the new local user account exists.
7.
Repeat steps 4-6 to create each required local account.
8.
Close the dialog and the Local Users and Groups window.
Grant local users full access to the sync folder. To grant the local user accounts full access to the sync folder, follow these procedures: 1.
Right-click on the folder and select Properties.
2.
From the Properties dialog, click the Sharing tab.
3.
Click the
4.
Enter the User name of a local user account that will be connecting to your computer in the field and click Add.
5.
Repeat step 5 for all required local user accounts.
button to access the File Sharing dialog.
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Peer to Peer Synchronization Quick Start Guide
6.
Grant all local user accounts Read/Write permissions and click Share.
7.
Click Apply and close the Properties dialog.
Results All assigned users will be able to access the shared folder containing the synchronized peer parent file. The parent is now ready to go out into the field to connect peers to the parent file.
2.1.3 Step 3: Connecting Peers to the Parent View Related Video: Connecting Peers to the Parent Note: If you are the peer parent, or if you are a peer connecting to the peer parent, refer to Appendix A for a printable QuickSheet that will guide you through connecting peers to the parent. Connect the Peers (Child Users) to the Peer Parent by using a router or switch. If there are not enough cables then alternate connections between peers. Ensure that the parent is connected for these following steps: 1.
In Working Papers select Open from the File menu and select Computer.
2.
Select Network
3.
Browse to and click on the Parent Computer Name.
4.
Enter the assigned user name and password when prompted.
and browse to the Parent Computer Name.
The user name is User name: \ Tip: You may want to select the "Remember my password" checkbox to avoid having to repeatedly enter login information on subsequent connections to the parent. 5.
Locate the Parent's synchronized copy.
6.
Click on the file and select the synchronized copy on your local drive.
check box to create a Child
Tip: You can check or set your Smart Sync default path in the General Options Dialog. 7.
Click Open. This launches your child synchronized copy.
8.
From the Smart Sync menu, select to Connect to SmartSync Copy.
9.
Browse to shared folder and select the Parent's synchronized copy of the engagement file.
10.
Click Connect.
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Peer to Peer Synchronization Quick Start Guide
Results After a peer connection is established, Working Papers SmartSync can be used regularly. As a parent, you can verify the users synchronized to your sync copy by accessing Properties on the Sync toolbar. Once your peers have located your sync copy, it will be displayed in their synchronization drop-down menu below the parent file location. As long as you continue to share your sync copy with your peers they will be able to access your file. Only after you disable access permissions on this folder will your peers not be able to access your sync copy. Note that for a peer to work Online they must be connected to the router or switch while the parent is connected. Choose to work Offline if there are not enough cables to connect all users to the router or switch; you can re-connect at a later time to synchronize your copy.
Notes
When using a peer connection, CaseView exclusive locks do not work.
Windows XP has a limit of up to 10 concurrent inbound connections. Windows 7’s limit is 20. If you have more peers than the maximum number of connections allowed then:
Use Windows Server to increase the number of connections.
Avoid connecting to the parent laptop with any application except Working Papers
2.1.4 Step 4: Working Peer to Peer when Parent is Not Connected View Related Video:Working without a Peer Parent Connection Note: If you are a peer who would like to share your child sync copy with another peer in order to work without a parent connection, refer to Appendix B for a printable QuickSheet for setup instructions. 1.
As a peer, repeat the steps in Step 2: Creating Local User Accounts and Shared Folder to create a local user account for the other peers and to share the folder with the synchronized copy.
2.
Have the other peer(s) navigate to and open their own local child synchronized copy created in Step 3: Connecting Peers to the Parent.
3.
From the SmartSync menu, have the peer(s) select Connect to SmartSync Copy.
4.
Have the peer(s) browse to the network location and shared folder of the peer. The path is \Peer_ComputerName\Path_to_Shared_folder
5.
Have the peer(s) select your synchronized copy of the engagement file and click Connect. The connecting peer must enter the local account login information provided.
Results After the peer connection is established, the sync indicator is colored yellow . This indicates that the connection is to another sync copy rather than the immediate parent. You can verify who is synchronized to your sync copy by accessing Properties on the Sync toolbar.
Notes
If you are connected to a peer and the top-level parent file becomes available, your connection is not automatically switched to the parent file unless you attempt to perform an operation that requires this connection (for example, lock down or clean-up). In all other cases, you must explicitly switch to the top-level parent file by selecting it from the SmartSync menu.
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Peer to Peer Synchronization Quick Start Guide
2.2 P2P - Ending a Peer Connection 1.
After all changes have been synchronized to the peer parent you can connect back to the toplevel parent or discard your sync copy by selecting, File | Delete Synchronized Copy.
2.
If you are acting as the peer parent then ensure you have synchronized all changes and resolved all conflicts between your peers before re-connecting with the top-level parent. This ensures that all other sync copies connected to the top-level parent do not receive sync conflict notifications incurred during your peer session.
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Peer to Peer Synchronization Quick Start Guide
3. Peer to Peer Synchronization Troubleshooting 3.1 P2P Troubleshooting - Unlocking Local User Accounts Repeated failed login attempts using a local user account will lock the account on the laptop hosting the peer parent. This can happen if the password for the local user account has been changed. To unlock an account in this state on both Windows XP and Windows 7: 1.
Right-click My Computer and select Manage.
2.
In the Computer Management interface, select Local Users and Groups on the left navigation pane.
3.
Double-click the Users folder in the right pane.
4.
Right-click the locked user and select Properties.
5.
On the General tab, uncheck Account is disabled.
3.2 P2P Troubleshooting - Deleting or Editing Cached Remote User Accounts If you are hosting the P2P parent file then you will need to manage the local user accounts that you created on your machine. If a user account has checked the “Remember my password” and changes the password, the remembered password will cause the account to be locked out on the remote computer.
To remove or edit the cached password: Windows XP 1.
Open Control Panel; click User Accounts under Pick a category to open and the User Accounts dialog box appears.
2.
On the Users tab, click the user that you want, and then click the Advanced tab.
3.
Click the Manage Passwords button to open the Stored User Names and Passwords dialog box.
4.
In the Stored User Names and Passwords dialog box, click the credential that you want, and then click Properties. The Logon Information Properties dialog box is displayed.
5.
Change the items that you want, and then click OK.
6.
In the Stored User Names and Passwords dialog box, click Close.
Windows 7 1.
Open Control Panel | User Accounts | Credential Manager.
2.
In the left pane, click Manage your credentials.
3.
Click the vault that contains the credential that you want to manage.
4.
Select the credential you want to manage.
5.
Click Edit, make the change you want, and then click Save.
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Peer to Peer Synchronization Quick Start Guide
4. Working Papers Support 4.1 Getting Help CaseWare Working Papers comes equipped with a complete online help that includes both reference and step-by-step information. There are several ways of getting the information you need.
Context sensitive help Information to guide you as you use Working Papers is a button click away. Press the F1 key while on a particular menu item, in a dialog box, or any of the browse windows to pop up an explanation of the function performed by that function or dialog. The Help button accesses the same information.
Procedures and reference information When you select CaseWare Working Papers Help Topics from the Help menu, you can access a complete online reference guide for your application. This is where to head for detailed information to guide you through a particular task or dialog box.
Click the Contents tab to see the Help system arranged into chapters and sections of related topics. Chapters and section heads appear as book icons and the topics are represented by page icons. Click a topic page to see the procedure referenced. To Print the page, select the Print icon ( ) The Search provides full-text searching through the Help system for a particular word or phrase.
Resources on the web Our website is rich with additional information to help you use Working Papers as effectively and efficiently as possible. Click here to visit our Working Papers Web Help.
4.2 Getting Technical Support The CaseWare Support Network offers you a wide range of choices and access to high-quality, responsive technical support. Before contacting Technical Support, please consult the online Help and any other documentation included with this package as your first source to solve the problem. Be sure to also check the CaseWare website for the latest troubleshooting and technical information. If you are unable to find the solution, you can receive information about obtaining CaseWare® Technical Support by contacting your nearest CaseWare distributor.
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Peer to Peer Synchronization Quick Start Guide
What you need to tell us When you contact CaseWare® Technical Support, you should be at your computer and have your documentation at hand. Be prepared to provide the following information: 1.
Your Client Number.
2.
The product version number, found by clicking the Help menu and selecting About.
3.
The type of computer hardware you are using.
4.
The software version number of MS-Windows.
5.
The exact wording of any messages that appear on your screen.
6.
A description of what happened and what you were doing when the problem occurred.
7.
A description of how you tried to solve the problem.
Contact us Comments and suggestions about our software and this manual are greatly appreciated. As a user of our products, you are in a unique position to provide ideas that have an impact on future releases of this and other products. You can contact our support teams in several ways to provide your comments. Contact information for CaseWare Support for your country can be found on our website at www.caseware.com/about-us/distributors.
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Peer to Peer Synchronization Quick Start Guide
Appendix A - QuickSheet: Working with Peer to Parent Synchronization This QuickSheet is for individuals acting as the peer parent who are going into the field. Use this QuickSheet while off-site to prepare for peer to peer synchronization before going to the client location.
Overview
If you require more information, refer to Steps 1-3 in Section 2.1: Peer to Peer Synchronization Setup.
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Peer to Peer Synchronization Quick Start Guide
Appendix B - QuickSheet: Working Peer to Peer without a Parent Connection This QuickSheet is for peers who would like to share their sync grandchild copy with one or more peers in order to work peer to peer without requiring a parent connection. Use these instructions while on location.
Overview
If you require more information, refer to Steps 1, 2, and 4 in Section 2.1: Peer to Peer Synchronization Setup
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