Platypus Blog

Over the course of 15 years, our support staff has often asked the question “Do you have a backup?”.  While the answer varies, the reality is that most customers aren’t backing up their Platypus data consistently in a way that allows them to resume normal business operations in a timely manner.  We have reconstructed data from print files, had customers re-key data based on printed hard copies of statements and worse yet, had to resort to calling customers to ask them for their information.

Platypus uses Microsoft SQL Server as the database for storing billing and authentication information.  If you are using Platypus and haven’t configured Microsoft SQL Server to backup the data on a regular basis to both a local and remote location, then your data could be in jeopardy.  In addition to configuring the backup, daily monitoring and periodic restorations are essential to knowing that the data you are backing up is current and valid.

That’s where the Platypus Managed Online Backup service can help.  In addition to remote backup configuration and cloud storage, Platypus technicians monitor your backup health, perform an initial test restore and alert you when failures occur.  In case of data loss or user error, our Platypus technicians are here to help you get your data restored quickly so that you can get back to running your business.

Don’t let your business be down for an extended period of time due to not having a backup.  Keep your customer data, tax data and customers online with Platypus Managed Online Backup.

Why protect your data?

• Hardware failure
• Viruses
• Natural Disasters
• Malicious Employees

Why Platypus Online Backup?

• Professionals who understand what data to backup
• Remotely Configured
• Initial Test Restore
• Regular Monitoring and Notification
• Backup Troubleshooting Assistance
• Assisted Restore
• Access to the last 30 days of backup history

Pricing

• Setup Fee: $125 – Includes setup and restore testing.
• Monthly Rate:
  • $49.95 per Month – 5GB Online Storage
  • $1.49 per 1GB over 5GB
• Restoration Fee: $125 per hour with 1 hour minimum, plus cost of media (if required)

Platypus Support, Sales and Printing will be closed on Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 for Independence Day.

We will also have reduced support hours (8 AM – 4 PM) on Monday, July 2nd, and Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012.

Normal support hours (8 AM – 7 PM) will resume on Thursday, July 5th, 2012.

Thanks and enjoy the holiday!

Platypus Support and Printing will be closed on Monday, May 28th, 2012 for Memorial Day.  Normal Support and Printing Hours (8:00AM to 7:00PM CST) will resume on Tuesday, May 29th, 2012.

Platypus will be attending the MikroTik MUM conference in New Orleans on September 27th and 28th, 2012.

MikroTik User Meeting (MUM) is a conference on MikroTik RouterOS software and RouterBoard hardware. Ask questions, listen to presentations, talk with specialists and see interesting technology demos by MikroTik and the users themselves – all here, at the MUM.

For more information on the conference, please visit: http://mum.mikrotik.com/2012/US/info

If you are a Platypus customer interested in attending, we have some free tickets! Please follow us on Twitter (@PlatypusBilling) and send us a tweet letting us know how many guests you are bringing.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Platypus will be attending the annual ISPAmerica show sponsored by WISPA on March 28th, 29th and 30th at the Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World. To learn more about the show, visit: http://www.wispa.org/ispamerica-2012.

There’s gotta be a joke in there somewhere…

We will once again be attending Animal Farm in Salt Lake City, January 31st – February 2nd, 2012. This is always a great show with a lot of community between Canopy users. The show has expanded over the last few years to offer additional topics and is a great networking opportunity. More information is included below.

Animal Farm is an open group where you’ll find technical training and activities designed for and by Motorola Canopy Users like you. Canopy users from varied backgrounds meet and discuss topics of common interest. These events are typically USER DRIVEN, NOT VENDOR DRIVEN. We focus on what you need, not what someone wants to sell. Learn more at: http://afmug.com/

The wait is over. The new web interface is here!

We have redesigned the Platypus 7 Web Interface to make it easier to use, more intuitive for your customers and easier to customize.

Customers now see a dashboard view upon login which shows their recent invoices and payments at a glance as well as usage information when used with RADIUS. Rates, services and billing information management has been streamlined as well as overall navigation.

Staff members will notice a revamped help desk interface that allows them to quickly respond to tickets, just as within the client. We have also improved the performance for customers with a large number of rates, making the drill down on rates easier to understand and navigate.

Backend improvements such as partial stylesheet replacements and easy color changes are now in place as well as a standard customization layer, ensuring that your changes aren’t lost between point releases. JQuery is now utilized to give the interface a more modern feel.

Overall, the new release gives us a much improved base on which to build our web interface and should allow for easier changes and customizations.

We hope you enjoy the new look! Navigate to the support section to download it today.

Below is the Holiday Schedule for Platypus Support and Printing in Central Standard Time:

November 24th – Closed
November 25th – Printing Open 9 to 12
December 26th – Closed
December 27th – Support and Printing Open 9 to 5
December 28th – Support and Printing Open 9 to 5
December 29th – Support and Printing Open 9 to 5
December 30th – Printing Open 9 to 12
January 2nd – Closed
January 3rd – Support and Printing Open 8 to 7

Platypus Support, Sales and Printing will be closed on Monday, September 5th, 2011 for Labor Day. The Platypus Team wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Platypus is attending the annual WISPA Member Meeting in Las Vegas, October 10-12, 2011. This show attracts many of the top WISPs, ISPs, CLECs, speakers and vendors in the ISP space including Motorola, Ubiquiti, Mikrotik and more.

In addition to the WISPA show, FISPA, Mikrotik, Motorola and Ubiquiti will be conducting training sessions in the days following the WISPA show.

Stop by the Platypus Booth (#206) to talk about how Platypus can better help you manage your business.

For more information please visit: http://www.wispa.org