VENTANA Connect Middleware Solution. Deliver diagnostic confidence Information Technology FAQ

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Loraine Gardner
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1 VENTANA Connect Middleware Solution Deliver diagnostic confidence Information Technology FAQ

2 VENTANA Connect Middleware Solution Information Technology FAQ Table of Contents Section I Product Overview and Prerequisites...3 Architecture...4 Section II System Requirements Section III Operating Environment...8 Section IV Database Backups and Maintenance...9 Purpose The purpose of this document is to help IT teams understand the requirements and impact of running VENTANA Connect middleware. The content of the FAQ provides a starting point for in-depth technical discussions between our company, your lab personnel, and your IT staff. Introduction The FAQ should be used in conjunction with the materials provided by our field personnel and account executive to understand how VENTANA systems and your Laboratory Information System (LIS) integrate with VENTANA Connect middleware in your environment. Any questions, comments, or concerns should be directed to your Roche account executive. Section V Software...10 Section VI Network

3 Section I Product overview and prerequisites What is the VENTANA Connect middleware solution? VENTANA Connect middleware offers a middleware solution that will provide universal LIS connectivity for Roche s VENTANA products within the histology lab. VENTANA Connect middleware is the single interface point for data routing between Laboratory Information Systems and the VENTANA product portfolio. The intended use of the VENTANA Connect middleware application is the following: Connect VENTANA instruments to Roche customers LIS system(s) through a single middleware application Receive order information from the customer s LIS and route this to appropriate VENTANA instrumentation Route VENTANA instrument-generated data/information (status updates, reports, analysis data, etc.) back to the customer s LIS Route VENTANA instrument-generated data between VENTANA instruments What are the system and infrastructure prerequisites for VENTANA Connect middleware? We highly recommend that the VENTANA Connect middleware server and operating environment be incorporated into your IT organization s regular maintenance programs for hardware, operating systems, patching, and system monitoring. The VENTANA Connect middleware solution requires the following for normal use in the Anatomical Pathology (AP) laboratory: HL7 order interface from the LIS Unique identifiers for the cases, specimens, cassettes and slides within the lab order Remote connectivity to the VENTANA Connect middleware server for ongoing support through CareGiver remote support 3

4 Section I Architecture What is the architecture for the VENTANA Connect middleware solution? The VENTANA Connect middleware solution is a web-browserbased application that is housed on a server in your IT data center. It connects your LIS with VENTANA software and instrument platforms over TCP/IP. VENTANA Connect middleware is extremely scalable, capable of supporting multiple LISs, VENTANA VANTAGE systems, VENTANA Virtuoso systems and VENTANA primary staining instruments, as well as multiple instances of VENTANA System Software (VSS). Through simple configuration, VENTANA Connect middleware can meet the needs of complex, multisite laboratories. 4

5 Section II System requirements Server VENTANA Connect middleware may be installed on a server that we provide, or in your own virtual environment. What are the VENTANA Connect middleware hardware specifications for the server solution that Roche provides? We can provide a rack-mounted application server for your data center. Below are the minimum specifications, as well as the specifications for the current Roche-provided server offering. Please note that these minimum specifications will change over time. VENTANA Connect Server Specifications* Minimum supported Current offering - HP ProLiant DL380p, G9 Processor Manufacturer N/A Intel Xeon Sockets N/A 2 Cores Four Six Speed 2.0 GHz 2.4 GHz Memory Size 12 GB 32 GB Speed 1333 MHz 2133 MHz Storage Controller Type N/A HP Smart Array P440ar RAID level Hard Drives Type N/A SAS Number of drives 1 4 Size 120 GB 300 GB Speed N/A 15K RPM System Software Windows Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit SP1 Windows Server 2012 R2 64-bit Virtual Machine Virtual environment is required VMWare ESXi 5.1 Misc. Rack height N/A 2U Network adapter 100 Mbps Full Duplex HP Ethernet 1 GbE 4-port 331 FLR Adapter Optical drive N/A DVD Ports N/A 1 USB, 1 VGA (front) Power N/A 2 X 800 W * Minimum specifications shown above. Actual specifications and model number may be greater than posted minimums. 5

6 Server (continued) What are the requirements for a self-provided VMWare ESX virtual environment? The VMWare system must be configured with the following minimum specifications and you must provide the required operating system license. The HealthShare database will automatically be installed with VENTANA Connect middleware and the license will be provided through Roche. Virtual Machine Virtual Machine VMWare ESXi 5.1 Processor Memory Disk Space Operating System 4 virtual processors at 2.0 GHz or more 12 GB or more 120 GB or more Windows Server 2012 R2 64-bit Further details on the virtual machine requirements will be provided during the implementation as appropriate. Can we use our standard server configuration for the VENTANA Connect middleware server? We understand that you may have policies that state a preference to limit the variance in operating system configuration that you are required to support. VENTANA Connect middleware does allow for various disk/drive configurations. Please specify any lab-specific requirements early in the implementation, so your Roche specialist can build a plan to meet your needs. We will do our best to accommodate your requests. Please understand that the VENTANA Connect middleware solution has been validated as a complete system and we may not be able to accommodate other configurations or requirements. Can I install VENTANA Connect middleware on the same server as VANTAGE workflow soluton? Yes, installing VANTAGE workflow solution and VENTANA Connect middleware on the same server, in separate virtual machines, is a supported configuration. Can I install VENTANA Connect middleware on the same server as Virtuoso software? No, this scenario is not allowed due to network port and system-level component compatibility issues. Can I install VENTANA Connect middleware on the same computer as VENTANA System Software (VSS)? No, this scenario is not allowed due to application incompatibilities and support considerations. 6

7 Client In general, the web interface will only be used by Roche personnel for configuration and troubleshooting purposes. The user interface for VENTANA Connect middleware requires exact specifications for the monitor/display size and the web browser. If a lab or hospital technician will be accessing VENTANA Connect middleware, please ensure their computer meets the requirements below. VENTANA Connect Client Specifications Processor RAM HDD Network Operating System Pentium Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz 4 GB 1 HDD 40 Gb 10/100 Ethernet Windows 7 SP1 (32-bit) Windows 8 (64-bit) Web Browser Monitor VENTANA Connect Internet Explorer 9, 10, or 11 VENTANA Connect Internet Explorer 9 or pixels with 65k colors 7

8 Section III Operating environment What system maintenance is required for VMWare? Roche does not prescribe any VMWare maintenance. All labprescribed VMWare system maintenance is performed by your IT personnel. What Windows Server operating system components are required for VENTANA Connect middleware? The Windows Server operating system is configured with the.net Framework, but without Internet Information Services (IIS). If you are installing.net for Windows Server 2008, you must also remove IIS. In addition, you must activate Large Page configuration in Windows to optimize the use of the server s physical memory. What operating system maintenance is required for the server and workstations? The operating system maintenance is performed by your IT personnel. VENTANA Connect middleware may be used with WSUS, SMS, or any other Microsoft Windows softwarecompliant monitoring tool to manage the Microsoft Windows software update process. Windows service packs should not be installed unless advised by Roche. Who owns the operating system and database licenses? All Microsoft Windows operating system and InterSystems HealthShare database licenses are owned by your organization. Can the VENTANA Connect middleware solution messaging be secured with an SSL certificate? Yes, VENTANA Connect middleware offers you the ability to secure the web traffic with your SSL certificate. During the installation process, Roche will work with your IT department to install and configure your SSL certificate on the VENTANA Connect server and connecting systems. 8

9 Section IV Database backups and maintenance What database system is used for the VANTAGE application? VENTANA Connect middleware uses InterSystems HealthShare (Caché) to provide secure, reliable and scalable database support. The database system is installed and configured during VENTANA Connect middleware installation. What database maintenance is required for the VANTAGE application? The HealthShare database maintenance is performed using a series of automated scripts and jobs that are provided by Roche. What type of data is stored in the system? VENTANA Connect middleware stores case information required to support the histology workflow within other Roche software and instrument platforms. This includes patient, case, specimen, block, slide, and test/stain information. VENTANA Connect middleware does not store patient information used for diagnosis or treatment. What are the backup requirements for VENTANA Connect middleware? Roche does not have any strict requirements for backing up the system. The backup policy is based on the internal HealthShare database backup system. The system enables the creation of backups for databases, in some cases bigger than 500 Gb. Your Roche IT specialist will work with you to implement the best backup solution for your lab. Some of the backup strategies enabled by HealthShare Foundation are: External Backup External backup is the recommended best practice for backing up Caché. It integrates easily with your existing system backup procedures and typically allows for a zero downtime backup. It is used primarily with technology that quickly creates a functional snapshot of a logical disk volume. Caché Online Backup Caché implements a proprietary backup mechanism designed to avoid downtime to production system users. Caché online backup, which only backs up data in CACHE.DAT files, captures all blocks in the databases that are allocated for data. There are different types of online backups, which you can combine to manage trade-offs between the size of the backup output and the time required to recover from the backup: Full Backup: writes an image of all database blocks on the destination device. Cumulative Backup: writes an image of all blocks modified since the last full backup. It must be used in combination with the first option. Incremental Backup: writes an image of all blocks modified since the last backup, no matter what type. 9

10 Section V Security and anti-virus software Section VI Network What third-party software is required with the VANTAGE workflow solution? Due to the variance of solutions that will be encountered at each site, we recommend that your IT staff installs backup, anti-virus, and system monitoring software to ensure the VENTANA Connect middleware solution complies with your policies and procedures. Are there any directories that must be excluded from virus scanning? The HealthShare and Apache paths must always be removed from the antivirus software real-time protection agent configuration. The default paths for exclusion are: C:\Intersystems C:\Program Files\Apache Group C:\Program Files\ Apache Foundation Software What type of encryption is supported in VENTANA Connect middleware? The host connections can be configured to enable SSL/ certificate encryption. The database can also be encrypted using the InterSystems HealthShare management tools. Please note that database encryption does impact the overall system performance. It is the hospital IT team s responsibility to provide the certificates and manage the renewal process. How many IP addresses are required for the VENTANA Connect server? Roche-provided server solution: (2) IP addresses one for the VMWare Operating System and one for the Windows Operating System Lab-provided virtual server solution: (1) IP address for the Windows Operating System Can VENTANA Connect middleware be installed in a domain? Yes, VENTANA Connect middleware utilizes an internal role-based authentication scheme and is not impacted by the Windows security structure. A domain or workgroup can be used, depending on your requirements. Does VENTANA Connect middleware support static or DHCP IP addressing? The VENTANA Connect server must have a static IP address to ensure that other systems are able to make consistent connections. Can the VENTANA Connect server be placed on a wireless network? Currently, VENTANA Connect middleware may only be used on a wired network. Is VENTANA Connect middleware compatible with group policies? Restrictive policies should be reviewed by our technical team to ensure a smooth installation and minimize ongoing maintenance requirements. 10

11 What ports are used by VENTANA Connect middleware? The ports used are entirely determined by the lab and rely on the configurations of the connecting systems, like the LIS, VANTAGE software server or Virtuoso software server. VENTANA Connect middleware server does come preconfigured with the typical systems ports used by other Roche platforms, but these can be changed to suit your lab s needs. Some Roche systems will connect via web services and use port 80 for standard connections or port 443 for secure connections. By default, VENTANA Connect middleware is preconfigured with the following connections: Listens for messages from the LIS on port and sends messages back to the LIS on port Configured to send messages to VANTAGE software on port 5555 and receive messages back on port Configured to send messages to Virtuoso software 5.5 on port 4100 and receive messages back on port Configured to send messages to VIP on port and receive messages back on port (This configuration only applies to stainer-only implementations.) Virtuoso software 5.6, the VENTANA SYMPHONY system, and the VENTANA HE 600 system all utilize web services connections on port 80 or port

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VANTAGE workflow solution. Information technology FAQ

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