PC Files Server Autostart

The PC Files Server Autostart feature provides a convenient way to use PC Files Server for the current SAS session without having to actually run it on a local machine. PC Files Server Autostart features the following enhancements:
  • Starts PC Files Server in the background as needed and stops the server when finished.
  • Does not require the server setup or options.
  • Communicates with the SAS client using a named pipe.
  • Does not transfer data over the network. This eliminates the need for data encryption.
  • Runs independent of network settings and any other instances of PC Files Server.
  • Always runs with the credentials of the SAS client. This eliminates the need for authentication.
  • Autostart instances of PC Files Server are independent and using their own communication mechanisms. This eliminates the possibility of an auto-started server interfering with other servers.
To use PC Files Server autostart features you must:
  • Run SAS on a PC running Microsoft Windows.
  • Install PC Files Server on the same PC.
  • Use a PC Files Server related engine to access either local files or files that are accessible with the \\host-name \ folder \ filename specification.
  • Omit the SERVER= and PORT= options.
  • Avoid using SERVERUSER=, SERVERPASS=, or SSPI= options.
In the following LIBNAME statement and IMPORT procedure, autostart is triggered by the “missing” SERVER= and PORT= options.
LIBNAME DB PCFILES PATH='C:\myfile.mdb';
PROC IMPORT OUT=work.test DATAFILE='C:\myfile.mdb' DBMS=ACCESSCS REPLACE;
run;