ASP 1 - National Information Solutions Cooperative
ASP 1 - National Information Solutions Cooperative
ASP 1 - National Information Solutions Cooperative
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Application Service Provider<br />
Frequently Asked Questions<br />
What are the PC requirements for an Application Service Provider (<strong>ASP</strong>) customer?<br />
The connection model to <strong>ASP</strong> is based on using Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), harnessing<br />
the processing power of the terminal servers in the <strong>ASP</strong> data center, <strong>ASP</strong> customers are not held to the<br />
R<br />
higher CPU and memory requirements that in-house iVUE customers need.<br />
How are upgrades handled in the <strong>ASP</strong> environment?<br />
R<br />
You can determine when to upgrade to a newer version of iVUE and NISC will run and verify the upgrade.<br />
What kind of internet connectivity is required?<br />
Since the <strong>ASP</strong> model relies on an internet connection to connect to the iVUE environment, it is<br />
important to ensure good connectivity to the internet. NISC and our data center providers build a VPN<br />
connection from your office(s) to our <strong>ASP</strong> environment which ensures that traffic exchanged within the iVUE<br />
application is encrypted. NISC recommends to use the firewall service offered by our data center provider.<br />
This service includes the installation and management of a leased firewall.<br />
Can I connect from home?<br />
Our data center provider does give access to the <strong>ASP</strong> environment using an SSL-VPN connection for an<br />
additional monthly fee. With this method, you can connect to <strong>ASP</strong> iVUE servers from virtually anywhere.<br />
How many users can I have connected to iVUE <strong>ASP</strong>?<br />
The number of users that connect is limited mostly by your internet connection. The RDP connection does<br />
require a minimal amount of bandwidth. If the internet connection is slow or over-utilized, you may<br />
experience some delays.<br />
What about backups of our iVUE application?<br />
The enterprise backup solution is offered and managed by our data center provider. Nightly and system<br />
backups are stored to an off site tape vault and the information is retained for one year.<br />
When can we access the iVUE <strong>ASP</strong> application?<br />
Other than scheduled maintenance, connect to iVUE <strong>ASP</strong> whenever you like<br />
(barring any disruptions in internet connectivity).
Application Service Provider<br />
Frequently Ased Questions<br />
(continued)<br />
How much does the iVUE server(s) cost?<br />
NISC provides all required hardware to run iVUE and the price is built into the <strong>ASP</strong> fee structure. Hardware is<br />
managed, upgraded and maintained by NISC. Hardware upgrades and maintenance warranties are taken<br />
care of in our hosted environment.<br />
Are there any other licensing fees that I have to pay for such as Oracle, Progress, MFcobol,<br />
Crystal Reports Runtime, etc.?<br />
All of the third-party software required to run the iVUE application is built into the <strong>ASP</strong> fee structure with no<br />
up-front costs. Optional software such as Crystal Reports Developer is not included with the cost and must<br />
be purchased separately.<br />
Are there any other key benefits in using a hosted service like iVUE <strong>ASP</strong>?<br />
The <strong>ASP</strong> environment is housed in a state-of-the-art data center with redundant power feeds, internet<br />
connections and 24/7 monitoring. NISC is aware of any connectivity, major application or server problem<br />
within five minutes of the event. Other data center features include:<br />
• Clustered Oracle database servers: Minimizes disruptions in database connectivity and allows for scalability<br />
• Access to spare machines: NISC has access to spare hardware in our data center that allows us to<br />
minimize any disruptions caused by hardware issues<br />
• Virtualized iVUE application servers: Allows NISC to move application servers to other “host” servers in the<br />
case of a hardware issue or for better performance<br />
How do I print iVUE reports in the <strong>ASP</strong> environment?<br />
Networked printers are required for all <strong>ASP</strong> printing at this point. Our <strong>ASP</strong> servers have to send print jobs<br />
over the VPN directly to your printers. A method is being tested that would allow you to print to any printer<br />
attached to your PC.<br />
What iVUE applications are available in the <strong>ASP</strong> environment?<br />
All the core iVUE applications such as CIS, SIS, ABS, E-Bill and OMS are available in the<br />
hosted environment. Hosted version of Document Vault and IVR are still being evaluated.<br />
NISC is a registered trademark of <strong>National</strong> <strong>Information</strong> <strong>Solutions</strong> <strong>Cooperative</strong>.<br />
All Rights Reserved. © 2009-2010.
Change language