Your Time to Grow! Alpine Technology REGIONAL SEMINAR 2018

Technology Updates & AlpineLive Steve Fleming Owner-COO (719) 382-8214, ext. 110 sfleming@rams-pro.com Technology Updates & AlpineLive

GOALS OF THE SESSION 1 2 3 4 What does the future of Windows hold for you? 2 Considerations with respect to upgrading to VRPE 10 3 Is AlpineLive right for you? 4 Printers and Other Issues

MANAGING YOUR SERVERS Server upgrades and changes happen regularly VRP6 built on old infrastructure…legacy Client-Server model not compatible Eventually it will NOT work Follow recommendations or move to VRPE 10

MANAGING YOUR SERVERS Licensing Changes, Cost increase SMB 3.1.1 Some applications (including Microsoft Access and RAMS) are not designed to work with SMB protocol beyond SMB 1. GPO (Group Policy Object) changes for mapped network drives Update / Replace causing frequent disconnects and corruptions

Running VRP Outside Recommended Install MANAGING YOUR SERVERS Running VRP Outside Recommended Install Client-Server Architecture RDP-Terminal Server Architecture

Issues related to Client-Server setup cause unpredictable results MANAGING YOUR SERVERS Running VRP Outside Recommended Install Issues related to Client-Server setup cause unpredictable results Data corruption VERY slow processing Unable to run processes Unknown errors Local IT should set up workstation as normal, create remote desktop link to your remote desktop server

MANAGING YOUR SERVERS Antivirus- Built in Harder to control / Predict UAC (User Account Control) changes VRP6 Client / Server requires Run as admin rights.

MANAGING YOUR SERVERS More security Local computer permissions Network Permissions Server Permissions

WHICH PATH SHOULD YOU TAKE? Visual RAMS-Pro Version 6 Visual RAMS-Pro Version 10 Cheaper / no upfront cost Increased yearly support cost Increasingly complex issues / Unsolvable issues VRP 6 is at end of life Higher upfront cost Robust and Modern database Easily Scalable as your business grows Increasing feature set Cheaper support costs Easier hardware upgrade path if leveraging Hyper V

Considerations for Visual RAMS-Pro Version 6 Remote Desktop is the ONLY supported method of running VRP6 Configuration issues are limited to 1 machine vs entire office Generally faster performance-significantly reduced Batch processing time Mitigate corruption issues due to failing Client / Network hardware Significantly reduced cost to add workstation or user Visual RAMS-Pro Version 6

Considerations for Visual RAMS-Pro Version 6 VRP6 Minimum system requirements (See Kayako Knowledgebase) Increasing support costs related to keeping older software operation on modern systems Also see http://rams-pro.com/training-resources (Top Ten Reasons you need to know about Terminal Services) Visual RAMS-Pro Version 6

Considerations for Visual RAMS-Pro Version 10 Required to move to remote desktop environment Central Server that all users log into directly. Microsoft CAL Required per user to connect Easy addition of user / Workstation SQL Server database SQL Server Various licensing options ranging in price – all built into an AlpineLive subscription. Robust backups Batch issues are largely a thing of the past DBA highly recommended to manage SQL Visual RAMS-Pro Version 10

Considerations for Visual RAMS-Pro Version 10 Depending on office size dedicated Server required for SQL Sophisticated hardware should be used for dependable uptime $$$ Hyper-V might be a good solution More than one virtual server per physical server Virtual SQL server and virtual application server Visual RAMS-Pro Version 10

TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR HARDWARE Workstation used as a server Switches in place to extend number of computers. File level backups only Freeware antivirus No IT Support VRPE 10 Install IMPOSSIBLE!

TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR HARDWARE Consumer grade dedicated server Router in place Client / Server RAMS install Automatic system level backups stored locally Consumer grade network hardware Semi Reliable Local IT VRPE 10 Install IMPOSSIBLE!

TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR HARDWARE Enterprise grade dedicated server Raid Array storage system Domain permissions configured Users logging in to server using Remote desktop Enterprise grade network hardware Responsive, skilled IT that can provide QOS agreement VRPE 10 acceptable install possible

What would an “ACCEPTABLE” install look like? $10,000 -14,000 for server hardware to meet needs of a 10-20 user office Powerful host server to run Hyper-V for the VM’S to run on 3 Virtual Machines Needed: Application Server SQL Server Domain Controller

TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR HARDWARE Hyper V server Cluster Failover Protection SAN Storage system Onsite IT VRPE 10 Proper install

ALPINELIVE No 3-5 year hardware upgrade cost Enterprise grade Hardware and Support 24/7 onsite staff watching for issues 8 million last year spent on upgrades No 3-5 year hardware upgrade cost Significantly reduced time support time before resolution Significantly reduced support costs Local hardware can be consumer grade Access from anywhere you have internet connection

we depend on printers for day to day operations For better or worse… we depend on printers for day to day operations

PRINTERS IN YOUR OFFICE Generally work well Reasonably forgiving of improper install

PRINTERS IN CLOUD COMPUTING Once upon a time… Then one day… R.A.A. Reports Route List Work Orders A/R Aging Reports, etc… The End…we hope!

PRINTERS IN CLOUD COMPUTING IT Printer Manager Start-Up Kit? Have a Jam? IT Printer Manager Start-Up Kit?

YOUR TWO OPTIONS TO MANAGE YOUR PRINTER(S) 1 Having Experts who understand the Printer you are buying help you Have Expert audit your System / Install Get them to recommend method of Install and Drivers to use 5 minutes with the Printer Rep can save MONTHS of troubles Alpine / Local I.T. are not experts with printers 2