Technical Document: Hardware & Software Requirements for R.O. Writer 1.31

Transcription

1 Technical Document: Hardware & Software Requirements for R.O. Writer 1.31 May 2016 Document Revision 3

2 The R.O. Writer name and logo are properties and registered trademarks of Progressive Automotive Systems, Inc. Copyright 2016 Progressive Automotive Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, redistribution, and/or other use of the information, images, graphics, content, and material, in whole or in part, contained herein without the express written permission of an officer of Progressive Automotive Systems, Inc. is prohibited. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Server are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Epicor is a registered trademark of Epicor Software Corporation. Intel is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Celeron is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Zebra is a registered trademark of Zebra Technologies. MMF is a trademark of MMF POS. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

3 Contents Computer Equipment... 4 Minimum Hardware Requirements... 5 Processors... 5 Memory... 6 Hard Drive Space... 6 Write Hardware Lease Program... 6 Supported Operating Systems... 7 Not Supported... 7 Virtual and Multi-User Environments... 7 Anti-Virus, Internet Protection Software, and Firewalls... 9 Peripheral Equipment Printers Static Cling Sticker Printer for Oil Changes Cash Drawer Caller ID Network Connectivity Network Cabling Local Area Network Wireless Communication Network Configuration R.O. Writer Software Options Central Office R.O. Writer epay/integrated Credit Card Processing Suggested Maintenance Database Backups End of Day Processing May 2016 Page 3 of 15 Version 1.31

4 This document describes the hardware and software that the developers of the R.O. Writer Shop Management Solution recommend for shops that run R.O. Writer. R.O. Writer sells computers, monitors, printers, and other hardware devices that have been tested and are compatible with R.O. Writer. If you are looking at replacing your current computers, be sure to contact R.O. Writer at (855) for a competitive price quote. Computer Equipment The number of workstations you require depends on the kind of shop or shops you want to run. Each shop configuration is unique and one of our professional sales associates can help you configure your shop(s) to meet your exact needs. While it s possible to have R.O. Writer installed on a just a single computer, a typical installation consists of: A computer at the sales counter, A second computer in the shop for the technicians to use, and Possibly a third computer in the manager s office. Larger shops may need more workstations to accommodate their particular needs. You do not need to dedicate one of your computers as a server. R.O. Writer runs in a peerto-peer environment, which means that all computers in the network have equal status and do not rely on a centralized administrative system like a server. That being said, only one computer in the network contains the database and is often referred to as the server even though this computer is also a workstation. We recommend that all the computers you purchase have the same configuration in terms of processor speed, memory, hard drive size, etc. This is the best way to ensure consistent performance on all computers. In addition, if one computer fails, another could be rotated into position while the malfunctioning computer is being repaired with minimal to no impact on performance. You should replace your computers at regular intervals. As software continues to increase in size and power, your computers also need to increase in memory and speed. Business computers typically have a life span of three to four years and you should budget to replace them accordingly. It is less expensive to replace computers prior to failure than to have your business down due to hard drive crashes and system failures. The recommendations in this document are based on the state of computer equipment at the time of this writing and version 1.30 of R.O. Writer. Please research your options before making hardware purchases. May 2016 Page 4 of 15 Version 1.31

5 Minimum Hardware Requirements These are the minimum hardware requirements R.O. Writer needs to function properly in a shop environment. It is recommended to plan for the future and purchase equipment that exceeds these minimum specifications. Processor - Intel Pentium (G8xx) processor, Sandy Bridge RAM - 4GB or greater Free Space - Minimum of 6GB of free space on every hard drive Monitor - 17 or larger; must support a resolution of at least 1024x768 Network Card - 1Gbps (suggested) DVD Drive - If you decide to use Epicor catalog and Smart ecat, the computer that contains the database must have a DVD drive because Epicor updates their catalog via DVD. A DVD drive is recommended on all other computers but not required. Without Epicor, a DVD drive is not necessary for any computer. Running R.O. Writer on equipment that falls below these requirements will most likely cause technical problems or prevent R.O. Writer from performing as intended. Processors Processors are made in generations based on changes to their architecture (Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, Haswell, etc.). Within these generations, there are more and less powerful versions (Intel Celeron, Pentium, i3, i5, i7, etc.). More recent generations are typically more powerful and efficient (in terms of power consumption) than previous generations. However, previous generations are also less expensive and may suit your business needs for years. Take the time to research your options. As of this writing, the Intel Haswell processor is the most recent generation architecture and the Intel Ivy Bridge processor is the previous generation. ARCHITECTURE RELEASE DATE CPU DESIGNATION Haswell 2013 Celeron (G18xx), Pentium (G3xxx), i3-i7 (4xxx) Ivy Bridge 2011 Celeron (G16xx), Pentium (G2xxx), i3-i7 (3xxx) Sandy Bridge 2005 Celeron (G5xx), Pentium (G6xx,G8xx), i3-i7 (2xxx) R.O. Writer version 1.30 runs effectively on the Sandy Bridge i3 processor. Processors exceeding this specification ensure future growth but do not result in any additional improvement in current performance. We recommend that you purchase the most cost-effective Intel i3 or i5 option between the current (Haswell) and previous (Ivy Bridge) generations. Processors from other manufacturers with similar performance characteristics may also be substituted. May 2016 Page 5 of 15 Version 1.31

6 Memory R.O. Writer typically has a small memory footprint and does not consume more than 512MB of RAM during normal operations. All the processes a typical computer runs at start-up consume around 75MB. Most operating systems require a minimum of 2GB of RAM to operate. That minimum does not include applications such as R.O. Writer, which means that you should purchase more than the minimum amount of RAM. We recommend that you use computers with at least 4GB of RAM but more RAM is better. The additional memory is required for applications other than R.O. Writer that you run throughout the day. Higher RAM ensures smoother operations today while accommodating the future growth of your system. Hard Drive Space R.O. Writer requires a minimum of 75GB free space and a 7200 RPM or better to operate efficiently. The system does not typically consume more space, but you do need to account for system backups, data for catalogs, and other software you may require to run your business. We recommend that you buy a computer with at least 250GB of hard drive space to accommodate future growth. Write Hardware Lease Program If these hardware requirements seem overwhelming, you may want to consider our Write Hardware lease program. This program allows you to lease the most current computer equipment, which lowers your monthly operating expenses without a large up-front investment. It also enables you to refresh older hardware every few years ensuring that you always have the latest equipment. One of our experienced sales representatives can help you determine the best configuration for your shop, inspect your existing network infrastructure, and provide an affordable package tailored to your individual needs. Please contact us at (855) for more information. May 2016 Page 6 of 15 Version 1.31

7 Supported Operating Systems R.O. Writer runs on Microsoft Windows operating systems. For optimal performance, we recommend that you purchase the Professional version of the latest Windows operating system. Non-Professional versions of Windows may limit the functionality of software that R.O. Writer needs to interact with such as online catalogs and can cause peripherals not to function properly. However, we understand that some shops have existing hardware they wish to repurpose. For this reason, we have tested R.O. Writer in multiple versions of Microsoft Windows to ensure proper functionality. SERVERS (STANDARD & ENTERPRISE) PROFESSIONAL HOME* Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2012 Note: Server not required for multiuser R.O. Writer. Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate Windows 8 Professional (local account required) Windows 10 Professional and Enterprise Windows 7 Home Windows 8 (local account required) *We recommend that you purchase a Microsoft Windows operating system specifically designed to operate in a business environment. Editions designed for home use lack the components required by many business software systems in order to function properly. Not Supported Windows 3.1, Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2000, and any non-microsoft operating system are not supported. In addition, R.O. Writer Technical Support has only limited support for any version of the Windows operating system that is not supported by Microsoft. Due to the limited availability, deteriorating use, and security risks to businesses and individuals, we make no special effort to verify that current or future versions of R.O. Writer work with these unsupported operating systems. Virtual and Multi-User Environments While R.O. Writer operates in most commercial virtual machine environments, our technical support team provides support for R.O. Writer only at the operating system level and does not make an effort to diagnose peripheral connectivity or other environmental symptoms. R.O. Writer provides special licensing for businesses that wish to operate in virtual and multi-user environments. Please contact our sales department to inquire about volume licensing options. Failure to comply with these licensing options may result in the abrupt deactivation of your software. As of version 1.22, the R.O. Writer installation process generates a series of encrypted keys representing the machine, users, and sessions in use. This information is registered with our licensing server to ensure licensing compliance and aid in resolving support issues. May 2016 Page 7 of 15 Version 1.31

8 You can review and verify your licensing information from inside R.O. Writer and you should ensure that the number of workstations in operation matches the licensed option. R.O. Writer does not provide out of compliance warnings or shut-down in order to facilitate upgrades or migrations. Therefore, we recommend that you verify your licensed options to ensure compliance even if your system appears to be operating normally. May 2016 Page 8 of 15 Version 1.31

9 Anti-Virus, Internet Protection Software, and Firewalls We strongly recommend that you install anti-virus or anti-malware software on your computers. However, it is important that you exclude the working directories (and subdirectories) for R.O. Writer to avoid performance and database issues. DEFAULT R.O. WRITER WORKING DIRECTORIES (MAY VARY BY OS) \ROWriterData \Program Files (x86)\r.o. Writer You should schedule the routine scans of your system after hours when system usage is lowest. A firewall is a protection layer that watches information coming in and out of your computer or network for malicious activity and blocks it. Most computers include a basic firewall and many internet security suites include a more advanced firewall. R.O. Writer works well with these firewall systems; however some third party software that feeds data into R.O. Writer requires you to set up special permissions in the firewall. For instance, the Epicor catalog requires that port 185 traffic be allowed. May 2016 Page 9 of 15 Version 1.31

10 Peripheral Equipment Printers You need at least one laser printer. While most shops have only one laser printer, a second laser printer may be advisable in case of printer failure. If there is only one printer, it is usually located at the front office counter. If the shop has a second printer, it is usually located out in the shop. When purchasing printers, keep the following in mind: Ensure that the printer is compatible with your operating system. A Microsoft Windows-compatible laser or inkjet printer is recommended. Printers should have paper trays that are enclosed drawers rather than open trays to keep out dust and dirt. Be sure to consider the cost of toner replacement cartridges; you will probably use at least one cartridge per month. Before purchasing a color laser printer, be sure to check the cost of the replacement toner cartridges to ensure they are affordable. Inkjet printers are not recommended due to the higher cost of ink. Dot matrix printers are not supported. Estimates, invoices, and reports are printed on plain paper. Be sure to have an ample supply of paper on hand when printing these items. Duplex (double-sided) printing is supported and may save on paper costs. Static Cling Sticker Printer for Oil Changes R.O. Writer supports the Zebra TLP 2824 Plus printer and automatically prints static-cling windshield stickers for oil changes. This Zebra printer Uses 2 X 1.5 labels. Requires a USB port. Can be shared so that all computers can print to it. Cash Drawer R.O. Writer can interface with electronic cash drawers connected by a serial cable or USB port that is OPOS compliant. When repair orders are finalized with a cash payment, the cash drawer opens automatically. The cash drawer does not open for check transactions. May 2016 Page 10 of 15 Version 1.31

11 We recommend that you purchase a cash drawer that plugs into the computer via USB and supports the OPOS protocol. OPOS is an open standard that enables Point-of-Sale systems to support a wide variety of peripherals. Computers using a cash drawer require the MMF model: Caller ID If you purchase a Whozz Calling unit, you can have Caller ID integrated into your R.O. Writer system. Both two- and four-line units are available and can be purchased from R.O. Writer. R.O. Writer supports the direct connection version of the Whozz Calling unit that is connected directly to one of the computers in your network. R.O. Writer does not support the networked version connected to your router. The Whozz Calling unit uses a serial port. If your computer does not have a serial port you must also purchase a serial to USB converter that is compatible with the operating system of the computer the unit is connected to. While you must purchase the Whozz Calling hardware, there are no software or maintenance fees for integrating Caller ID with R.O. Writer. The only requirement is that you have Caller ID on your incoming telephone lines. May 2016 Page 11 of 15 Version 1.31

12 Network Connectivity Network Cabling We recommend that you purchase the most current networking cable in the highest grade shield category and have it installed by a profession in order to avoid interference with other electrical equipment in the shop. DESIGNATION DESCRIPTION GOOD Cat5e SFTP Category 5 Enhanced Shielded Foiled Twisted Pair BETTER Cat6 STP Category 6 Shielded Twisted Pair BEST Cat6 SFTP Category 6 Shielded Foiled Twisted Pair The best cable will last the longest in your shop and give you the best performance. Network cabling comes in several categories depending on the bandwidth required. For example, your old telephone line is Category 3 cabling. Most modern networks require Cat5e or higher to maintain high-bandwidth transmissions. In a shop environment, shielded cables are a must. The shielding protects the electrical signals within the cable from interference generated by shop equipment and appliances. Interference can cause degradation in network performance and possible data corruption. Foiled cable has an extra layer of protection, which helps your shop deal with more modern vehicles and machinery. Network cabling is fragile and cables left exposed on the floor may be damaged by foot and equipment traffic, rodents, and interference from electrical appliances and equipment. Cables should be run through a conduit in the walls and must meet building codes when run through the ceiling. Typically, you do not have to replace network cabling for a very long time (through several generations of computers) because cabling tends to have better performance than the equipment using it. Go with the highest grade shielded cable you can afford so that you won t have to replace it for a long time. Local Area Network A network ties all your computers together and allows each computer to access each other and the internet. Computers are connected together using devices called network switches. Their job is to read the incoming data and forward it to the appropriate computer connected to it. Networks are joined to other networks using devices called network routers. Routers allow two networks (such as your local network and the internet) to connect seamlessly. Gateway is another term used to refer to the router because it is the gateway to the other network. Most modern routers now include a built-in switch. We recommend the following: May 2016 Page 12 of 15 Version 1.31

13 NETWORK CARD ROUTER/SWITCH 1 Gbps (Hardwired only) Cat6 STP Wireless Communication We recommend that you avoid wireless communication when using R.O. Writer whenever possible due to its increased interference from other electrical devices, degraded performance as compared to wired networks, and network security concerns. During testing, we have found that version 1.30 and higher perform much better over wireless networks than previous versions of R.O. Writer. However, we still recommend using a wired network to achieve optimal performance. Network Configuration It is critical that your network is properly configured and maintained. If you are not familiar with basic networking concepts, please contact a local computer technician for support and advice. Our Technical Support team provides support only for the R.O. Writer software and not your network configuration. While R.O. Writer can operate without the internet, an internet connection is required to access , software updates, online part ordering from integrated catalogs, warranty registration, and other valuable services. May 2016 Page 13 of 15 Version 1.31

14 R.O. Writer Software Options Central Office Central Office allows you to transfer store data to a central location for reviewing and reporting purposes. This service requires an internet connection and a hosted location that supports the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to transfer the data to. R.O. Writer epay/integrated Credit Card Processing R.O. Writer offers integrated credit card processing through our processing partners. Please contact your R.O. Writer sales representative for a competitive rate quote May 2016 Page 14 of 15 Version 1.31

15 Suggested Maintenance Database Backups Backups are an important part of any business environment. You should back up your data frequently - daily at a minimum - to prevent data loss and downtime in the event of an incident. Whenever possible, do not store your backups on the computer that contains the original data in case that computer fails. End of Day Processing Running end-of-day processing within R.O. Writer is not only a good accounting practice, but also provides the software a chance to do daily maintenance and cleanup throughout the database. Without this important process, your software may degrade in performance and have issues functioning as designed. May 2016 Page 15 of 15 Version 1.31