MSI Data Service Pro
Author: Eric Vasbinder
Logistics
Support Status: Supported
Integration Method: ODBC Direct Connection
Connection and Hosting Location (DEFAULT FOR NEW IMPLEMENTATIONS)
Connection Method: TLS Database Endpoint (TLS VPN) (PREFERRED) / IPSEC VPN
Hosted: NO
Additional Charge: NO
Previous Connection and Hosting Location (Valid for Existing Customers ONLY)
Connection Method: Hosted in VP Datacenter
Hosted: YES
Additional Charge: YES - 1 third party integration mgmt fee, 1 standard Windows server, and 1 SQL Server
CRITICAL NOTE
For existing customers who are already hosted in our VEC RDP, TC1, and VP1 environments who ALREADY have MSI Data's Service Pro data connector hosted in our cloud:
You are allowed to continue hosting MSI Service Pro's Data Connector with us FOR THE TIME BEING even if you upgrade from VEC RDP licensing to TC1. Please be aware that this exception does NOT apply to customers in VFC wishing to upgrade to TC1.
Reminder, hosting of this data connector in our cloud will eventually be no longer supported. If possible, please utilize remote hosting of this solution with VPN connectivity.
Product Description
MSI Data's time and mobile service solutions are designed to provide a mobile and web field solution for staff to enter data about work orders, tasks, etc. whilst in the field.
Integration Method
As per many other server-side integrations to third-party products, MSI Data's Service Pro solution directly connects to the Vista database over ODBC.
Connection Method and Hosting Location
The MSI Data Service Pro solution consists of an app server and a SQL server. The MSI app server provides a web interface, and mobile app connectivity, in addition to being the application server. As such, the MSI solution, if it is installed in our cloud (as was the case historically), needs two separate servers. As such, we need to pass on the costs for an additional set of two servers (one app server and one SQL server) to the customer when hosting Service Pro.
As a result of those increased costs, and the increasing security and compliance restrictions that are present in our cloud environment, we are moving away from physically hosting the programmatic bits for third-party software in our cloud. Instead, we are moving toward having these components hosted remotely, connecting to Vista over a TLS Database Endpoint (TLS VPN) or an IPSEC VPN.
tl;dr: Customers who need to integrate MSI Data with Vista in our cloud should host it remotely, connected over a TLS Database Endpoint (TLS VPN) or IPSEC VPN. Hosting of new installations of MSI data in our cloud is no longer supported.
Changelog
Thursday, 19 January 2023 at 8:58AM:
Fixed error in top logistic section and revised TLDR statement to be more clear.
Tuesday, 30 August 2022 at 02:13PM:
Updated to show that hosting of MSI connector will eventually be going away, but that for now, VEC RDP customers who are hosting MSI Data NOW can upgrade to TC1 and still have Viewpoint host the MSI connector.
Wednesday, 08 December 2021 at 09:05PM
Significant updates for connection methods and locations. Called out new preferred method for connection.
Post date: Jan 25, 2020 2:45:53 AM