administrator installation guide november 2016...if you are only installing hotsoft 8 for...

HotSoft 8 Administrator Installation Guide

November 2016

2 Copyright © Hoist Group Development Ltd.

Contents Contents .................................................................................................................................2

Introduction ............................................................................................................................3

Cloud ..................................................................................................................................3

Local ....................................................................................................................................4

SQL Server ...............................................................................................................................4

HotSoft Installation ..................................................................................................................5

New Installation .......................................................................................................................6

Upgrading from HotSoft 7 .....................................................................................................11

Other Hotsoft Admin Functions ..............................................................................................13

Starting Hotsoft 8 for the First time ........................................................................................14


Please note: Prior to installation, please ensure that your hardware and software meet the recommended requirements. For more information see the requirements document here.

Introduction This guide will provide you with basic instructions for installing the HotSoft 8 property management system. Please be aware there are different requirements depending on the type of HotSoft 8 installation available:

Cloud For a cloud installation, HotSoft and all of your data are stored on a web server with the operation, back-up and maintenance all taken care of by Hoist Group (see diagram below). For this configuration HotSoft is installed on the Hoist Group server, along with SQL server. The IFC Server, IFC Client and some interfaces will also be on the cloud. Some interfaces such as POS systems, telephones (PBX) and televisions can still be installed locally but there must be a local client PC that can communicate with the central IFM server over the internet.

https://partner.hoistgroup.com/x/EgBh


Local For a local installation, HotSoft is installed locally alongside SQL server (see the section below for more information). The local version allows you to import any dataset from HotSoft 7.

For this configuration, a dedicated HotSoft server is preferred but not required. It is possible for HotSoft and multiple interfaces to all run using the same server.

SQL Server The installation of SQL server will not be covered in this document. HotSoft 8 supports Microsoft SQL Server 2016, which is the recommended version, but will sup-port SQL Server 2008 and later versions. If you are only installing HotSoft 8 for demonstration purposes, it is possible install Microsoft SQL Express, which can be downloaded from here. The limitation of this edition by Microsoft is reduced services and a space limit for 10GB. It is unlikely that many databases will reach this limit as HotSoft 8 does not use any of the advanced features. Ensure the SQL server is configured for SQL Authentication and Windows Authentication mode. HotSoft uses SQL authentication mode, and the user names and access rights are automatically set at installation time of the HotSoft databases.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/sql-server-editions-express


HotSoft Installation An installation file will be made available from the HotSoft Order site in the form of an .exe file. Please ensure the correct version is selected for your purposes. By default, HotSoft must be installed on the server. HotSoft will require a network share to be made available, but a drive letter will not be required and is not recommended. The link to the HotSoft executable can then be placed on the desktop of each workstation, referencing the shared location. To carry out the installation follow the steps listed below:

1. Create a Folder on the server (Name is something clear such as “HotSoft”).

2. Run the installer and show it to the HotSoft folder. Do not share the folder. When the installation is complete, there will be several directories in the HotSoft Folder.

Public - This is the only folder that must be shared. There will be several folders in here. Runtime - The Runtime files are stored here. This main executable will be stored.

Export - Any export files generated will be stored here. Documents - Any extra documents required by HotSoft will be stored here.

Backup - Any backups generated will be stored here. Training – This stores as temporary files needed by the training system.

Ensure the HotSoft folder is always on the same machine as where the SQL data is stored. SQL server has security in place that it cannot access its files on another machine. For backups etc. to work, we will require the files to stay on the same server.

Please note: Do not install HotSoft individually on each workstation, as this would make upgrading the system very difficult.


New Installation When running a new installation, the data has to be prepared on the server. This part of the process is the same for a brand new installation and an upgrade from HotSoft 7. If an installation already exists, then this step must not be run. The first step is to create all the files on the SQL server. This step will create empty files on the SQL server. In the Runtime folder, run the HotsoftAdmin.exe:

The HotSoft Admin utility contains a number of options that enable you to add and delete HotSoft installation, import data, access advanced options, upgrade to the latest version, configure HotSoft, change databases, perform a backup, restore your database and access DeskShare.


To create a new database, select the Install a new Version of HotSoft option. The first screen that appears is where you can input the server details:

You will need to fill in the following fields: Field Description SQL Server Name This is the name of the SQL server you will be using* Database Name This is the name you want to give your database

Language/Collation This is the language and collation you want HotSoft to have Authentication Method Select either HotSoft Authentication or Windows Authentication** SQL Login This is the SQL username and password.

*If the server has an instance name, please include that as well. For example, if the server name is Hoist-1 and you are using SQL Express then a suitable name would be Hoist1\SQLEXPRESS. Click Next > to continue.

**Please note: If you select Windows authentication then you can log into HotSoft using your Windows login credentials.


If the connection fails an error message will be displayed. Enter your desired data and log locations. Select which folder you want HotSoft to be saved in and click Next. Now the creation of the databases will begin. A progress bar will show the progress:


When the ‘Finished!’ message appears, click Next to continue. The next screen handles what the default path is for Hotsoft. Type in the server\share name here, check the ‘Update HotSoft.config’ box and click Next.


A confirmation screen will open to confirm the process was complete and successful:

Click Finish to continue.


Upgrading from HotSoft 7 If you want to upgrade from Hotsoft 7 you can use the Import data from HotSoft V7.02 option in HotSoft Admin. To carry out an import, load HotSoft Admin and click Import data from HotSoft 7.02:

Use the fields available to configure the import: Field Instruction

HotSoft 7 Path Enter the path where your version of HotSoft is stored. CodePage This relates to the hotel’s region and how data is converted to SQL.* Advantage Server Type Select whether advantage server type should be local or remote.** Options Check if you want tag_cycle settings moved across to HotSoft 8.

*This field should be automatically populated depending on your Windows language settings.

When you have finished click Next to continue. An installation wizard window will open, asking for the SQL Server Name and Database Name for the HotSoft 8 installation.

Please note: For this automated process to be successful, please ensure that the Hotsoft database is at least running 7.02 R1. If using an older version, the import will not work.


Select the Authentication Method and then click Next to continue to the next screen.


This could take several minutes or up to an hour depending on the size of your database. When the process is complete, click on Next.

A button will be placed on the screen to show the log file. The log file is called HotSoft-NGUpgrade.Log, and can be found in the Hotsoft 7 Folder. It is important to go through this file to see what errors was generated, and specifically which reservation, folios etc. was not con-

verted. More detailed description on what this file contains will be released soon.

Other Hotsoft Admin Functions

There are several other options available in the admin tool:

These additional options include:

Delete Hotsoft Installation - This will delete the SQL database. Configuration - This will allow access to the configuration settings without starting

Hotsoft. The database must exist and Hotsoft must have previously run on that data for this feature to work. This will be useful when all terminals are in use, and settings must be changed.

Backup & Restore - Backup and restore databases to the SQL server.

Deskshare - Start a Deskshare session.

For more information on the other options, please go to HotSoft Online Help.


Starting Hotsoft 8 for the First time

Once the installation and/or the import process is complete, we can run Hotsoft 8 for the first time. To do this run the HotSoft.exe from the Runtime folder in the share or double-click on the

shortcut if one has been created.

The first screen that will appear is the user logon screen. Use the same credentials as Hotsoft 7. Hotsoft 8 requires a new license file. The first message that will appear after logon is that the

licence as expired. It will now ask to select a new licence file:

Select the path to the new license file. Click on Ok and the new file will be imported. The older Hotsoft 7 license file (hot_Code.ini) will not work. We have modified the hot_code.ini to include the Version 8 info at the bottom of the file. If the license file is valid, you will receive a successful

message.

Hotsoft will ask the user to login again, then Hotsoft will be up and running.


Workstation

Each workstation should have at least.Net 4.6.1 installed. If this is not installed, Hotsoft will dis-play an error when starting the application. The software is provided by Microsoft, and can be

downloaded from here (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17851).

Create a link to Hotsoft.exe to the local desktop, and simply run Hotsoft. Nothing else would be

required from the Workstation.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17851