Installing KC7 with an already existing version of SQL

Installing KC7 with an already existing version of SQL

Installing Kennel Connection 7 with an existing version of SQL Server

Welcome to the installation guide for Kennel Connection 7.  Follow the instructions below to get KC7 installed on your machine.



Important:  If you are installing KC7 on your main/server machine and you DO NOT already have SQL Server installed from a previous version of Kennel Connection, this is the incorrect guide.


Click on Installing Kennel Connection 7 and SQL Server for the correct instructions.

Important:  To avoid any issues, prior to installing KC7 to your workstations, make sure your main/server machine has been upgraded from Kennel Connection 6 to Kennel Connection 7 and that KC7 is functioning properly on that machine.


Installation Instructions 


WARNING:  During the setup of KC7, it will scan your network for available SQL instances.  To prevent any installation issues on your main computer and workstations, you should disable your antivirus software before installing KC7.  Upon completion of the KC7 install and before re-enabling your antivirus, make sure you add KC7.exe to your antivirus exception/exclusion lists to prevent it from deleting the software.


Note:  In order to successfully install and configure Kennel Connection, you must be logged into each computer as the Administrator.


Warning:  Do not speed through the installation by clicking Next repeatedly.  Follow these instructions to ensure Kennel Connection 7 functions properly.


1. If you do not already have the KC7Setup.exe file,  you can request the installer from the following link: Kennel Connection File Request or by going to https://kennelconnection.com and clicking on Support>Request KC Install & Update:

2. Click the Request Update Link button at the bottom of the next page: 



3. Fill out the form and select Both from the dropdown menu at the bottom:

File Request Form
Once the form has been filled out, you should see a confirmation page: 



4. Check your inbox for an email with links to download your requested files. Click the link that is sent to begin the file downloads.


Note: Due to automatic account verification steps, emails may take anywhere from 1-10 minutes to be received. Be sure to always check your inbox/junk/spam folders as well.


5.  Once the files have finished downloading, you will see the KC7Setup.exe and the latest KC7 update file in your downloads folder or wherever you chose to save it to.  Many computers save to the Downloads folder if you were not given the option to choose.  The file looks like this:


KC7 install with SQL Server


Double click the KC7Setup.exe first and if prompted, choose Run. (If Windows Smartscreen blocks this file, click the "more info" button and then run anyway.)


6.  Once the installer is running, click Next until you get to the screen where it asks you where you want to install KC7 to.  This is where you MUST make sure it says C:\KC7 or if you're installing to another internal drive it should be drive letter\KC7. If it does, simply click Next and continue the installation by clicking Next or Install until it finishes.  Then click Finish.


If it does not show C:\KC7 as the install path OR you are installing to a different internal drive, proceed to step 6.


7.  If it does not show C:\KC7, you must change it to show C:\KC7 or whichever drive letter you're installing to.  Click on the Change button.


8.  Click the drop down arrow and choose your C drive or whichever drive letter you're installing to.


9.  You may now notice that the folder name only shows C:\.  If it does, in the Folder name field, simply type in KC7 after the slash and then click OK.



10. Click Next and install.  The KC7 software will now install.  Once it completes, click Finish to close the wizard.


11. Locate the latest KC7 update file you downloaded and double click it to run it. (If Windows Smartscreen blocks this file, click the "more info" button and then run anyway.)


12. Click "Next" and the update will automatically install to the proper KC7 directory. When it completes, close the install wizard.


This has completed the install of KC7 software and it's latest update but you must now configure it to point to the SQL server.



Configuring Kennel Connection 7 to point to an already existing SQL Server



1.  Double click your new KC7 desktop icon.  Instead of launching the software, this will now launch a configuration wizard.  The new KC7 icon looks like this:



Click Next on the wizard to continue.


KC7 install without SQL Server


2.  On the next screen, you need to choose which type of machine this is.  (*This document is for workstations and main/server machines WITH SQL Server already installed.  If you do not have SQL Server installed, this is the incorrect guide.  Click on Installing Kennel Connection 7 and SQL Server for the correct instructions.*)


To continue with this install, choose the second option and click Next.


KC7 install without SQL Server


The wizard will now scan to location any existing SQL Server instances.


3.  You now need to tell the wizard where to find the KC database.


A.  If you have installed KC7 and SQL Server together using the Kennel Connection Wizard on your         main/server machine, click the drop down next to the SQL Server instance name and choose WKENNEL instance.  It will look like this:  YOURCOMPUTERNAME\WKENNEL


B.  Type in the SQL Server user ID:  sa


C.  Type in the SQL Server password:  kc7000


KC7 install without SQL Server


D.  Click the Test button.  If those settings are correct, you will be alerted with a successful message.


KC7 install without SQL Server


E.  The Finish button will now be available.  Click it to finish the configuration.


If the test fails, it could mean that the settings you entered are incorrect, this is the first time you're using KC7 and the KC7 upgrade has not yet been completed OR you did not use the KC7 Wizard to install your version of SQL Server.  Proceed to step 4 if you did not use the KC7 Wizard to install SQL Server.


4.  If you previously used Kennel Connection 6 with the SQL database module and are using the same SQL Server instance for Kennel Connection 7, simply click the Get settings from previous version button.  This will automatically retrieve your SQL Server instance name, SQL Server user ID and SQL Server password from your KC6 settings.


5.  Once your settings are populated, click the Test button.  If those settings are correct, you will be alerted with a successful message.  You can now open the program which will be connected to your KC7 database on your main/server machine.


KC7 install without SQL Server


If the test fails, it could mean the settings you entered are incorrect or this is the first tine you're using KC7 and the KC7 upgrade has not been completed.


If you are using an installed instance of SQL Server from a previous version of KC, you can manually navigate to check and copy the SQL parameters.


Open Computer or File Explorer and navigate to your local C: drive.  Find and double click on the KC6 folder. 


Find wkennel.ini and double click to open it.  Scroll to the bottom.


If you used SQL server for KC6, your settings will be under the SQL parameters section.  Those settings should be populating in the KC7 configuration wizard.  You can manually type or copy/paste those into the wizard.  If those settings are blank, then you were most likely not using SQL Server with Kennel Connection 6 and instead using the MS Access version.  To confirm this, you can open KC6, click on Help, About Kennel Connection.  Click on the System tab.  The Database Type will show as Access or SQL.  If Access, look back to Step 3 and try those settings.


Once KC7 has been installed and configured to your workstation, you will need to map a network drive to your KC7 folder on your main/server machine.  Click on Kennel Connection 7 Networking Instructions for directions.


If you are unable to configure Kennel Connection 7, contact support at Support@KennelConnection.net or 1-888-486-4343 x 504.



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