Pastel Hosting

[PC Direct]

We would like to Host our Pastel Express either on:

1) A dedicated Server (Costly tho?)
2) VPS Server - need to be windows though and haven't found many options in SA that offer Windows VPS - will US Windows VPS hosting work well enough and how the heck does one get the media to them to load onto the server?
3) Colocation - we have our own Dell Optiplex onsite server that will be running pastel - what hosts offer the most affordable colocation options.

All help appreciated.

 

[PC Direct]

bump

 

[Johan449]

As a Pastel reseller for about 6 Years I would not exactly recommend a VPS solution.
Pastel is very sensitive to the smallest network glitches. Trust me I know......

I would rather go for the co-location hosting option.
The only reliable way to run Pastel Xpress/Partner over a WAN/Internet link is with Terminal server connections wich wil most certainly not be available on a VPS service.

Now that I think about it, why dont you just host it yourself?
It will be much less expensive given that you will only have 3 remote users max under the Xpress licensing restrictions.


Using a 4 Meg local only ADSL connection for the server side will be enough for what you want to do and a LOT LESS EXPENSIVE.
I have a client doing it like that with 6 remote users on Pastel Partner (Same codebase) and it works for them....

 

[PC Direct]

Thanks!

So remoting in to my server (office based) if I host it myself (on DSL etc) should be as easy as remoting into it as if colocated in a DC?

 

[Johan449]

Yip

Use Axxess Local Only (R10/Gig) With their Dynamic DNS service at your office and create a Firewall Forwarder for TCP 3389 (Terminal Server) and your done...


That plus your ADSL line rental costs etc. will be way cheaper than co-location hosting in SA (R1500 +) and still be fast enough for your users.

 

[guest2013-1]

As a pastel reseller I would think you knew about https://www.pastelmybusiness.co.za/ ?

 

[Johan449]

Pastel My Business Online is VERY limited against Pastel Xpress. It does not even have a proper General Ledger system.

Since the PC Direct already owns a Pastel Xpress package there is no use in wasting it and I am Certain that if he bought it at a reputable reseller that the reseller would have considered his business needs and thus My Business is in all likeliness not sufficient for his needs.

 

[Drake2007]

It's about time they went SaaS

 

[Johan449]

It's about time they went SaaS

Yip
But they only did it as SAGE was putting pressure on ALL their down level company's. Ie. Pastel Accounting & Pastel Payroll

The moment they create a proper General Ledger on the Offline and Online versions I would gladly recommend it to my clients.

 

[PC Direct]

Pastel My Business Online is VERY limited against Pastel Xpress. It does not even have a proper General Ledger system.

Since the PC Direct already owns a Pastel Xpress package there is no use in wasting it and I am Certain that if he bought it at a reputable reseller that the reseller would have considered his business needs and thus My Business is in all likeliness not sufficient for his needs.

We've signed up for Pastel Express and are about to buy it that's why I'm checking out the options, but I gather general ledger is important so if the online version doesn't offer that we'll not go that route just yet.

Thanks for the input everyone!

PS: I can get colocation for R795 inc at www.rsaweb.co.za

Just need to see what's more beneficial...

 

[Johan449]

@PC Direct

The Online version does have a BASIC General Ledger but it is VERY Limited.

Besides if your accountant uses Caseware Working Papers or the like they would most probably have to recapture everything in Pastel Express/Partner anyway if you were on My Business so that it conforms to the correct General Ledger structure required for Working Papers so that they can do your financial statements.

Obviously they will charge you extra for that so yes I would rather go directly with Xpress and save yourself those accounting fees.



Just shout if you need help

 

[PC Direct]

Oh great!

Well if you're a Pastel Reseller and giving such useful information/ support and advice I should just sign up and buy directly through you...

mail allan @ pc - direct . co .za

Taa ;D

 

[Nutty Grandad]

We've signed up for Pastel Express and are about to buy it that's why I'm checking out the options, but I gather general ledger is important so if the online version doesn't offer that we'll not go that route just yet.

Thanks for the input everyone!

PS: I can get colocation for R795 inc at www.rsaweb.co.za

Just need to see what's more beneficial...

For around R700 a month you can have your own dedicated server with a licenced version of windows server 2008 as an operating system, and on the USA backbone, and you can load whatever you want on that server. Linux is half that price! Why pay more in SA for a co-location when you can be properly serviced?

I have 2 dedicated servers abroad...Simplehop (USA) and Hetzner (Germany) are my providers. I found Simplehop to be absolutely superb in support and assistance! I host 35 South African websites at Ixwebhosting who are superb web hosts in the USA!

I simply REFUSE to pay the prices in SA for servers and webhosts of any kind!
Cannot do much about my local ISP's though...

 

[eddief1]

Just remember if you host your own terminal server you got to buy terminal server licenses for each client and well as your server 2008 license. I don't think i would go for hosting a terminal server in the US or the like. International traffic over ADSL to the US is far from reliable. Clients sitting without pastel while telkom guys are on strike.