Aloha Server

[Shadow9574]

Hey, our warenty runs out in about 5 days. We have been thinking it over and instead of paying 7k for a warrenty which we may never use, were thinking about doing it our self. We were just going to make anoter sever and clone the drives. Do you think that copy all the info onto another computer incase our server crashes is a good idea.

Rather than spend 7k on the hardware warrenty, just make a new server. Is there alot of work that goes into setting up the server. We have the aloha install cd, we would just have to take the hardware key off the main one and use it on ours if it fails. Is this task worth spending 7k when we may only need to replace a printer.

what would some of the hard taks or things that i may not be taking into consideration? ... Thanks

 

[AdamDR]

7k???? are you talking about dollars?

Where do you live? I would love to open a business if someone is gonna pay that much!!

I wouldn't buy the warranty, buy a new server, have them reload Aloha. If you want a proper server, get a RAID setup. Then setup some sort of backup system for your sales data.

All in all, it should only take about 3-5 hours to get all of this done....definetely not worth 7k.

I would not attempt to do it yourself, you'll just end up calling your dealer.

 

[AkamaiAloha]

Well, I guess price is all relative. Obviously they aren't offering you a policy that just covers your server. It's probably a warranty for hardware and software coverage on all your computers. So, if you've got 4-6 terminals, that might not be as unreasonable as it originally sounds.

I think setting up a server from scratch might be more trouble than it's worth. You've seen first hand just how hard it is just to setup an Aloha demo!

FWIW--cloning the drives and sticking it in a new server can go over like a lead ballon if the hardware isn't the same.

I am a little confused, though, as to why you feel the need to buy a new server if the old one is running fine, just because the warranty is runnning out. I've seen those old dogs run for years. Assuming you've got a back up routine for your sales data--and you just don't want to spend the cash on the warranty--I would just use it until it dies (depending on how old your server is, if it's on a power conditioner and used only for Aloha stuff, that could be years from now).

 

[AdamDR]

I agree that it's probably for the entire system, but the way it was worded, I thought I would make a little joke! It's been a rough day.....

 

[AkamaiAloha]

Hehe. No, I agree, it sounds like a lot. At our prices, you could just about purchase a new 3 terminal system for that amount (minus the software, of course, but I am even talking about the BOH server and the printers here). So, if it IS $7k for 1 year, it better be for a 6 terminals or more and cover EVERYTHING.

 

[Shadow9574]

7k= 7 thousand...im supurised your on these forums if you cant understand somthign as small as that. And yes, its a hardware warrenty for the 5 terms and server we have. We have lost 2 hdds, (the same one) in the last week. They have replaaced it both times. We understand that it can take time to do but its worth it. We can buy this 7 thousand $ plan and we may never need anythign to be replaced. We just wasted 7 k. There reason i was talking about a new server, was to just have incase one went down. Since we dont have a warrenty, they wouldnt come out and fix it, so we would need to put somthing in its place. Yes i know aloha has redundancy but we would sitll have to fix it. So basicly thats my point.

 

[AkamaiAloha]

I think Adam got it, Shadow

I understand--you want to be prepared. But to make myself clear, you could always just have the company replace it when it does die, rather than spend the money on the back up server that you may not need for another 5 years. You don't want to spend money on a support contract you may not use--that's always the gamble with any warranty, and I understand that part. I guess I just don't understand how they equate to each other. That is unless you are pretty sure the server is on it's way out. Then that's a different story.

How old is your system?

 

[AdamDR]

Dude, I wasn't trying to insult you, just having a little fun. I know that k=1000, I just thought you were talking rubles, or yen!!

Anyway, if your having problems with hard drives, look into RAID, seriously. If one hard drive goes down, you can replace it synchronize them and you are up and running again. Very little down time. Hardware warranties are really not worth it, I wouldn't do it.

 

[Shadow9574]

The fact that the hardrive went out in the same drive bay within the same weeek worries the owner. Once this warrnty is up in about a week and were already pissed with the poor service and quality we have got from them. The server is only 5 months old, (yes its funny, idc) the fact that we will have to pay money on somthing we COULD do our self. There getting money to send it to a local shop, they dont no whats going on, there the middle man. We just figured rather than spending the money on the warrenty for all the hardware, we just do maintence our self, we just need to know if its gonna be a task in which case we cannot do it our self, disregarding our knowlage is it possable takiing security info and licensing into effect.

 

[AkamaiAloha]

In other words, your asking do you need anything special, or the help of your local dealer to be able to maintain it, even if the sever takes a poop?

Technically, no. To be even more technical, you really don't need the CD, if you know what you're doing--everything you need is in the BIN directory on your server. But that's kind of like asking me can I fix my own car. In a lot of instances, yeah I can--if I am willing to miss a few days or work here and there, lose some money, and endure a lot frustration. In a nutshell, Aloha can be difficult even for those of us who know it.

So, to summarize what I think you're asking--about the only time you absolutely need the dealer is if something physically happens to the security key, or if you want to change your license (i.e. add terminals or get an upgrade). I'd still keep the door open with local dealer, just in case (in other words, don't call them up and tell them to go to hell ).