How do I install Antero, Connect to an Existing SQL Server Instance, and Create a License Database and User Database?

Follow this guide to install Antero, setup an Antero 7 license database, and add a new database to begin entering equipment and part inventory.

1. Go to our downloads page and choose "Download Full Install."
   https://www.allmaxsoftware.com/latest-downloads
   
2. The file labeled Setup_Antero_7.17.0.exe can be found in your browser's download menu, or you can navigate to the downloaded folder using a file manager and click the file to run the setup file.
   
   
   
3. Click "Yes" on the user account control window to grant permission for changes to be made on your device.
4. Click on the "Next" button to proceed with the setup installation.
   
5. Before proceeding, please take a moment to review the important information regarding the license agreement. If you agree, be sure to select the radio button indicating "I accept the agreement," as shown in the accompanying image, and select next to proceed to the next step.
   
6. Ensure that the box is ticked to create a desktop shortcut before proceeding to the next step by selecting 'Next'.
   
7. Click on the "Install" button to initiate the installation process.
   
8. Let the installer finish its process without closing or canceling it, as this may disrupt the installation.
   
9. At this stage, the installation is finished. Make sure to keep the "Launch Antero" box checked and click on the "Finish" button to start running the Antero application.
   

10.  Upon startup, Antero 7 will attempt to locate a valid license database. Once it fails, the Server Select window will be displayed as in the image below:

    

    11. In the Server name field, enter the name of the computer hosting the SQL instance where the Antero license database and user database(s) will be located.

    If there is an error connecting to the server (displayed as a red icon beside the Server name field), see the most common reasons below:

    • The user performing the update and conversion does not have a login to the SQL instance with the needed permissions.
    • Traffic over TCP Port 1433 is blocked.
    • Other network-related issues.

    12 . In the Product Key field, enter the 10-digit Antero product key provided via email the account manager assigned to your facility or company. (This is sent to the main facility contact after an MSP renewal. For assistance, please contact AllMax technical support at 800-670-1867)

    13. Storage Path will take a UNC path (shared network folder path beginning with two backslashes \\) to the network shared storage directory, which must be accessible by every user of the software. There are a few items that get stored in the storage directory: custom report templates, images, documents - all of which are user files, no application files are stored in the storage path.

    Instructions for creating the shared storage directory:

    • Decide where the shared storage directory will reside. The root of the C:\ drive is a good place to put it, or at the root of your storage or data disk. It can be on the server, or any other computer, but it must always be accessible to all users of Antero, so it cannot be on a PC that will ever be off, or off when users are attempting to use Antero. Do NOT make the share on the Windows desktop of any computer.
    • Create a new folder in the location you decided on.
    • Name it something like AnteroShare.
    • After the folder is created right-click on it and select Properties
    • From the Properties window, select the Sharing tab at the top of the window.
    • Click the Share… button.
    • If you have an Active Directory user group created for your Antero users (recommended), enter the name of the group in the top-most text box and click the Add button.
    • If you do not have an Active Directory user group for your Antero users, enter “Everyone” without the double quotes into the top-most field, and press the Add button.
    • You may also do this with individual local users if in a Workgroup environment. Simply enter the name of the local user account into the top-most field and click the add button.
    • After adding the group or individual users, ensure that you set the column labeled “Permission Level” to Read/Write as in the image below, and then click the Share button. Enable Network Sharing if prompted.
      
      
    • The folder is now shared with the users/group and every user or every user in the group has read/write access to it. Make a note of the UNC path of the network share, which you can retrieve from the properties window of the shared folder. It will begin with “\\”, without the double quotes like in the image below.

    

     

    14. Return to the Server Select window.

    15. Enter the UNC path to the network share you just made into the Storage Path field. It should look like the path in the image above: \\SERVERNAME\SharedFolderName

    16.  Once all of the fields in the Server Select window are filled, press the TAB key on your keyboard to activate the green checkbox, and then click the green checkbox in the top-right corner of the Server Select window. The Antero license database will be created, along with a folder in your storage directory.

    17. Upon successfully creating your Antero 7 license database, a window will appear with various options. Choose the option labeled "Create a new database," as shown below.

    

18. Provide a name for the database and then click on the "OK" button to proceed.

19. Great news! You have successfully created your new Antero database and you are now ready to start adding important assets and scheduled PMs. Please take a look at the following knowledge base articles for guidance on what to do next for your organization.