Run Your Non-HITS® Software Across The Internet Do you LOVE your existing DOS based business software but are concerned or are having problems running it on newer versions of Windows computers, including Windows XP?Or, are you thinking of changing business software but are not ready to change just yet? If so, then "hosting" might be just the solution for you. Hosting allows you to run your DOS based business software on specially configured "servers" that you access (securely) over the Internet. It's just like running your software on your own "in-house" server except that you access your software over the Internet instead of your "in-house" network. When properly implemented, hosting (for all intents) eliminates the problems of running older DOS based packages on Windows computers, including Windows XP. Additionally, we are currently testing technology that will enable the use newer USB printers without requiring any modifications to the DOS based software. Therefore, if you LOVE your DOS based business software or you simply are not ready to change software, then you definitely should contact us about us hosting. Frequently Asked Questions.... Question: My DOS based business software is running just fine on my local, "in-house" computer system. Why should I consider hosting? Answer: There is an old saying...if it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you are having absolutely no problems with your DOS based business software on your local, in-house system then there are only few reasons to consider hosting with A&A.... #1 - Automatic Nightly Backups - If your existing "in-house" server crashed today, are you 100% confident that you have a good backup of your programs and data? (Incidentally, just because you are putting a tape cartridge in the tape drive each day, that doesn't mean you are actually getting a good backup.) With A&A's hosting, your programs and data are automatically backed up every night. And, if something goes wrong with that backup, our servers are configured to notify us so that we can correct any backup problems. #2 - Rapid Restore Of Backups - A number of the small businesses who have contacted us indicate that they already restore their backup from the night before and rekey their data when they encounter a problem with their software and that this process enables them to resolve the problem. With A&A's application hosting, a recovery of your previous night's backup can be performed in less than 15 minutes...far faster than the time it takes the typical business to restore their own local backup and begin rekeying. #3 - FAST Remote Access - With A&A's application hosting of DOS based packages, if you are accessing your software from home via a DSL or cable Internet connection, you will find that you can operate your software as fast remotely as you do at your store. (Yes, it's that fast! Guaranteed or your money back!) #4 - Maximun Server Up-Time - Our hosted servers are monitored 24 hours a day by technicians on-site. In the unlikely event of a problem with a hosted server, downtime is typically much less than what you would experience should you have a problem with your own "in-house" server. For example, back in 2001, the power supply in one of our servers failed right in the middle of the afternoon leaving dozens of dealers without access to their software. A technician was dispatched to the server who diagnosed the problem, replaced the faulty power supply, and had the server back up and running in less than 45 minutes. Now imagine that your “in-house” server were to go down. How long would it take you just to get someone to come out and diagnose the problem, much less fix it? Very high “up-time” and rapid serviceability are just two of the many reasons why hosting is one of the fastest growing segments of the computer industry. #5 - Real-time Access To Multiple Stores - If you run a multi-location DOS based business software package, A&A's hosting service provides you with access to all your stores via the Internet in realtime mode, typically at a fraction of the cost, and with greater security than you can do on your own. Need a sales report from store #2 but you are at your corporate or home office? No problem. With A&A's application hosting, it's just like being there. Question: Are there any other non-HITS® DOS based business software users hosting with A&A and for how long? Answer: Yes, several tire dealers who run an older DOS based package called TireMaster® for DOS are using our hosting service, the first since May of 2005. One of these dealers has multiple locations, and since they started hosting, they report that their software has never run better and that corporate updates that used to take hours now only take minutes. Needless to say, they are thrilled. Question: Is it legal for me to run my DOS based software over the Internet using your hosting service? Answer: Use of your software is governed by your software license agreement, so check that agreement for any limitations. Most DOS based software was developed and marketed before there ever was such a thing as "hosting" so you probably are not going to find anything in your software license agreement that prohibits hosting. From a practical standpoint, it is not as though you are trying to cheat or steal anything by hosting a legally owned or licensed copy of your software. With hosting, your are still "using" the software for the same purpose as you did before. Question: Can (will) A&A help me if I have a problem with my DOS based business software? Answer: We are not authorized or qualified to assist users of non-HITS® "application software". What we can do is restore your most recent backup, which is taken nightly. Question: My DOS based software developer has dropped support for my software. Is hosting a good alternative to changing to newer software? Answer: Most likely yes! If your DOS based software is doing what you want and need and if you feel that by being able to restore your most recent backup you will be able you to resolve any problems with the software on your own, then hosting can be an excellent alternative to changing software. Question: I had to replace one of my computers with a new Windows XP computer and now I am having trouble with my DOS based software. Will hosting help with this problem? Answer: Most likely yes, especially if you are now using a mix of Windows versions (95,98,ME,NT,2000,XP). This is a problem that can usually be solved by hosting. Give us a call and tell us about your network. And don't forget, our hosting service is provided with a 100%, 60 day satisfaction guarantee. If you try it and it doesn't work to your satisfaction, we backload your data and refund your money. It's that simple. Question: My DOS based software provider keeps telling me that I need to upgrade to their Windows version because my DOS based software is not going to work correctly (or at all) on the latest versions of Windows. My computers are getting old and I need to replace them but I like my DOS based software and don't want to change. Would hosting solve this problem? Answer: If your DOS based software will run on our hosted servers, then YES, you can access it with any of the versions of Windows listed above provided you have those computers connected to the Internet. So, whether you have old, brand new, or a mix of Windows computers, hosting may be just the solution you need in order to continue using your existing DOS based software. Give us call and let's talk. Question: My software provider keeps telling me that support for my DOS based software will soon be dropped. I think they just want to sell me an upgrade to their Windows version, which I do not want. I just want to keep using my DOS based software. How can hosting help me in this situation? Answer: This is not really a hosting question... As long as your software developer will support your DOS based software, and given that you like it, we encourage you to stay on support and don't change your software. Hosting actually complements your staying on your current software by... 1) ensuring that you are getting a good backup every night. And, 2) by providing the capability for you to work from home as fast as at the shop. Now, if your software provider actually drops support of your DOS based package, for whatever reason, you have a decision. If you really love your DOS basd software, you have to decide if you are comfortable running it without software support. If you decide to do so, it becomes critical that you have a good backup of your DOS based software and data every night and that is where hosting can definitely help because with hosting, you never again have to worry about making a backup. We do that for you every night. And, should something happen that necessitates restoring your backup, we can do that very quickly. Question: I want to host my DOS based software to get the benefits of nightly backups and fast remote access from home but my software provider will only support my software if I am running it on an "in-house" server. Can you help? Answer: We will be glad to speak to any software developer to explain the advantages to you and why we think it is good business for them to continue to provide you with application support with your DOS based software even when running on a hosted server. However, if your software provider refuses to work with us to help create a win-win situation for you, and provided they have not presented a credible, valid reason for why you shouldn't run your DOS based software via a hosted server, then in our opinion, you should seriously evaluate your on-going relationship with that software provider and decide if they are genuinely interested in you or your business. Question: What other services do I get with A&A's application hosting of my DOS based business software? Answer: Plans are to enhance our services to provide the capability for our hosted clients to "redirect" any printed report to any Windows printer, including USB printers. We also are currently testing the ability to email any printed report as a PDF attachment. Question: I’ve heard terrible things about the Internet with viruses, spam, hackers, etc. Is my data safe on your hosted servers? Answer: We employ some of the industry's most trusted techniques for maintaining data security. In fact, we have even challenged some very smart people to try to break into our servers, which they have not been able to do. Frankly, our servers are probably far better protected from viruses, spam, and etc. than your own “in-house” system, given that your computers are connected to the Internet. We routinely find that dealers do not have the most current virus and spam protection on their local computers. We even find dealers with no virus software protection at all! Let’s put it this way, we have been providing hosting since February 2001 and not a single client has lost any data from a virus, spammer, or hacker on any of our hosted servers. Question: If my Internet access goes down, do I lose access my DOS based software on a hosted server? Answer: Yes. This is one of those things that you have to accept. However, since 2001, we have had very few reports of our clients experiencing Internet outages that lasted long enough to be disruptive to their business. Over all, the advantages of hosting far outweigh the infrequent occurrences of Internet service interruption. Keep in mind that the nature of the Internet is that it is "self-healing". By that we mean that as long as you have "local" Internet service, your transmissions will find the fastest, most direct path to our servers. If a part of the Internet goes down, transmissions are automatically routed around the problem. Think of it this way... You need to drive across town to get to the grocery store. As long as you can get out of your driveway and to an intersection, you can get to the store by using more than one road. With the Internet, the distance from your driveway to the first intersection is your local Internet service provider. Once you get to the first intersection, you are then on "the Internet" and there are multiple "roads" to get to your destination. It truly is a remarkable technology and very fault tolerant. Question: Would you sell me an “in-house” server configured like your hosted ones? Answer: Yes, but the hosted servers we use cost thousands of dollars to purchase. They are specially configured and can handle dozens of businesses running at the same time. In fact, it is only because these servers can “host” a number of businesses at once that we can offer hosting at such an affordable rate. Installing, configuring, and supporting one of these servers for the typical tire dealer would be very cost prohibitive. Also, please keep in mind that these servers are housed in specially configured buildings (often referred to as “server farms” because they can house as many as 5,000 servers or more). These buildings are Category 5 hurricane and tornado rated, are equipped with dry chemical fire suppression systems, redundant micro-filtered A/C systems, and standby generators. These facilities are staffed 24 hours a day by technicians who monitor the equipment and can be dispatched to a server in minutes. Question: You said that each hosted server handles dozens of businesses like mine. Is my data safe from another business on the same server? Answer: Absolutely. The operating system software used on these newer servers provides very solid “isolation”. Your DOS based software and data resides in their own “virtual file cabinet” which is protected using several levels and methods of security. Question: If I decide to host my DOS based software, why should I choose A&A? Answer: We are a 20 year company with 20 years experience with DOS based programs. We have been hosting our own software (for the tire and auto service industry) since 2001 and currently provide hosting services to literally hundreds of businesses representing many millions of dollars in retail sales. Our reputation, experience, and track record assures you that we are qualified to be your hosting services provider. Question: What if I am not satisfied with your hosting service? Answer: You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If you decide within the first 60 days of hosting that you are not 100% satisfied, we back-load your DOS based business software programs and data to your local system and give you a full refund. After the first 60 days but still within the first year, if you decide to discontinue hosting with A&A, we pro-rate your hosting fees and refund you the unused portion. To review more reasons for hosting with Andreoli & Associates, Inc. (A&A), Click Here (Application Hosting). For more information or to order our Application Hosting service, call 1-800-438-4487, extension 32. TireMaster® is a registered trademark of ASA Tire Systems Tire Guide On-Line® is a registered trademark of Pearl Communications |
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