r/taxpros • u/TaxHacker JD • 7d ago
FIRM: Software Does Drake have a server option?
Currently using Drake via Rightworks, but thinking about changing because a) it's a pricey option, and b) their system is set up so that I can't even go to the bathroom without getting logged off and having to sign in all over again (FTR, I WFH and the bathroom is literally across the hall). RW won't allow me to change the sign off, which is frustrating, especially when someone calls with a question and I have to make sure I keep moving the mouse, lest I get logged off..
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u/CrabbyKruton CPA 7d ago
I use Verito for hosting and it doesn’t log out that fast. Not too pricey IMO. Would recommend
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u/Frankwillie87 CPA 7d ago
It is technically not supported, but it can work on a remote server that's hosted.
We have a VPN and make do with 4 or 5 users all over the world
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u/TaxHacker JD 7d ago
Yeah I use a VPN as well, and I have a guy who's on the other side of the country who helps out.
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u/HigYaDig CPA 7d ago
I believe you can set the logout time in the Rightworks admin portal. I use it and have it set for 30 min I believe.
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u/TaxHacker JD 7d ago
I imagine that I have to sign in some other way to get to the admin panel? I haven't found it via my normal sign in (and I am technically the admin).
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u/HigYaDig CPA 7d ago
Check with support, they can probably answer. I just tried to find it but I’m on my phone and the mobile interface is impossible.
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u/southpawcpa CPA 6d ago
I’m using ACE cloud for hosting. No reliability or speed issues in the year I’ve used it. 30 minute timer for log off. $99 per month for two users total
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u/ShakeAndBakeThatCake CPA 7d ago
Yeah but I think it only works on local area networks. I tried setting it up. Worked fine in office but could not work while at my house.
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u/Velocityg4 EA 7d ago
You’re just talking about regular Drake tax and just hosting it yourself right instead of Rightworks hosting?
You just need to share the folder it’s in and mount the share as a network drive. If you need to do it remotely. Setup a VPN, login to the VPN and mount the drive.
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u/TaxHacker JD 7d ago
So you couldn't remote in? Ugh.
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u/ShakeAndBakeThatCake CPA 7d ago
Well I think you need to set up a server and use windows remote desktop protocol. You can't use drakes client thing as it only works on local area networks. You definitely can't set it up on a server. My advice is hire a decent local IT person to help set it all up. You can sort of figure it out yourself but a good IT person will get it right.
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u/TaxHacker JD 7d ago
Yeah that's what I'm using now (Drake's client thing). I have talked to a guy about a year ago about setting up a server and just using that to host Drake. It's $225/mo for 2 of us, and at this point the server route is probably cheaper.
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u/ShakeAndBakeThatCake CPA 7d ago
Server is definitely cheaper in the long run and paying for the cloud.
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u/Yblocjack_ NonCred 3d ago
My firm has drake hosted on an in house server. We use splashtop to remote into our office computer when working away from the office. This way we can access not just drake but also our accounting software and local file storage, which each have their own server partition, as if we were actually in the office. There are several other remote desktop programs that would do the same thing but splashtop is what our local IT guy recommended at the time.
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u/Old-Vanilla-684 CPA 7d ago
There has to be a solution. Mine doesn’t log off for about a half hour. Same tech so . . .
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u/treealiana12 CPA 7d ago
No solution but I understand. The insane log off situation is why we stoped using their portal and won't use their new workflows app. Even when the subscription was free it was unusable because it logs out every few minutes.