Web Queue Setup

Web servers will generally handle average traffic on most days. This is true of all web servers, everywhere, such as Google, Apple, Amazon

However, there are instances when every web server in the world can get overwhelmed with requests and no amount of hardware can prevent it. Theatre Manager offers you a choice of two queueing system that are designed to become involved in periods of high load to mitigate overloading your systems.

When implemented, a Queue:

  • intercepts web traffic to the servers and
  • allows only so many people into the web store at a time, and
  • presents a dialog to those that are waiting and not in the web store that indicates where they are line waiting for access. As people finish their cart, the next person in line is allowed in

Queue Setup
Enable Queue Click to enable one of the available queuing options.

Generally speaking, a queue will only engage if your sales volume reaches a specified thresh hold.

If you enable the queue, then select which queueing option you want.

Theatre Manager offers you a choice of three queueing options:

  • Do not use a queue (no protection is provided - leave the box unchecked)
  • Use Theatre Manager's built in queue- which is free
  • Use a commercial, third party provider called Queue-it that you would need to pay for.
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Explanation

Web Server Built In Queue

Theatre Manager's built-in queue is free to use. It is self-contained within your systems and leaves the traffic to be managed by the Web Server using Nginx and a very fast caching system.

It should reasonably work into many thousands of simultaneous visitors to your Web Servers.

Built In Queue

Store Timeout

The amount of time an inactive user has before being removed from the online store. Inactivity means the amount of time the user doesn't click their mouse or enter a keystroke. In other words, if they get into the online store and don't do anything for X amount of time, the system will remove them and allow the next person waiting in the queue into the store.

Store Capacity

The number of patrons allowed into the online store at one time. For most clients, Artsman suggests setting an initial Store Capacity at 50. That means the system will allow the first 50 patrons into the online store, and the 51st person will wait in the queue until someone already in the store exits the store.

Info Note & Warning Note

The Info and Warning Note will display text to online shoppers waiting in the queue. The difference between the Info and Warning Note will be the colour of the note, with Info typically being blue, and Warning being red. However, the colours of the background for the Info and Warning Notes are determined by the Bootstrap theme the organization has selected.

Redis Cluster Storage DB Info

This is a temporary storage place for the Built In Queue to hold data for the queue system. For example, how many people are in line, what place they have in-line, etc.

Database Number

Users can select the Database number if more than 1 is available. By default, if an organization only has a single database (non-outlet clients) then the number for the database should be set to 0.

IP Address

Traditionally the database server will be set up to enable cluster storage. This address should reflect the IP of the machine where Cluster Storage is enabled in the Theatre Manager Server configuration.

Port #

The port number to access the cluster storage. The default is 8204.

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Reference

Web Server Queue-It Setup

Queue-it is a pay-for-use service that creates a queue external to Theatre Manager server environment.

Refer to the built in queue that is free and is built into TheatreManager servers

External Web Server Ticket Sales URL
Web Server URL The domain for the ticketing site. Normally, this should look like

https://tickets.yourvenue.org

Web Server Port Enter the port number that the web server will be using for incoming connections.

Normally, leave this blank to use the standard port 443 for incoming secure connections.

 

The Queue-it process

When Queue-it is enabled in Theatre Manager, the customer experience will be like:

  • When they reach your web site they will either:
    • Be able to enter right away if the traffic on your web site is below the thresh holds you set in the queue-it online management portal
    • If the site is considered busy, you'll see an image lie the one on the right. (Not this was customized for the Hamilton onsale by Proctors Theatre
  • If the patron is required to wait their turn, they'll see a countdown bar that shows their approximate place in line
  • Once they are allowed to enter the web site, they can select tickets, add them to their cart, give donations, all the typical things supported on your commerce web site.
  • after checkout, if the customer attempts to go and buy more tickets, they will be put back in the queue to ait their turn.
  • NoteL: There may be a time limit in Queue-it so that if a customer takes too long in the purchase process, they could be ejected from the store
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Reference