As you may know most software publishers – including Sage – have done away with providing CD media for new and upgrade releases.
Many (most) of our upgrades are done remotely without being on-site with the customer.
This creates a dilema.
How to get large sets of source files that you’ll need to start the installation onto your customer’s computer without spending hours struggling with slow connections or downloads that fail at the 98% DL mark…?
The answer typically has been that you either ship the customer a CD or take your chances and remotely connect to a site and start the download (praying that the 2 GB files all download correctly).
Here’s what I’ve found works best for me:
I use two DropBox sync accounts. One which I label as “pure” is the only one that I sync to the customer. The other labeled “normal” is the DropBox on the desktop of all my computers.
a. I have a “pure” paid DropBox used only for the purpose of syncing files to customer sites. Cost is $99/yr for 100 GB. You can probably use any number of file syncing services – DropBox is just the one that I’m most familiar with.
Upload all of your source files to a folder on “pure” DropBox.
I also like to install all the patches, FRX, Microsoft components, service updates, tax tables, what’s new guides, manuals and other third party tools I typically need during a Sage 100 ERP upgrade.
b. Share that folder to your “normal” DropBox where you can maintain (add/remove) files and documents as needed. Because these two DropBoxes are in sync you will automatically be changing your “pure” DropBox (which also syncs to any customer computers you’ve installed it to)
The reason I use a “pure” DropBox (one that only has Sage sync files) is that I believe once you install DropBox on a customer site they can activate any of the folders (including ones you may have holding personal information) and start syncing to their computer.
For $99 per DropBox account — this is definitely worth the investment.
I typically remotely install “pure” DropBox. Let it sync over a couple days. Then when I log back in every file I need is on the remote computer.
You can download individually from lots of file services – including Sugarsync or Google Drive – however I think “pure” DropBox is more of a time saver since you don’t have to babysit the downloads.
I’ve yet to have a problem synchronizing. I had lots of issues with LARGE file downloads from Sugarsync.
Yes you can sync folders this with any of the other file services like Sugarsync , Google Drive, SkyDrive, Box.Net — I just happened to use DropBox because it was inexpensive and I already was using it personally.
