Does ContactsLaw support multi-user environments, such as Remote Desktop Services?
Background: ContactsLaw normally runs in a single-user environment, where only one user is logged on per workstation. The user has administrative permissions to their workstation and can freely install and update the application and no special provisions need to be made when doing so.
In some environments, it may be desirable to deploy ContactsLaw via a terminal server, e.g. Remote Desktop Services. This is particularly useful for remote workers, where a dedicated workstation may not exist and the remote computer is untrusted or not a member of the domain. ContactsLaw supports this deployment method, however some additional configuration and considerations are required:
Configure multi-user mode
In order to enable multi-user behaviour, you will need to set the MultiUser registry key. This must be done prior to installing ContactsLaw on the terminal server, as it will affect the shortcuts and start menu entries created.
It is recommended that you only grant local administrative permissions to the terminal server administrator. All other users can be standard users. This will prevent them from installing updates, but also from accessing eachother's files or tampering with ContactsLaw.
Desktop and Start Menu shortcuts
In multi-user mode, the installer will create separate desktop and start menu shortcuts for normal users (all users) and the administrator user who installed the application. The former starts the installed version of ContactsLaw without checking for updates, while the latter checks for updates first. Updates can only be installed if none of the other users who are logged onto the machine are currently running ContactsLaw. The server administrator should periodically install updates as part of regular scheduled maintenance to ensure that the terminal server users have access to the latest version of the software.
Users with appropriate permissions may be able to install updates to plug-ins once ContactsLaw has started, however if other running instances of the application are detected then the update check will not be performed.
Hosting multiple firms
Although sub-optimal, a single terminal server can be used to provide access to multiple firms' installations of ContactsLaw. The following conditions must be met:
All firms must be on the same update/release channel and be using the same version of ContactsLaw
When updates become available, they must be deployed simultaneously to all firms
Firms must share the same set of plug-ins
Each user must manually configure database connection settings on first use (access to other firms' databases should be restricted using permissions)
Each user must use the correct licensing identity for their firm (see below)
The licensing identity is a short alphanumeric code which identifies each firm. It must be set correctly so that each user consumes one of their firm's licenses and can communicate on the network with other users of the same firm. In single-user environments, the licensing identity is preconfigured as part of the installation package - however in multi-user mode, you must override it by setting the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ContactsLaw Practice Management Software\ContactsLaw\CustomerIdentity (String Value)
The most convenient way for administrators to set this value correctly is via Group Policy, or using logon scripts.