IMPORTANT NOTE: SQL Server 2016 has not been fully tested at this time. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Data Backup Aptora highly recommends that you hire a professional to setup a good reliable data file backup system for your important files including your Total Office Manager SQL Server files. It is important that you maintain redundant offsite backups and that the backup system be monitored and tested on a regular basis. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS IT (Information Technology) Person The installation of both the server and workstation software is straight forward and very standard. We also provide terrific documentation that is step-by-step. That does not mean that you can necessarily do it yourself. You may need the assistance of an IT person. If you invested in Aptora Mobile, you absolutely need to hire an IT person for help. It is not a do-ityourself project. If you invest in the Caller ID option, you will need some knowledge of how analog phone lines work and you will need some basic electric wiring abilities. This is also well documented. Our manufacturer has also been SUPER about helping companies troubleshoot and problems. General Requirements for Main Bookkeeper Your main bookkeeper should be an actual trained and experienced bookkeeper. They must have a good working knowledge of the accounting procedures in QuickBooks, PeachTree or some other standardized Windows accounting software. IMPORTANT: We strongly recommend that your company employ what the accounting industry calls a full charge bookkeeper. This is a fully trained professional with no less than three (3) years of quality experience using a modern Windows accounting software program. Their experience should include a full range of features including A/R, A/P, General Ledger, Banking, Journal Entries, Annual Reporting, and problem solving. Additional System Requirements continue on the next few pages. Mobile II Requirements are listed on the last page. Please understand that five or even ten years of data entry experience will not be enough to handle Total Office Manager. To avoid frustration and aggravation, your company needs a qualified full charge bookkeeper. Your full charge bookkeeper will be your company s main trainer and the go to person when your staff has questions about bookkeeping policy, procedure, and software how-to. A full charge bookkeeper will be able to call Aptora for technical support without the need for ongoing training. They will be able to have quick efficient conversations with our support staff and get answers to their problems without the frustrations common with unqualified bookkeepers.
Desktop (Workstation) System Requirements Total Office Manager will be installed on each computer that you plan to use the software with. The following are the requirements for each desktop computer (e.g.: workstation). Tip: The Windows 7 User Experience should be 4.0 or higher. NOTE: SQL Server 2016 has not been fully tested at this time. System / Hardware Minimum Recommended Operating System Windows 7 (fully updated) Windows 8.1 Professional (64-Bit)* or Windows 10 Professional (Pro is needed if you wish to join a Domain) Processor (CPU) Pentium 4 or equivalent Intel Core i3 i7, Core 2 Quad, Intel Xeon or equivalent Hard Disk Space 2 GB free 25% of the total partition size or 20GB (whichever is higher) RAM 1 GB (512 MB available)* 2 GB Available* (4 to 6+ GB Total) Video 1024 x 768 16-bit video driver 1280 x 1024 or higher. Dual-monitor for Dispatchers CD-ROM Required For Installation 48x CD-ROM Drive Network Adapter 10/100 mbps (if networking ability is desired) 10/100/1000 Mbps Network Switch 100 mbps 1 gbps (1000 mbps) (requires 10/100/1000 Mbps network adapter) Printer Compatible with most Laser or high-speed ink jet printer Software Chrome with the latest Root Certificates and Updates IE 8, Firefox or Chrome Other Mouse or pointing device Optical/Laser Mouse Standalone email client if email features are desired Internet Connection Email Client Dial-up/Satellite. (Required for updates, lookups, and mapping but is not required to use the core software.) Local client software is required to email appointments, Invoices/Sales/Receipts, phone messages, work orders, etc. Broadband (Cable, DSL, Fiber, etc.). 15Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload. Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 or equivalent *We recommend that you install all of the memory your system can handle. It s currently very cheap and will generally offer the largest performance increase of anything else you do. *Windows 8 compatible but an upgrade is not recommended at this time.
Server System Requirements The installation of both the server and workstation software is straight forward and very standard. We also provide terrific documentation that is step-by-step. That does not mean that you can necessarily do it yourself. You may need the assistance of an IT person. If you invested in Aptora Mobile, you absolutely need to hire an IT person for help. It is not a do-it-yourself project. If you invest in the Caller ID option, you will need some knowledge of how analog phone lines work and you will need some basic electric wiring abilities. This is also well documented. Our manufacturer has also been SUPER about helping companies troubleshoot and problems. A separate server box is often not required but it is highly recommended. A separate dedicated server does not have to be an advanced expensive machine for you to notice significant speed increases. Companies with many users and/or expect a lot of transactions should consider a full blown server setup. Please seek experienced professional advice. Important Tips: For security purposes, many computer security experts highly recommend that the computer that hosts important data (like your Total Office Manager database) NOT be directly connected to the internet. If you need to check for updates, you can always connect the computer, run updates, and promptly disconnect the computer from the internet. If you need to remote in, this can be done from another web enabled computer. When it comes to networking, we recommend the use of a Domain and not a simple Workgroup. Talk these options over with your IT professional. System / Hardware Minimum Recommended Operating System Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2012 (Any Edition) SQL Server SQL Server 2008 Express Edition (or Higher) SQL Server 2012 Standard Processor (CPU) Pentium 4 or equivalent Dual or Quad-Core Server-Grade Processor Hard Disk Space 5 GB Free 25% of the total partition size or 25 GB (whichever is higher) Total RAM / Allocated to APTORA instance 8 GB* 12 GB or more* *MS SQL Server 2012 Express is included in your installation package (if purchased after May 1 st, 2016). This version should be sufficient for many small users. If you plan on having five or more simultaneous users or expect a lot of transactions, you will need to invest in the full paid version. The main limitations of Express and more information can be found on Microsoft s website. *We recommend that you install all of the memory your system can handle. It s currently very cheap and will generally offer the largest performance increase of anything else you do. Solid state hard drives are also a great idea. *We do not recommend that you install your SQL Server database on a remote server (outside your local area network). We don t recommend terminal services, VPN, or other remote options to access your server on a daily basis. These options might work on an occasional basis such as remoting in from home. Our technical support department cannot assist you with these types of IT issues.
Caller ID Requirements Our Caller ID system consists of hardware and software. The hardware is simply plugged into a standard 115v outlet. There s also a connection to your phone lines (for standards phone systems or AKA: POTS) or your computer network for VoIP. The software can be installed on your server or any connected desktop computer. There are no other special requirements. Important Note on VoIP Systems: If your VoIP phone system is encrypted, you will not be able to use our Caller ID system.
Mobile Device Requirements: The following requirements apply to a device that connects to the Aptora Mobile Server. Internet Browser including Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, and FireFox. Chrome is recommended. JavaScript and cookies enabled on the browser. For correct formatting, the browser must support HTML 5 (most newer ones do). Optional: An email account for emailing documents such as work orders, sales, invoices and estimates (proposals). That s it! Basically any device that can connect to the internet with a browser can be used for your mobile device. These devices include iphone, ipad, Android powered devices and phones, Windows phones and others. MOBILE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Mobile Server Requirements Aptora Mobile field service management software consists of two parts; a server and a device that connects to that server. You will need the assistance of a qualified IT person to install and properly setup this system. The following requirements apply to all Aptora Mobile Server installations. Please contact a technology professional if you need assistance with acquiring any of the following: You must own Total Office Manager. A registered domain name (e.g. aptora.com, yourcompany.net, etc.). The domain name or one of its sub-domains must be forwarded to your static IP address from your ISP. A SSL Certificate from a trusted authority (e.g. GoDaddy.com, Verisign, etc.) that is issued to the domain or sub-domain used to configure IIS bindings on the Aptora Mobile Server computer. We recommend that you use a separate computer for this purpose. This is not required but will provide your company with better security. This computer should have the same basic hardware configuration as the desktop computer (mentioned above). Windows 7. You will need the Professional version if connecting to a Domain. We don t currently recommend Windows 8. Internet Information Services (IIS) v7 (or higher). All updates must be installed. Router with Port Forwarding capability (most have this). This may depend on your ISP. A qualified IT person will know what to do. Static IP Address (this may require additional monthly fees from your internet provider). An internet connection is required. We recommend 10 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload speeds or greater. Installation and Configuration from an IT Professional with IIS experience. They must have experience routing external web traffic to a specific computer, in an office, using a specific port. This is not a do-it-yourself installation. The configuration can get a bit tricky. Aptora will only be able to provide limited technical assistance with the configuration of Aptora Mobile Server. It is important that you have a technology professional available that understands TCP/IP networking, domain registrations, and IIS configuration. If you do not have a technology professional available to you, Aptora has setup assistance services available for a reasonable fee.