RMS 2.0 Offline mode

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Posted on by Alan Brown

145

We are in the process of testing RMS 2.0 with a view to deployment late summer. This will consist of a number of POS terminals connecting back to a SQL 2008 database.

We are looking at a possible scenario where the SQL server crashes or goes offline. Microsoft indicates that an Offline database can be set up to cover such instances but I have heard that this is buggy. Has anyone implemented this and have had such experiences? Is it worth implementing? (is a potentially buggy system better than none at all?).

I would love to know how others are implementing their disaster recovery processes.

Thanks!

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Community Member Microsoft Employee on at

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: RMS 2.0 Offline mode

I agree with Paul - it makes sense to use them.

Domains, user access rights, different SQL versions between register and db host, the OS and firewalls are the main culprits for offline databases not synchronizing, but if your setup is simple (no domain, registers log on to windows automatically with full admin rights) you should expect no problems with offline databases. If you set up users in windows or on a domain make sure the registry is edited to allow full rights to everyone on the POSUSER entry.

Hope this helps....
Community Member Microsoft Employee on at

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: RMS 2.0 Offline mode

Just a point of fact

I support about 95 RMS sites and about 35% have multiple regsiters. I Always setup the Offline database

as you never know when the primary system will fail. It works great most of the time. We still take credit

cards in the offline mode and there is never a big deal closing the blind close batches. As long as the offline

system can get to the internet we keep selling to our customers with little or no problems as usual.

Paul H.

Eastern National
jos ange 50 on at

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Re: Re: Re: Re: RMS 2.0 Offline mode

It does work ' sort of ' Here is the problem.

Like always NO Documentation, of how to handle the Automatically Blind Closed batche(s) and now Blind Open batches without Opening and/or Closing dollar amounts.

Every time this happens, and it will. It will take hours to try and figure out what to do with ALL of these batches and balance ALL of your cash drawers. Then add in the time it will take because RMS cannot processes credit cards ( because it cant do a simple task like process Tips) and it will add to your nightmare.

When this does happen to you 'Take NOTES' of everything you did to resolve the batch problems and settle. Beleive me, in 4 months from now when this happens again you will need them.
Simon Merritt 2,270 on at

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Re: Re: Re: RMS 2.0 Offline mode

We tested it, and have a had a couple of servers crashes and it works fine.
Alan Brown 145 on at

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Re: Re: RMS 2.0 Offline mode

Thanks Simon,

Have you tested this/had cause to use it (eg server crash)?

Alan
Simon Merritt 2,270 on at

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Re: RMS 2.0 Offline mode

The offline database is easy to setup and to be recommended. As it will help you out if the database goes South.