How to use the QuickBooks Desktop integration without SSL

Overview

This is an OPTIONAL step if you need to use the integration WITHOUT SSL, otherwise, you can skip this guide and proceed to the How to install The QuickBooks Web Connector guide. 

NOTE: To set up the integration to work without SSL BOTH the server, which has Sugar installed and the computer, which has QuickBooks installed, must be on the same internal local network. 

Instructions

In order to use the integration and Web Connector without SSL you will need to do the following:

• Modify the Microsoft Windows hosts file on the computer that has QuickBooks installed to add a new entry for your Sugar instance.
• Update the Sugar URL on the Integration Configuration tab of the QuickBooks Configuration page.

Note: It is HIGHLY recommended that you use a connection with a valid SSL Certificate. However, there are some cases where bypassing SSL may be the best thing to do, such as when you have a purely internal Sugar server that is not accessible from outside the internal network, or for testing purposes without purchasing an SSL Certificate.

This guide will go through a mock setup for using the integration without SSL.

Please follow the steps below:

1. First get the IP address of the server that is running Sugar. Example: 10.10.99.65

2. Open the Microsoft Notepad program using the “Run as administrator” option by right-clicking on the Notepad icon and selecting Run as administrator.

3. From within the Notepad program click File → Open

4. Then open the “hosts” file found in the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc folder.

Note: You will have to select the All Files (*.*) option from the dropdown to see the “hosts” file.

5. Once the hosts file is open add the IP address of the server and a new hostname to the last line.

Example: 10.10.99.65 localhostsugar

The hostname may be any valid hostname but it MUST contain localhost somewhere in the name and contain no spaces or special characters. It is highly recommended that you use the hostname localhostsugar as it has been tested and is known to work.

WARNING: You MUST use the tab key to insert a TAB between the IP address and the new hostname!

6. Next you will need to update the Sugar URL on the Integration Information tab in Sugar.

7. To do this go to the Administration Page → QuickBooks Configuration → Integration Information tab.

8. On this page set the Sugar URL to the correct path for your Sugar instance Example: http://localhostsugar/

If your Sugar instance is installed in the webroot folder of your web server, as opposed to a folder within the webroot folder, then http://localhostsugar/ would be the correct Sugar URL. However, if your Sugar instance was installed into a folder within the webroot folder your Sugar URL will be http://localhostsugar//

9. Click the “Save” button to save your changes.

10. The integration and Sugar are now set up to communicate without SSL, please return to the How to configure the QuickBooks Desktop Integration guide to continue the installation and configuration procedures.