Micros Upgrade thoughts

[azrobert]

We currently have 7 stores running micros, 2 are 4.0
and the other 5 are 3.2 sp7 not sure of all the hot fix levels. We are looking at upgrading all of the 3.2 stores to the latest 4.0 version which involves new servers with XP and new flash cards for the Ws4's. I know that version 5 is around the corner running on Win 7.... Has anyone played with 5.0 or heard of any features that might not work that currently work in 4.0? I have an extensive amount of custom programs that mine data from the Micros database and send to my sql database... Payroll info, sales info etc. I am also using a dll that is part of Micros to access my sql database thru sim for my gift card interface and house charge details...

I guess my question is should I upgrade to 4.0? I assume the life of 4.0 will be at least 5 years or so and it will remail compliant for at least that long....

Thanks for any advice

 

[MikeRose]

I would move 4.x now, and then wait and move to version 5 in the future. Are you running EM? Additionally, when you purchase a version 4 license, ask about being grandfathered in or including a version 5 license upgrade. I am not sure if it is possible being version 5 is not out yet, but if you ask , you may save some money down the line. This is all ussuming ver 5 will require updated license codes like 4.x did

 

[TobeThor]

Don't assume that version 4 will be PCI compliant for 5 years. I think that would be a mistake. In fact I feel that you won't see any new software versions from any POS companies that will stay PCI compliant over 3 years. POS Software upgrades will become a on-going thing in the future and that is actually a good thing as too many POS users have continued to use out-dated POS software. POS users that resist updating will come to realize they have missed using features that help protect their future and that their resistance will only make it more likely they will fail. Embrace and budget for software upgrades.

 

[azrobert]

Both Good points !

I like the idea about the ver 5 upgrade.....
it just scares me to jump 2 versions when I have
not really had the time to make sure all of my programs
will still run and have the same access to the database and
sim....

Thanks!

 

[jimmymcp02]

new flash cards? for what? you mean you are using the old ws4 with the 64mb built in card?

if so then yeah.

Its true that 5.0 is around the corner but if you go to 4.6 or higher you will take advantage of the new features. I would suggest upgrade your site with 3.2 to 4.x if in the future you want to upgrade your sites to 5.0 then it will be a smother transition.

 

[TobeThor]

If you are concerned about Ver 4 or 5 working with your custom programs, why not establish an in-house (Lab) POS set up to test prior to making the jump. With seven stores using Micros it is a justifiable expense and investment.

Do you know whether or not existing UWS4 POS work stations will run the new Ver 5?

 

[azrobert]

I already have a sort of development lab set up, it is version 3.2... I guess my next step is some 5.0 virtual and kind of go from there. Waiting for my Micros rep to get that for me. From what Micros has told me it will run on the ws4 with a memory upgrade. I wouldn't even consider it yet if we had to replace all of the ws4's with ws5's.... that would get real expensive real fast.......

 

[TobeThor]

Good news regarding the UWS4. I thought there was a CE version issue which prevented a UWS4 from running CE Ver.6.

 

[pmegan]

Hey Robert. We upgraded all our stores from 4.1 to 4.7 earlier this year. I would go for the upgrade now if I were in your position. 3.2 and 4.0 are both already out of compliancy. 4.7 has been certified through sometime in early 2013.

MikeRose has a good suggestion about a grandfather clause, but I'd suggest doing the upgrade regardless. The cost of the license codes are nothing when compared to the expenses you'll have if you get compromised with an out of compliancy POS system.

 

[azrobert]

Very true.... I am fighting with our dealer on some of the costs now and intend to do the upgrades.... They are proposing around 1400.00 per server (around 4000 per location total to do the upgrades)..... in reality it is a 600 machine and I can get the identical one for around 700 but they want to add a 750 "staging" price to each one if I buy my own (I have 7 stores to upgrade).......

any ideas on how to beat them down a little ?

Robert

 

[pmegan]

750 staging is ridiculous. That's 5 hours at $150. Ask them what they do for 5 hours. Our dealership wanted 4 hours and that was too much.

When we upgraded we bought the first server from Micros and had them build it for us. I took it from there and put all the common, custom stuff we use on it, took an image of it and told them to use that for the rest of the rollout, (15 restaurants total). When I got the rest of the servers I ran setname on them, dropped in the database, upgraded it and made any store-specific changes needed. Prep time from Micros was cut from 4 hours to 90 minutes per server.

 

[DrZogg]

Hi,
I would have no worries myself upgrading from 3.2SP7 through to V5 (do it on a VM) and then dump the upgraded DB onto the new architecture. You are doubling the upgrade costs. There is talk of keyless licencing for V5, a lot of people have virtualisaion and the licence key is a block to large commercial outlets that want this.
Always do 1 store, fix ur problems and learn from that implementation. Windows 7 & server 2008 platform DLLs will provide a new set of problems getting your legacy custom programs to work.

Steve

 

[MikeRose]

There is and has been keyless licensing built in to MICROS for quite some time.

 

[DrZogg]

Hi,
Yes but that keyless licencing is only for Major Account Licences (MAL). They are hard coded into Micros, and are activated my putting the name of a Major Account in the check headers eg. "TGI Fridays", or "Micros Demo System". Put that into your header and hey presto MAL account licence! They are looking at implementing it now as a standard instead of Sentinel keys

Steve