Running a DOS App from Win2000

[widawake]

This is a little complicated. I'll try to set the scene:
I'm still pretty much of a newbe with networks.
We have two computers attached directly via network cards and lan cable
- peer - to - peer, I guess.
One PC is running Windows 2000, the other Windows XP (a new one).
After manualy setting the IP address of the 2000 machine to closely
match the XP machine, each can ping each other, by address and by
computer name. Also, I can map to each.
On the XP Machine is an old DOS application that works fine. It is a
major application for our institution (a state prison), which is the
prision's Pharmacy tracking system.
The goal is to get the 2000 computer to run that same application via
the LAN by accessing it on the XP PC. It used to work before updating
the one PC with XP.
Am I making any sense?
Anyway, the DOS app will not run. It starts and then just bombs and
exits. There was at first some kind of error about somthing - database
something - that was not shared, but I can't get that message anymore.
And yes, the folders and drives are all shared with permisssions, etc.
So, any ideas? No doubt you'll need more info, so ask questions, etc.

Thanks!

Richard widawake

 

[Phillip Windell]

If the Application expects to find the Database on "C:\<some path>" and you
are trying to run it from a mapped drive letter like "F:" or something other
than "C:" (which can't be done) then it will fail because it cannot find the
datebase. Also, some Databses (like MS Access) require "Write" premissions
on both the File *and* the Folder or it will fail and you should not take it
for granted that the permissions are as you thought after the upgrade to XP.

The best thing to do is one of these two options:
#1
Move the App to a machine with a server OS (Server2000 or Server2003),...buy
enough Terminal Server Client Access Licenses to cover the number of users
and run it using Terminal Services.
#2
The second option would be to connect to the XP box via Remote Desktop and
run it that way. Remote Desktop is the same technology as Terminal Service
but is less "capable" and is limited to 2 users are one time if I remember
correctly. The Remote Desktop Client will have to be installed on the
Win2000 box by using the XP CD. The older Terminal Services Client (that
preceeded the RD Client) can also be used on the 2000 box as well if you can
find a copy of it.

 

[widawake]

Hi Phillip,

Thanks for helping.

Actually, the Win2000 machine has some form of Terminal Services or
Hyper Terminal or something like that. When running it, it really is
geared for a phone line, but will let you choose a TCP/IP connection
and assigns it a port of 23, whatever that means. Then it asks for the
Host Address. Does this mean the IP address of the machine you want to
connect to??? Anyway, that is what I put in to it, but it does not
connect. There is not much help with that little communication utility
so don't how how to really use it.

Some more info: From the win 2000 machine, I can actually look at the
shared folder that I am interested on the XP machine. I can run the
Exe (the pharmacy app). But it immediately bombs and returns to DOS
which then bounces back to Windows.

Could it be somthing like an ownership issue? How about trying a Net
Use command in a bat file - something like:

net use F: \\XPmachine\main
main.exe

Or is it just a basic conflict betwee win 2000 and XP....?

Thanks!


Richard

If the Application expects to find the Database on "C:\<some path>" and you
are trying to run it from a mapped drive letter like "F:" or something other
than "C:" (which can't be done) then it will fail because it cannot find the
datebase. Also, some Databses (like MS Access) require "Write" premissions
on both the File *and* the Folder or it will fail and you should not take it
for granted that the permissions are as you thought after the upgrade to XP.

The best thing to do is one of these two options:
#1
Move the App to a machine with a server OS (Server2000 or Server2003),...buy
enough Terminal Server Client Access Licenses to cover the number of users
and run it using Terminal Services.
#2
The second option would be to connect to the XP box via Remote Desktop and
run it that way. Remote Desktop is the same technology as Terminal Service
but is less "capable" and is limited to 2 users are one time if I remember
correctly. The Remote Desktop Client will have to be installed on the
Win2000 box by using the XP CD. The older Terminal Services Client (that
preceeded the RD Client) can also be used on the 2000 box as well if you can
find a copy of it.


--
Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com

This is a little complicated. I'll try to set the scene:
I'm still pretty much of a newbe with networks.
We have two computers attached directly via network cards and lan cable
- peer - to - peer, I guess.
One PC is running Windows 2000, the other Windows XP (a new one).
After manualy setting the IP address of the 2000 machine to closely
match the XP machine, each can ping each other, by address and by
computer name. Also, I can map to each.
On the XP Machine is an old DOS application that works fine. It is a
major application for our institution (a state prison), which is the
prision's Pharmacy tracking system.
The goal is to get the 2000 computer to run that same application via
the LAN by accessing it on the XP PC. It used to work before updating
the one PC with XP.
Am I making any sense?
Anyway, the DOS app will not run. It starts and then just bombs and
exits. There was at first some kind of error about somthing - database
something - that was not shared, but I can't get that message anymore.
And yes, the folders and drives are all shared with permisssions, etc.
So, any ideas? No doubt you'll need more info, so ask questions, etc.

Thanks!

Richard widawake

 

[Phillip Windell]

Hi Phillip,

Thanks for helping.

Actually, the Win2000 machine has some form of Terminal Services or
Hyper Terminal or something like that.

It has Hyperterminal (dialup or Serial) and Telnet (TCP port23). Neither of
them have anything to do with Terminal Serivces and cannot be used as a
Terminal Service Client Application.

Could it be somthing like an ownership issue? How about trying a Net
Use command in a bat file - something like:
net use F: \\XPmachine\main
main.exe
Or is it just a basic conflict betwee win 2000 and XP....?

No.
The DOS App has no concept of Win2000 or XP and there is no such "conflict"
that I know of.

Open a command prompt window first,..then switch to the F: drive and run the
App. This way you can actually see the error without the window closing and
putting you back at the windows desktop. The commmand prompt windows will
remain open.

What kind of database is this? There are millions of them,...knowing what
type makes a difference.

 

[widawake]

Thanks again - Yes, I'll go try that and see if it give me an error....

The application is one written and compiled in CLIPPER in about 1994
and uses dBase data files (*.DBF).

RW.....