Ginesys Cloud Hosting - Frequently asked questions answered

About the service

What is Ginesys Cloud Hosting?

Ginesys has introduced cloud hosting service for its customer as there was significant demand of cloud based deployment of Ginesys application. In current days a many organizations are preferring to have a cloud base deployment rather going for an investment on on-premise IT infrastructure. The reason behind is that the cloud infrastructure is easy to deploy, scalable and cost effective. The cloud is increasingly an alternative destination for applications. Simultaneously, customers also prefer not to have dedicated workforce to manage their IT infrastructure and they are comfortable to outsource their IT maintenance job. So, addressing both the needs Ginesys has come up with cloud hosted Infrastructure-as-a-Service, where Ginesys offers a cloud deployment of Ginesys Head-office application to their customers. Effectively a turn-key solution with end-to-end maintenance support from Ginesys team.

What are included in the Ginesys Cloud Hosting service?

The Ginesys Cloud Hosting currently hosts Ginesys Head-office application. The Head-office application, which has mostly converted into a web-based application, still has some parts in win-form. So, it is still a requirement to have dedicated Windows installation for Ginesys implementation. In Ginesys Cloud Hosting offering, an on-cloud Windows Virtual Machine is provisioned with Ginesys Head-office application installed on that. Following are the key infrastructure components and services included in the offering.

• Virtual Machine with easily scalable computing resource as required, given the number of stores and HO users

• System storage, scaled up as database grows

• Windows Server Operating System.

• Antivirus and necessary security policy implemented.

• Pre-installed essential applications like, PDF reader, Web-browser, File compression utility etc.

• Dedicated public IP.

• 50 GB data transfer /month.

• Shared Network Security components

• Optimized bandwidth for unhindered Ginesys operation.

• License components included:

  • Windows

  • Antivirus

• Automated scheduled system backup (VM Backup) stored across the zone for Disaster recovery. Retention of backup for 7 days.

• Proactive maintenance based on alert mechanism in place. Periodic scheduled maintenance, Windows patching, vulnerability checks.

• Comprehensive infrastructure support with extended hours in case of issues

Ginesys Cloud Hosting provide the following data management support:

1. High availability: In case of local hard disk failure or processor failure, data is instantly replicated on parallel systems hence providing availability in very short time.

2. Cold Disaster recovery: The systems is backed up daily to a different data centre once every day. In case of any disaster in current data centre we can attempt to recover the data from the secondary data centre. this is a time-taking recovery and downtime depends on the size of data volume and the availability of fast standby server to move the data to.

We are providing a managed service for these 2 scenarios as far as possible.

What is the machine configuration?

The machine configuration for a new subscribers is initially estimated based on the initial count of licensed head-office. Hardware resources can further be optimized as and when required based on the performance of application. Since the application support and infrastructure support both are in Ginesys team’s work scope, so continuing with same user count if you experience any degraded performance of the application will be addressed by Ginesys team and required hardware resource scale-up will be arranged without any additional cost. It is as good as auto-scaled but without a load of additional cost.

In case of migration of existing on-premise or third-party hosted Ginesys deployment, the database volume is a important parameter for server configuration estimation.

What is the cost? Is the service cost effective?

The cost is directly linked with the Ginesys HO and POS (for retailers) user count. The current rate can be obtained from Sales and CSM representatives. The Ginesys Cloud Hosting service is just not a hosting service. It is clubbed with many other services as mentioned above. So, it may not be apple to apple comparison if other available cloud hosting offerings are considered.

What to be done if an existing customer wants to migrate their Ginesys deployment to Ginesys Cloud Hosting? What will be the migration cost?

Any existing Ginesys customer who are using on-premise deployment or third-party hosted Ginesys application can anytime opt for Ginesys Cloud Hosting to migrate the current deployment. They should get in touch respective CSM to place order for cloud service. The migration of the deployment will be done by Ginesys Cloud support team.

There is no additional cost for migration of existing deployment to Ginesys Cloud Hosting.

What about the data if the system gets compromised or crashed?

In cloud hosted systems all possible preventive policies and measures implemented. There is a regular backup of system image at remote availability zone. Further in any unfortunate scenario, if the data is partially or fully lost, will make a "best efforts" attempt to recover the data at no cost to the customer.**

** For any kind of disaster, there will be in-depth investigation come into act. Any charge related to data recovery will not be imposed on customers if no evidence of any mal-practice from user end is identified.

How will we ensure that our data remains confidential and not to be shared without our knowledge?

Ginesys team strongly maintains Confidentiality and committed to follow Non-disclosure Agreements. Also restriction of any unauthorized access is prevented by different security policies.

Using the service

How to access the Ginesys on Ginesys Cloud Hosting?

A Windows system is provisioned with Ginesys Head-Office application installed. Users can access Ginesys Web using the public IP from their local systems. How ever to access the Ginesys desktop and utilities user needs to login into the system using Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc). The required details will be handed over to users during project delivery.

Is there any additional pre-requisites to access the service, like VPN or local hardware firewall?

There is no additional required apart from a system and a stable Internet connection. A Windows or Linux system can work, you just have the utility to connect cloud system using Remote Desktop Connection.

What is the access level? Is there any restriction in using the cloud system?

You, the users of Ginesys will get standard user rights on the system. Any action which requires administrative access can not be performed on this system. Commonly, shutting down or restarting the server, installation or removal of programs, change in system configuration, user management, manage Windows services etc. will be restricted. Same way any application which requires to be run with elevated privilege won’t run in the login you will use.

As a special configuration, explicit access on some services given to the standard user logins you use. The services are, all six Ginesys application services like Sync scheduler service, License service etc, database services, World Wide Web publishing service. Now users can start / stop the mentioned services when required.

Is there any impact on using Ginesys in absence of Administrative rights?

There are some Ginesys utilities which need to be run with elevated privilege (Run as administrator). Generally in on-premise deployment where you will be taking care of system administration, the Windows administrative rights are with you. So, using those Ginesys utilities won’t have any restriction. But in cloud deployment we have to hold the administrative privilege at our end and as a result the Ginesys utilities requiring administrative access won’t run straight forward. But we have ensured that this limitation shouldn’t hinder any of your operation.

The utilities which requires administrative accesses are Database Locator, Database Backup, System Manager, Database Manager, Data Sync, Auto Update and Web DB Updater. Generally, these utilities which require administrative access are not frequently required utilities in a cloud deployment. Moreover the utilities have sensitive configuration for Ginesys and not likely to be accessible by every user. We understand, though the requirement will be less frequent, your application administrator may require access of those.

So, we have arranged the access for all the utilities to one of Windows login we supply for your use. We recommend to keep that Windows login with the person who administrate the ERP.

What we do if we feel slowness in accessing Ginesys or working on the Cloud system?

Ginesys cloud provides you fast, flexible, reliable and cost-effective services for your day to day business operations. During your working hours If you are experiencing poor VM performance, should check first how many users are there in disconnecting state, kindly log off those users & check. Still, if you are facing poor VM performance then raise an incident ticket in the Ginesys care portal, we will take care of it.

What to do if I want to restart the cloud system?

There will be any definite reason to think of a system restart , in most of the cases the reasons are like degraded system performance, unresponsiveness and unusual behavior, Ginesys Care team is committed to assist you with any kind of challenges you face to access Ginesys seamlessly on Ginesys Cloud Hosting. In any such case where you experience any unusual behavior, report that to Ginesys Care.

What are the advantages we get from the Ginesys cloud server over a physical server?

Entire Ginesys HO server, as well as WebDB, will take care from Ginesys end. You should not have any headache regarding your application, database & backup.

From anywhere you can access your server to continue your day to day business operations.

Apart from this you also no need to take headache about regular backup.

What to do if I want to increase my system configuration?

You don’t need to bother about system configuration. Ginesys team will take care of any required resource scaling up according to your concern of unsatisfactory system performance. Performance tuning and performance enhancment is completely on Ginesys team’s work scope.

What to do if I want to install some application of my choice in VM?

Ginesys cloud server will provide you all the required applications for your day to day business operations.

Apart from this if you require any other application then kindly inform us via Ginesys care portal, we will validate feasibility & inform you accordingly.

Do I need to take HO backup on a regular basis?

Generally, you don't need to take & store HO backup, because nightly backup of complete system image is in place.

What to do if I want to create a new user or need to change the password of any user? How do we do Windows administrative works if required any?

As Windows user management is a part of system administration, so you need to raise a request to Ginesys Care for any kind of modifications in Windows users. Though password change for is allowed for the user you are logged in with. Same is requested for any other requirement if any. We will be attaining in tickets related to Cloud Hosting support with top priority.

How do we restart Web service or database service?

Generally, application service or database service restart is not required in regular operation and same is not needed until there is any serious problem in Ginesys application. Still at anytime, especially when you are getting a support and some Ginesys Care executive requires to restart any of service, then same can be done from Windows Service manager (services.msc).

Who will do Ginesys version update?

Ginesys version update will be taken care by Ginesys team but you need to raise a request to Ginesys Care.

How fast we may receive support on any system issue or an urgent administrative assistance?

For any kind of system problem or assistance requirement on system administration you are requested to contact Ginesys Care or raise a ticket to Ginesys Care portal. Ginesys Care team acts promptly on cloud hosting issues and assign to the concerned team with least delay. In Ginesys we have dedicated specialised team to manage cloud hosting and provide customer support.

We suggest you to mention 'Cloud Support' in ticket or email subject-line. This will expedite the process of ticket addressal.