Even though you may not see or use it day to day, your server computer is an integral part of your practice. Without it, you would not be able to access any of your patient data, calendar or images. For this reason, it is essential that all users in your practice have a good understanding of how the server works, where it is and how to access it.
Before you begin
If you are a Genie Single User you will not have a server computer as all of your data is stored and accessed on the one machine. The information below only applies to practices with a multi-user Genie Server/Genie Client set up.
Your server is a computer where all of your data and images for your patients is stored. It will also have the Genie Server Application and Single User Application (Solo) installed on it, and may be where your lab results and letters import to.
Genie Server Application allows multiple Genie Clients to access your data at the same time. Your Clients will connect to your Server over a network so a strong internet connection for all machines is essential for this connection to happen.
Genie Single User Application (Solo) allows you to access your data directly without having to worry about an active internet connection. This can be helpful if your internet is down but you still need to see your calendar, or you're getting errors on all Genie Clients. Genie Solo is also necessary for performing some maintenance tasks. You will not need to access this application on a regular basis.
Please note: As only one application can access your data file at a time, Genie Server and Genie Single User (Solo) can never be running together.
The Server Computer
When it comes to your server computer, every practice is different.
Your server may be located within your practice, in which case it is likely a computer that you never use and may be tucked away in a cupboard somewhere. It's also possible that you don't have a screen for it and may need remote access or a screen share to see what's going on.
Some sites will also have their server hosted offsite by their IT company and may need to contact them directly to get access.
Please note: Genie Solutions does not host your server nor do we hold any of your patient data or backups. If you do not know where your server is, you will need to discuss this with whoever looks after your IT. Genie Solutions does not keep information on where your server is, as this varies from practice to practice.
The Server Application
The default location for all Genie applications (Server/ Client/ Solo) are as follows:
Windows: C:\Genie
Mac: Applications: Genie
While the above are where we expect to find your Genie applications, it is also possible that these have been configured in different locations. If you cannot find these applications in these locations, and are not sure where else they could be, you will need to contact your IT professionals or whoever looks after your computers to confirm.
When and Why will I Need to Access my Server?
You will need to access your server in a range of situations such as:
- Locked Record Alerts
- Client connection issues
- Data corruption
- Genie Updates
- Genie data maintenance
- Configuring Genie Backups
- Issues with patient images
- Issues with Third Party Correspondence
- Issues with Lab Results
- Errors on all Client computers
Without access to your server Genie Support may be limited with the help that we can provide. For this reason, it is essential that all users in your practice know where the server computer is, who to contact and where appropriate, how to access it.
As an alternative to running Genie Server as an application, Genie Server can also be run as a service on Windows computers. Running Genie Server as a service can be useful as services can be configured to start automatically when the computer is started. This means that when your server computer was started, the Genie Server Application would launch too.
For more information, please refer to our article Running Genie Server as a Service.