Knowledge Base
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Knowledge Base
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Thank you for purchasing RDP's Internet Reservation Module (IRM) This document serves as an outline for organizing the installation of the IRM. Please complete the following table as you progress through the IRM installation process. Follow the links within the table for additional information regarding a specific step. Or, for more information, please contact RDP Sales at (970) 845-1140. Also please see New Customer Installation Checklist.
Thank you for purchasing RDP's Internet Reservation Module (IRM) This document serves as an outline for organizing the installation of the IRM. Please complete the following table as you progress through the IRM installation process. Follow the links within the table for additional information regarding a specific step. Or, for more information, please contact RDP Sales at (970) 845-1140.
| Internet Reservation Module Checklist | Completion Date |
|---|---|
| Purchase the Internet Reservation Module from RDP Sales | |
| Verify that your Data Server is running Microsoft Windows 2000 or 2003 (Novell Not Allowed) | |
| Purchase an IRM Bridge Server that meets the IRM Hardware specifications | |
| Purchase Microsoft Front Page. Front Page is used for Customizing the IRM. | |
| Talk to your Marketing Website Designer regarding changing links to the IRM | |
| Purchase Paint Shop Pro Version 8 to reformat pictures - www.jasc.com | |
| Purchase Crystal Reports Version 10 Standard Edition if you wish to modify any reports | |
| Purchase Anti-Virus software for the IRM, and verify it is configured to NOT SCAN network drives | |
| Verify that the Southern DataComm Credit Card Interface is installed (for properties accepting on-line credit card payments). | |
| Verify Pervasive Pervasive.SQL Version 9.5 or higher is installed on the Data Server | |
| Verify your property has a website that is available 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year | |
| Secure an External Routable IP address for your IRM Bridge Server. | |
| Decide whether or not your property will use a Security Certificate for on-line credit card payments | |
| Verify your property has a firewall | |
| Print the IRM Bridge Server Installation documentation. | |
| Provide RDP with the Administrator Password to the RDP Data Server | |
| Verify that Terminal Services is installed on the IRM Bridge Server | |
| Read Critical Factors to consider when configuring room types & room numbers | |
| There are special considerations related to the "guest search criteria". See: IRM Search Criteria. | |
| Contact RDP Support to complete your IRM installation. |
For additional information on any of the steps listed below, please contact RDP Sales at (970) 845-1140.
The IRM has many user controlled HTML
screens. For example, you can input your deposit policies, cancellation
rules, detailed descriptions of each room type, etc. While there are many
products that can create HTML screens, RDP support has been trained in Microsoft
Front Page. With Front Page, you can add pictures, colors,
maps, different fonts, etc. to make your Internet Reservation site look
great.
Customers must purchase a copy of Microsoft Front
Page 2000 (or 2002), which is available at most computer stores, or from various
internet sites, such as www.provantage.com.
The RDP system was originally installed in 1982. Over the last 20 years the methods used to calculate rates have continued to improve. The current method is to use "RN - Enhanced Rates and Packages", which contains all the capabilities of previous rate calculation methods and many additional features. The IRM requires the installation of the "RN - Enhanced Rates and Packages" module. To determine if you have this module, follow these steps:
The
IRM can process a credit card deposit from the guest during the reservation
process if the SDC credit card module is installed. This is the preferred
solution for all customers who wish to require an advance deposit with the
IRM. To determine if you have the credit card module, follow the steps
above to view the installed modules on your system. Look for the "RQ
- SDC CCard Int." module.
If you have not purchased the SDC
credit card module you can still use the IRM to collect the credit card
information from the guest. However you must manually process the credit
card deposit. For example, some IRM customers print a report of "IRM
Reservations made today" each day, and then manually process credit
cards.
The IRM stores all reservations made on the data server, using the same database as the main RDP system, Pervasive.SQL. The IRM requires that the data server uses Pervasive Version 8.6 or higher. See Pervasive Software Overview.
Prior to installing the Internet Reservation Module, please verify:
Once the IRM is installed, configured, and
tested, hyperlinks need to be added from your marketing website to the IRM.
These links enable guests, travel agents, groups,
wholesalers, and owners to easily make reservations and access other
IRM functions. The links can have any text such as "make a
reservation now" and should appear in multiple locations on the marketing
website. Use buttons, text, graphics, etc., to enhance the links.
See Adding Links from the Marketing
Website to the IRM.
The Internet Reservation Module may be configured to accept on-line credit card payments. For properties choosing to activate this feature, RDP suggests a "Security Certificate". Security certificates insure that passwords and credit card information are encrypted and secure over the Internet connection. A Security Certificate must be purchased annually from a Certificate Authority. The IRM uses SSL (Secure Socket Layer) for encrypting data on the IRM Bridge Server. There are a number of companies that provide the certificate, including:
For more details, please see IRM Security - SSL Certificate
| Item | Explanation | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Virus Software | Anti-virus software should be installed on the RDP data server, IRM server, and all
workstations. It is critical to configure the auto-protected mode of
all anti-virus software to scan local drives only. If anti-virus
software is set to scan network drives, all network based software such as
RDP will run slowly. See Do Not Scan Network Drives with Anti-virus Software. |
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| Router | A router connects your firewall to the Internet. For security reasons, it is critical to always connect the router to a firewall and not directly to a network card in any server or workstation. | ||||||||||||||
| Firewall | A firewall provides security when an internal network is connected to the Internet. The
firewall must be a physically separate device (a "stand alone" firewall).
RDP software does not work with firewall software installed on the RDP data server or the
IRM Bridge Server. The firewall must be capable of "address redirection."
For example, the external IP address of 65.38.150.5 will be redirected to the internal
address of the IRM server (10.0.0.4 in this example). See Linking Options From Your Marketing Website to the IRM and IRM.net. |
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| Firewall Ports to Open DMZ setup for IRM Ports for Netmeeting |
A physical firewall is required to secure the IRM from viruses and other attacks. The
external IP address must be redirected to the internal address of the IRM Bridge for Ports 80,
443, and 3389. Additionally, the firewall must be open to allow outgoing e-mail from the
SMTP server installed on the IRM bridge on Port 25. Do not, under any conditions, assign
the external IP address directly to the IRM, as this creates a security loophole and also
prevents proper communication from the IRM to the data server.
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| Switch or Hub | All workstations are connected to a hub or switch which must be a minimum of 100 megabits. The RDP data server and IRM bridge server must be connected to the same hub or switch. Ideally, all workstations that access RDP should be connected to the same hub or switch as the data server. Multiple hubs or switches may be installed for larger installations. Regardless of how many hubs or switches are used, all workstations that access the RDP data server must be on the same subnet. | ||||||||||||||
| Same Subnet and Domain |
The RDP data server, IRM bridge server, and all workstations that access RDP must be on the same subnet and in the same domain. For example, if the IP address assigned to the data server is 10.0.0.3, then the IRM bridge server and all workstations should have an internal IP address of 10.0.0.x, where x can range from 1-254. The "Subnet mask" on all computers would be 255.255.255.0. | ||||||||||||||
| One and Only One Network Card |
The RDP data server, IRM bridge server, and all workstations that access RDP should have one, and only one, network card. When more than one network card is installed, various communication problems result. | ||||||||||||||
| Workstations | RDP supports Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP professional workstations. | ||||||||||||||
| Data Server Domain Controller or Peer-to-Peer |
RDP is installed in a Windows 2003 "Active Directory"
environment or "Peer-to-Peer". For most
installations, the RDP Windows 2003 or 2008 data server also serves as the domain
controller. However, if there is already a Windows 2003 or 2008 domain
controller, the RDP data server can be a member server of the existing domain.
If there are other applications that require a Windows 2003 or 2008 server, RDP suggests placing them on another Windows 2003 or 2008 server, not the RDP data server or IRM bridge server. This maximizes performance and reduces conflicts. The RDP data server, IRM bridge server, and all workstations that access RDP must be members of the same domain. In peer-to-peer environments, they must all be part of the same workgroup. See Details on Installation of RDP 2003 Data Server Installation |
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| IRM Server | The Internet Reservation Module
(IRM) is an optional product from RDP and requires
a separate Windows 2003 or 2008 server. This server is installed as a member
server to the domain that contains the RDP data server. In
peer-to-peer environments the IRM server must be in the same workgroup as
the Data Server. All rates,
availability, and reservations are stored on the data server. Do NOT
install active directory, or other applications, on the IRM Server.
Windows Small Business server or Windows XP Professional may not me used
for the IRM Server - it must use Windows 2003 or 2008 server. See IRM Server Installation. |
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| IRM Security | Security with the IRM has proven excellent and is divided into the following areas:
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| Outgoing SMTP E-mail Server Required |
RDP sends e-mails to guests, owners, groups, travel agents, and others from the IRM and
our RDPWin product. See Installation of Outgoing SMTP E-mail Server and RDP E-mail Marketing for more detail. |
RDP suggests purchasing a three-day onsite installation/training when the IRM is purchased. Please call RDP Sales at 970-845-7108 to arrange for installation and training.
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