Upgrade Options for Theatre Manager
Upgrade Options for Theatre Manager
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Compliance Statement Required by PCI Council |
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Installing Theatre Manager to be PCI Compliant |
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Upgrade Support Services provided by ArtsMan |
You have some options available to you when you want to update Theatre Manager.
You may:
- Choose to self-install all the components required for the Version Upgrade. There is NO COST for a self-install. - OR -
- Contract Arts Management Systems to perform the work for you on a fee for service basis. This work is no part of your annual support and maintenance agreement as it falls outside of normal support. Upgrading costs $100/hr to a maximum of $400.00. - OR -
- take a hybrid approach and do some of the work yourself and ask us to do some parts of it
Self upgrade option
Self upgrade option
Please refer to the Release Notes for the complete installation requirements. Depending what needs updated, the process can take from half an hour to a day, and should be performed by proficient IT personnel.
The following are generally updated for you automatically:
- Updating the database with latest fields
- Setting up Theatre Manager's Daily, Monthly, and Year End Backup process
- Latest version of Theatre Manager on each Workstation
- Nginx Web Server
- The Second Generation Web Server
- the most current templates for Web Pages
The following may need to be manually updated periodically:
- Postgres Database Server
- A new install of Theatre Manager on a Workstation
- Comparing customized Web Pages to the latest templates
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Most of the Theatre Manager components are updated automatically for you - so it is rare to need to think about updates other than database or customized web pages (and only periodically). Please read the release notes |
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If you choose to self-install, and then require support assistance, the regular hourly billable rate of $100 per hour will be applicable. Please note that support for a self installation is not covered under the After Hours Emergency Support contract. Please plan your time accordingly to ensure that if you do have questions, Arts Management support will be available to assist you. |
Enlisting AMS to do an upgrade for you
Enlisting AMS to do an upgrade for you
The actual upgrade process can take up to one business day, depending on what needs to be done. During this time your offices will not be able to use Theatre Manager (even to "look things up"), and web sales (if applicable) will be offline during the upgrade process.
Step #1 - Contact Arts Management
Step #1 - Contact Arts Management
Let us know if the update includes switching Credit card service providers and if you have any preferred dates that match up to our available dates.
Step #2 - Scheduling a time for an Upgrade
Step #3 - Advance Preparation for the Upgrade
Step #3 - Advance Preparation for the Upgrade
- Please forward any necessary user ids, passwords and connection information at least 24hrs before the upgrade date. We typically need:
- local administrator ID and password for each machine
- Theatre Manager's master user password
- Please provide us the listing of steps to follow to remote connect to the following machines:
- the computer running the Postgres Database Server
- the computer running Nginx Server
- the computer running the Second Generation web server
- Please ensure that all users have logged out of Theatre Manager by the scheduled update time.
- Review the release notes starting at the latest to see if there is anything special that you want us to do as part of the upgrade.
Note: Failure to provide us the required remote access, user ids, or passwords before the scheduled date, may result in the upgrade being reassigned to a different day.
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Hardware Requirements
If you are running Mac OSX for your Nginx Server, this computer must be at least a core 2 Intel based machine running OSX 10.8.5 at a minimum in order to deal with TLS 1.2 security. |
Step #4 - On the day of the Upgrade
Step #4 - On the day of the Upgrade
We will be starting the process at approximately 8:00am MST and the process may take approximately 5+/- hours to complete. It should be done on a non-busy day because your box office will not be able to use Theatre Manager and web sales will also be offline. If you do not have a standard method for remote connections to within your network, you can use Theatre Manager's built in Team Viewer sessions to provide the required access.
We will need the following:
- Remote access to your network setup and working with any required usernames and passwords to connect
- **Local Administrator name and password for the Postgres Database Server
- **Local Administrator name for the Nginx Web Server
- **Local Administrator name for the Web Listener Server(s)
- Theatre Manager's Master User password
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**On windows machines, there are two types of administrator accounts. There is:
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We will be updating (if applicable):
- Postgres Database Server
- Nginx Web Server
- Second Generation Web Server
- Web Pages
- Theatre Manager
- Your backup process for either Macintosh or Windows
- Look for any factors that might affect performance and tune any settings
We will be removing and cleaning up:
- Any older installer versions that are no longer needed
- Any older databases that are not part of the backup cycle
- Cleaning up your desktop of any files that might have been placed there by our team that are no longe pertinent to Theatre Manager
The time to complete the upgrade process will depend on:
- Speed of your remote access
- Hardware architecture
- Size of your database
Approximate Timeline, if all goes well
Each upgrade is slightly different, however we do work as quickly as possible to minimize all downtime to the box office and for web sales. We find that most delays in completing the upgrade on time is directly related to remote connections and to network (upload/download) speeds during our remote access. On average the time is approximately 5+/- hours from the time that we gain access to the system to start the process.
We bring the box office back online first, then approximately 1+/- hours later, we bring the web sales online. Our first priority is to get the database server upgraded, then bring the box office online, then finally web sales.
After we have upgraded your system, we'll provide you the installer links to upgrade Theatre Manager on your remaining workstations.
Please note that the estimated time of 5+/- hours is only an estimate. It may be shorter, or If we encounter any troubles along the way, it may take longer.
Step #5 - What will happen after the upgrade?
Step #5 - What will happen after the upgrade?
In many cases we will allow you to bring your box office back online within an hour or so of starting the upgrade, then while you are doing that, we will complete the web sales upgrade and bring your web sales back online.


