The Portfolio Server is a powerful catalog server, allowing access to Portfolio catalogs using standard Portfolio 5.0 application software. Unlike typical server applications however, the Portfolio Server is easy to set up and use, and requires almost no maintenance.
While standard Portfolio 5.0 application software is capable of providing access to shared catalogs through standard system filesharing, the Portfolio Server provides superior performance in multi-user situations. Using the Portfolio Server instead of regular system networking yields:
Increased performance in a networked environment
Increased number of simultaneous connections
Connection to Portfolio SQL Connect (software sold separately)
With Portfolio Server you can:
Connect remotely to the server (using TCP/IP)
Manage the Server and Catalogs from the standard Portfolio 5.0 application (client)
Keep Catalogs open on the Server while they are being administered
Note: For instructions on creating and administering Portfolio catalogs for access from a web server, see PortWeb.
Tip: For information on administering Portfolio SQL Connect, see Getting Started with SQL.
Server Administration versus Catalog Administration
When using the Portfolio 5.0 application in conjunction with the Portfolio Server, two different types of Administration are available:
Server Administration: The Server Administrator has permission to administer the Portfolio Server. In addition, the Server Administrator creates, opens, and closes Catalogs on the Server. Client access is added through special multi-user serial numbers entered into the Portfolio 5.0 (client) application. Server Administrator duties are described in this section.
Catalog Administration: The Catalog Administrator has permission to access Administrator level functions for particular Catalog(s). See Catalog Administration.
Portfolio Servers are accessed and administered from the Portfolio 5.0 application via the Administer Servers command.
Tip: Before you can perform any Portfolio Server Administration operations, the Portfolio 5.0 Server software must running on the server machine (see Server Installation), and the Portfolio 5.0 application software must be running on the machine from which you wish to access the Server.
Once a Portfolio Server has been made available to the network, the Server Administrator can:
Create Catalogs to be served
Serve and Unserve catalogs
Open and close Portfolio SQL Connect (sold separately) catalogs
Log off individual users
Set/change Server Administration passwords
Add multiple user access by entering special multi-user serial numbers in each user's Portfolio application (client)
Refer to other sections of Portfolio Online Help for assistance in creating, maintaining, and administering Catalogs.