📝 Overview

Learn how to connect your software at two or more business locations so you can share and view database information between them. The software includes Wide Area Network (WAN) settings that let you switch between databases at different locations.

This article covers two methods for creating a secure virtual private network (VPN) between your locations: Tailscale (recommended) and Hamachi (legacy). Once your VPN is in place, you'll configure the WAN settings in the software to connect your locations together.

✅ Before You Begin

Make sure the following prerequisites are completed before starting the WAN setup process:

Each location must have completed the Network Setup process. If you haven't done this yet, complete it first and then return to this article.
- For more information please view the Network Setup article based on your software version:
You will need the database password for each location you plan to connect (if the databases are password protected).
Ideally, have a person at each location in contact with one another during this process so you can confirm IP addresses and test connections in real time.

🔒 Setting Up Your VPN Connection

Learn how to create a secure connection between your locations using either Tailscale (recommended) or Hamachi.

🛡️ Option 1: Tailscale (Recommended)

Tailscale is the recommended VPN solution for connecting your locations. It is easier to set up and more reliable than Hamachi.

📥 Creating Your Account and Installing Tailscale

On the server computer at your first location, open a web browser and go to https://tailscale.com.
Click Get Started or Sign Up.
Create an account using one of the available sign-in methods (Google, Microsoft, or email).
Once your account is created, you will be prompted to download the Tailscale client. Click Download and follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
After installation, Tailscale will appear in your system tray (bottom-right corner of your screen near the clock).
Click the Tailscale icon in the system tray and sign in with the account you just created.
Once signed in, your computer will be assigned a Tailscale IP address (for example, 100.x.x.x). Make a note of this IP address, you will need it when configuring WAN settings in the software.

💡 Tip: The Tailscale IP address is a unique address that stays the same as long as the device is connected to your Tailscale network. You can always find it by clicking the Tailscale icon in the system tray.

🖥️ Connecting Additional Devices

On the server computer at your second location (or any additional computer that needs to connect), open a web browser and go to https://tailscale.com/download.
Download and install the Tailscale client.
Click the Tailscale icon in the system tray and sign in using the same account you created during the first setup.
The device will automatically join your Tailscale network. You should now see all connected devices listed when you click the Tailscale icon.
Note the Tailscale IP address assigned to this device as well.

⚠️ Please Note: All devices that need to communicate must be signed in to the same Tailscale account. If a device is signed in to a different account, it will not be able to connect to your other locations.

✅ Verifying the Connection

On any connected computer, click the Tailscale icon in the system tray.
You should see a list of all devices on your Tailscale network along with their IP addresses.
To test the connection, open Command Prompt on one computer and type: ping [Tailscale IP of the other computer] (for example, ping 100.64.0.2).
If you receive replies, the connection is working. If the request times out, check that Tailscale is running and signed in on both devices.

💡 Tip: If you are having trouble connecting, check your Tailscale admin console at https://login.tailscale.com/admin to make sure all devices show as Connected. You can also try restarting the Tailscale service on both machines.

🔗 Option 2: Hamachi (Legacy)

Hamachi is the legacy VPN solution. If you are already using Hamachi and your connections are working, you do not need to switch to Tailscale. For new setups, we recommend Tailscale instead.

⚠️ Please Note: Hamachi is a third-party product and may have limitations or require a paid subscription for networks with more than a small number of devices.

🗄️ Installing Hamachi on Your Server Computer

On your server computer, go to VPN.net.
Select Download Now.
Run the installation file once it's finished downloading. Follow the installation prompts. You will click Next several times. We recommend selecting the option to create a shortcut on your desktop when asked.
Once the installation completes, press the Power On button within the LogMeIn Hamachi window.
If you already have an account with Hamachi, log in. Otherwise, select Sign Up and create an account.
Select Manage and then Manage Networks.
Log in with your account information.
Along the left side, select Networks > My Networks.
The computer you just installed the program on will be shown in the Non-members section. Click Edit on the far right.
Choose the Networks tab.
Click the checkbox for the network you added on the server computer and click Save.
If Windows asks, "Do you want to turn on sharing between PCs and connect to devices on this network?", choose Yes, turn on sharing and connect to devices. This computer is now in your Hamachi network.

💻 Adding Additional Computers to Your Hamachi Network

Now that you have a Hamachi network created, follow these steps on each additional computer you will be connecting, even if it's one of your locations' server computers. You only need one Hamachi network to connect all of your locations.

Go to VPN.net.
Click Download Now.
Run the installation file once it's finished downloading. Follow the installation prompts. You will click Next several times. We recommend selecting the option to create a shortcut on your desktop when asked.
Once the installation completes, press the Power On button within the LogMeIn Hamachi window.
Sign in with the LogMeIn Hamachi account you previously created.
Select Manage and then Manage Networks.
Log in with your account information.
Along the left side, select Networks > My Networks.
The computer you just installed the program on will be shown in the Non-members section. Click Edit on the far right.
Choose the Networks tab.
Click the checkbox for the network you added on the server computer and click Save.
If Windows asks, "Do you want to turn on sharing between PCs and connect to devices on this network?", choose Yes, turn on sharing and connect to devices. This computer is now in your Hamachi network.
You can now log out of the LogMeIn account on this computer and follow the same steps on your remaining computers.

🏷️ Renaming Computers in Hamachi (Recommended)

To prevent confusion, we recommend modifying the display names of the computers in your Hamachi network. Doing this on each network member makes it easy to tell whether a computer is a client or a server.

Open the System pull-down menu in Hamachi and select Preferences.
Click the blue change... link on the right.
Add -Server to the end of the name in the New Name box on your server computer(s) and -Client on your client computer(s).
Click OK to save changes.

🔌 Connecting a Client Computer to a Server Through Hamachi

Make sure that Hamachi is running on all computers and connected to the network created in the steps above.
In Hamachi on your client computer(s), right-click the computer name that is the server and click Copy Address.
Open your DaySmart software. It will likely not be able to connect to the server. Click Cancel on the Establishing Connection to Database window.
When the operation is finished canceling, click OK on the error message that is displayed. You will be taken to a grey screen that states No Database Open at the top.
Go to File > Database Settings > Connection Settings > Edit Connection Settings.
Select This is an additional computer (client) and press Continue.
In the Manual Setup section, delete everything in the box before the \CMJ (or similarly named SQL instance).
Place your cursor in the box before the SQL instance, right-click, and select Paste. This will paste the Hamachi network address of your server computer. It should read something like 25.119.49.7\CMJ.
Click Connect and your client computer will connect to the server. If the software states that the server computer could not be found, you may have the incorrect SQL instance name on the end of the server computer's address (the \CMJ part of the address). Determine the instance that the server computer is using by going to the server computer's Database Settings > Connection Settings screen and noting the name listed at the end of the Server Name, for example \SQLEXPRESS or \DSI.

💡 Tip: Hamachi is configured to start with Windows automatically, but it must be running on the server and any client(s) on different local networks when connecting your DaySmart software.

🖧 Connecting Your Locations in the Software

Learn how to configure the Wide Area Network settings in the software to connect to your other locations.

➕ Adding a Remote Location

These steps must be completed on each computer that will be used to view information at another location.

In the software, select the Tools pull-down menu and choose Wide Area Network Settings.
Click Add on the right.
Enter the name of the location you are connecting to in the Location Name box. Most people use the street name of the other location, but it can be anything that uniquely identifies the other store.
In the SQL Server Settings section, enter the Server Name using the format: VPN IP\SQL Instance.
- If using Tailscale, the VPN IP is the Tailscale IP address (for example, 100.64.0.2\DSI).
- If using Hamachi, the VPN IP is the Hamachi IP address (for example, 25.98.62.195\DSI).
- The SQL Instance will most likely be DSI, but it may be different (for example, CMJ).
Leave the User ID as sa.
If the location you are connecting to has a database password, enter it in the Password field. If there is no password, leave it blank.
Click OK.
If you have additional locations to connect, repeat Steps 2–7 for each one.

🧪 Testing and Using the Connection

Learn how to verify that your remote location connection is working and switch to viewing another location's database.

In the Wide Area Network Settings window, select the location you want to test from the Remote location pull-down menu.
Click the Test Connection button. You should see a successful connection result.
If the test fails, check the following:
- Confirm the VPN software (Tailscale or Hamachi) is running and connected on both computers.
- Verify the Server Name, SQL Instance, and password are correct.
- Check that your Windows Firewall has the necessary exceptions. See the Windows Firewall in a Network Environment article for help.
To connect to the remote location, make sure it is selected in the Remote location pull-down menu and click OK in the lower right.
When connected to a remote location, a reminder will appear in the title bar of your software.

🔄 Switching Back to Your Local Database

Learn how to disconnect from a remote location and return to viewing your own local database.

Select the Tools pull-down menu and choose Wide Area Network Settings.
Select the This location radio button.
Click OK in the lower right. Your local database information will be displayed and the Remote Location reminder in the title bar will be gone.

⚠️ Troubleshooting

Learn how to resolve common issues with multi-location WAN connections.

Connection test fails: Make sure the VPN software (Tailscale or Hamachi) is running and signed in on both computers. Verify the Server Name format is correct (VPN IP\DSI). If using Tailscale, check the admin console at https://login.tailscale.com/admin to confirm both devices show as Connected.
Incorrect SQL Instance: Go to File > Database Settings > Connection Settings on the computer at the remote location. The SQL Instance is displayed after the backslash in the server name (for example, COMPUTERNAME\DSI).
Windows Firewall blocking the connection: You may need to add firewall exceptions for SQL Server and your VPN software. See the Windows Firewall in a Network Environment article for detailed instructions.
Tailscale device not appearing in the network: Make sure the device is signed in to the same Tailscale account as your other devices. Restart the Tailscale service and check the admin console.
Hamachi showing a yellow triangle or relay connection: This typically indicates a direct connection could not be established. Try restarting the Hamachi service on both computers. If the issue persists, consider switching to Tailscale for a more reliable connection.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Find answers to common questions or additional details that may not be covered in the main instructions.