Should I upgrade Windows Software

[arizonabrian]

Hello,

We just purchased a pre-owned system with windows 2000 on BOH and 98 on terminals. Hasp key is a hasp4 v3.1 Aloha is 5.3.29

We have the system with all 6 terminals up and running without any issues. The BOH computer is a Dell with 18 GB Hard drive, 1 GB Ram, Intel P4 2.00 GHz.

We will be opening our new restaurant at the beginning of 2007 so we decided to take advantage of a pre-owned system and get it all set up at home and tweaked before we place it in the restaurant.

Here are my questions?

Would it be safe to upgrade from windows 2000 to XP with the software version and key that we have?

How about upgrading to XP on the terminals?

If I decided to go with a new BOH computer with raided drives would it be possible to just copy Aloha folder over from the old drive to the new as we don't have software on CD? Or would we have to do a fresh install?

I'm not going to register the system until I'm ready to have it running in the new restaurant so I probably won't be able to get software update from them without paying the licensing fee for the system.

OR

If it isn’t broke don’t fix it?

What do you all think?

Thanks.

Brian

 

[dgillz]

It is possible that the POS system you are using does not support windows XP. You will need to talk to the developer or a good VAR to determine this.

Also, in the case of ERP systems at least, while you can buy a pre-owned system, the license agreement precludes this and you will never get support from the software vendor. You should check to see if this is the case with the POS system you purchased.

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"making predictions is tough, especially about the future" - Yogi Berra

 

[arizonabrian]

dgillz,

There are other users of Aloha POS on this board that are using windows XP, I was trying to find out from others if my version of Aloha will work with XP rather than call the dealer here.

I did contact the dealer before I purchased the system and they told me that I would have to license each terminal and that I can also get a software update at a pecentage of what the licensing costs. I have this in writing before I purchased the system.

As far as support, thats not a problem here.

Thanks.

Brian

 

[bigblok403]

I've been able to use any version of aloha 4.2 and up with Windows XP, you should be fine.

 

[posrescue]

You can upgrade if you wish but will have to reinstall the software on BOH either manually or brom the install GUI.

Terminals will also run on XP and obviously will need to be configured and Aloha reinstalled with the Termetup GUI or manually.

Unless you know the ins and outs of Aloha installation and OS configuration I would not recommend making these OS changes as you may end up without a working system.

 

[zahead31]

Running Aloha FOH terminals on all Windows XP terminals can be tricky. Windows XP only allows 10 users to connect at one time. Since the master terminal is communicating between all terminals and the server, it will drop any connections over 10 users at once. The server and EDC also count as a connection to the master terminal.

Given you have 6 terminals, I would not anticipate you having an issue with XP. However, take this into consideration if you decide to expand. We have 12 terminals, 8 with XP and I loaded 4 with 2000 Advanced Server.

Aloha version 6.0 does solve this licensing issue, so this is another option.

 

[arizonabrian]

zahead31

Thanks for the reply!

Do you have anymore info on Aloha V6.0 and what do you mean by V6.0 solves the licensing issue?

Thanks.

Brian

 

[zahead31]

I am not exactly sure how Aloha solved the licensing issue, but with v6.0, you are able to run with more than 10 XP terminals.

You should be able to get a release profile on version 6.0 from your reseller. I just called them up and asked for it.

 

[bigblok403]

Version 6 uses RFS (Remote File Storage. In a nutshell - it runs as a windows service using the network to bypass the Windows built in CAL. No more Hard-Coded Windows limitation.

 

[RokStar]

There are some tricky steps to get XP terminals to work correctly. Conversley, Win98 terminals are easy and simple.

There isn't any real advantage to running XP in the FOH if you don't have to. Especially if you don't know the inner workings of Aloha.

It would be MUCH easier to leave it alone. And avoid paying lots and lots of money to have it fixed when it doesn't work. There is nothing in XP that windows needs, nor is there anything that XP does better for aloha. Or at least nothing that is worth "bricking" your new POS system for.

It would be an advantage to have the BOH running XP, but as posrescue said, it will require a new install, which should be done by someone who knows aloha well.

 

[zahead31]

Rokstar,

I agree that there is no advantage to running XP versus 98, minus the 10 terminal limitation. I am curious, however, about the difficulties in getting an XP terminal running with the FOH software.

The only real difference I had with XP was adding environment variables. The real tricky part for us was converting our system from a workgroup to a domain, but that was a choice for us. It wasn't neccessary.

Anyway, I am just curious about what was tricky for you with XP FOH terminals.

Thanks for the input!

 

[RokStar]

I was addressing that comment to arizonabrian, judging his expertise level by his question. However, I still think XP is a little trickier.

You have to disable media sense, log-ons and filesharing is different and more difficult (for the average user), etc. (there is a RKB doc for all of the changes). Also, XP comes with a myriad of things that are utterly useless in a POS environment. It takes days just to disable everything that you don't need and is wasting space and resources. If azbrians hardware is running '98, then they are most likely not designed for XP. Which obviously means the hardware will run much, much slower and inefficiently due to lack of memory, CPU speed, etc.

I use XP, of course. But I remember the good ol days of simple file sharing, easy O/S reloads, small footprints and cheap licensing! Not to mention I run it on brand new hardware, and I have a base image already built.

My advice to azbrian, or any other person who is new to Aloha and 'inherited' a system, is to leave it be unless it is causing a specific problem. Besides, who would want to buy 6 new XP licenses for nothing? That's a "Zero ROI" situation.

On a side note: If any one actually uses the Radiant RFS to run terminals, I sure would like to know how it works out. Trusting Radiant to do networking is like asking Artie Lange to watch your sandwich... When they told me that they developed it from the ground up I thanked my lucky stars that I dont have any 10+ installs!

 

[arizonabrian]

Rockstar hit some good points.

Investing in 6 XP licenses for the terminals and another XP license for the BOH computer is just lining the pockets of Micro$oft.

We got the whole system up and running ourselves without any problems and we have been putting it through it's paces.

We know the front and the backend very well including how everything integrates with each other.

I worked at a restaurant that had the same system and rather than call the local distributor we fixed problems ourselves, both hardware and software. We couldn’t see paying $150 per hr for services we could do ourselves. The only thing we didn’t do is any Micro$oft upgrading so that is why I was asking the initial question.

When we move into our new facility, the only thing I will probably need them for is setting up EDC. We will be doing all our own CAT 5e stuff as well as installing a Flexwatch system or something equivalent.

Any ideas on a less expensive system would be appreciated

I’m trying not to call my distributor for information on V6.0 if anyone has a PDF on it please let me know. I would like to see what new stuff it has and what the hardware requirements are. You never know I may sell what I have and go new.

Thanks.

Brian

 

[zahead31]

Great points, rokstar, thank you for answering my questions.

Win98 was no doubt a simpler OS to use. For me, switching to XP was a godsend because I do not see the blue screen of death anymore! It is definitely a much more stable OS (XP)- a lot of which comes from using better hardware as well.

Thanks.