QuickBooks 2008 and later now use the QuickBooks Database Server Manager. QuickBooks uses a location file, with the file name extension .ND, to keep track of where a QuickBooks company file is located for machines across the network. For every QuickBooks Company file, QuickBooks creates a companion file documenting the location of the QuickBooks company file. For example, a QuickBooks company file named "MyBiz.QBW" has a companion file named "MyBiz.ND". The server manager helps to manage the creation and maintenance of these ND files.

For more information on setting up a multi-user QuickBooks network, see article How do I set up a QuickBooks network or multi-user environment?.

Completing a server-only installation of QuickBooks automatically launches the QuickBooks Database Manager Application. To manually launch the Server Manager, click the Start button on the Windows taskbar, point to Programs (or All Programs), then QuickBooks, and then click QuickBooks Database Server Manager.

The Server Manager window is composed of four tabs: Scan Folders, Monitored Drives, Database Server, and Updates.

The Server Manager keeps track of company files with ND files. The Scan Folders tab lets you tell QuickBooks to scan a folder for company files and create appropriate ND files for them. To add a new folder to the list of folders to scan, click the Add Folders button. You can add or remove folders from the list as needed. When you're ready to scan the folder, click the Scan button.

The Monitored Drives tab is where you tell QuickBooks which drives to monitor for new company files. While the Server Manager is running, if a company file is created or moved to a monitored drive, the Server Manager will detect the company file and create an ND file for it. In the Monitored Drives list, select the checkbox for each drive that you want to monitor. Clear the checkbox for drives that you no longer want to monitor.

The Database Server tab displays reports on the status of the database server. It also indicates which release of the Database Engine is currently being used.

The Updates tab tells you which version of the Manager you are using and instructions on looking for and installing updates to the QuickBooks Database Server Manager.