Re-establishing a connection using TCP/IP settings

These errors occur when QuickBooks is unable to communicate with the server.

To resolve this issue, ensure that all computers, including the server, are configured correctly, and then re-establish a connection.

To re-establish a connection, find the name of the computer hosting the company file, and then verify the host name and IP address from the computer receiving the error.

Important: In this section, when entering the values for an address (the host name and the IP address of the host computer), do not enter the brackets shown in the examples. H202 H303 H505, . Brackets ([ ]) and carets (< >) indicate where to enter your values. H202 H303 H505, . For example, if the instruction says to enter ping [hostname], enter ping xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is your host name).

Find the computer name of the computer hosting the company file:

1. Open the Run window:
   • Windows 7 and Vista:
     1. Click the Windows Start button and choose All Programs.
     2. In the list of programs, select Accessories.
     3. Choose Run.
   • Windows XP: Click the Windows Start button and choose Run.
2. In the Open field, enter cmd and press Enter to open an MS-DOS window.
3. At the prompt, enter ipconfig/all, and press Enter.
4. Under Windows IP Configuration, locate and write down the Host Name.
5. Under Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection, locate and write down the IP Address.
6. Enter Exit and press Enter to close the MS-DOS window.

Verify (ping) the host name and IP address from the client computer receiving the error:

1. Ensure that QuickBooks and the Database Server Manager are not running on the hosting computer.
2. Open the Run window (step 1) and open an MS-DOS window (step 2).
3. At the prompt, enter ping [host name]. H202 H303 H505, . For the host name, enter the name from step 4 in the Find the computer name of the computer hosting the company file section.
4. Press Enter to force the host name to associate with an IP address.
   
   Important: If the host name and the IP address do not match the information in the Find the computer name of the computer hosting the company file section, there might be a Domain Name System (DNS) issue on the network, or the host machine might have more than one network card. H202 H303 H505, . If there are two local area connections, this computer has more than one network card, which could cause this issue.
   
   The display should read: pinging hostname [xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx] with 32 bytes of data, where [xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx] is the address that was associated with the host name. H202 H303 H505, . Ping responses are:
   
   • Reply from <address>, if it finds the computer you are pinging on the network.
   • Request timed out, if it cannot find the computer you are pinging. H202 H303 H505, . Contact an IT specialist to determine why the network is not accessible.
     
     
5. Enter Exit and press Enter to close the MS-DOS window.
6. Start QuickBooks and open the company file.
7. If the server was detected, but an error occurs when you open the company file on the client computer, this could indicate that the workstation does not recognize the server's IP address. Use the following steps to resolve this: 
   1. Close QuickBooks.
   2. Right click on the Start menu and choose Explore.
   3. Click on My Computer in the left pane.
   4. Double click on the C drive in the Right pane.
   5. Double click on the Windows folder on the Right pane.
   6. Double click on the System32 folder.
   7. Double click on the Drivers folder.
   8. Double click on the ETC folder.
   9. Open the HOSTS file using Notepad.
   10. In the HOSTS file type the IP address of the server after the last IP address listed.
   11. Hit the tab key once then type the name of the server.
   12. Go to the File menu and choose save.
   13. Then open Quickbooks.

If issues continue to occur, use telnet to determine the status of ports needed by QuickBooks:

1. Open the Run window (step 1) and open an MS-DOS window (step 2).
2. Determine if a port is blocked (a blank screen confirms a working port and a message confirms that the port is blocked):
3. • QuickBooks 2009 and later: Enter telnet [IP address of the host computer] 80 and press Enter. H202 H303 H505, . Repeat this process for ports 8019, 56719, and 55333 through 55337.
     
   • QuickBooks 2008: Enter telnet [IP address of the host computer] 10180 and press Enter.
     
   • QuickBooks 2007: Enter telnet [IP address of the host computer] 10172 and press Enter.
   • QuickBooks 2006: Enter telnet [IP address of the host computer] 10160 and press Enter.

If the port is blocked, hosting could be disabled or a firewall might be blocking access to the port. H202 H303 H505, . If a firewall is in use, an IT specialist can enter an exception on the firewall software of the host computer for those ports that are blocked. H202 H303 H505, . After adding the exceptions for the ports, start QuickBooks.