www.Speedtest.net vs. www.dslreport.net vs. command line

This is a bit off the topic of Everest software discussion, but I just wanted to point out possible deceptiveness of www.speedtest.com.  I recently received DSL service from True, ISP provider in Thailand, and when the technician test the DSL speed, they always refer to www.speedtest.com to display the result to all their customers.  But I doubt the accuracy or the validity of their results.  Within Thailand it seems to be accurate, but when you try to go outside of Thailand, I am really skeptical about the result.  I've taken the test and posting the result in the picture below.

Note the Ping result, it's 30ms to respond from a server located in the USA.  That is what made me suspicious about the truthfulness of the result.  And looking at the speed, it's even more unbelievable.  Just browsing the websites outside Thailand is very slow.  But if you look at the result, it appears that it should be very fast.

So I took another step further and used a different site to test the speed.  I went to www.dslreports.com to test the speed and here is the result.

As you can see the ping speed is a lot slower than what is reported on www.speedtest.net.  And also the performance seems to be reflective of the actual web browsing experience I am having.  But I know a lot of people would probably argue all sort of theory, so I took another test using just the simple command line function found in all Windows operating system.  the PING function and here is what the result looked like.

Note the Ping time, it's nearly the same as www.dslreports.com.  This is a built in function of Windows operating system and it's a direct test to the server in the US.

Conclusion: It appears that www.speedtest.net is deceptive in how they present their results and for a major company like True to use them as an authoritative measure of internet speed is bad business practice.  Obviously, once they are caught, they will deny that they know anything about the faulty test result. I want to think about a deeper conspiracy, but would shy away from that now.  I think company pay www.speedtest.net to come up with favorable speed result so that they can turn around and deceive their customers that their speed is fast as promise.  But it's NOT.  So be aware of ISP showing your speed test using this bogus site, for now it's bogus, unless someone can otherwise prove me wrong.

Crystal Report XI

Crystal Report XI or 11 by Business Object is a very good solution for quick ad-hoc report.  If you are in a crunch for timely report, this is the program to get.  The cost of the product is worth it's weight in gold.  I've been using it for many years now and have seen it grow from version to version.  One notable feature with version XI is the ability to reference images and not have to embed it in to the report itself as an object.  This is especially good for report that may have dynamic images on a page, like an order form that may include images of the product.  Trying to embed all the images into it at once would be unheard of.  The size of the report would grow so big and not to mention maintaining it.

You can easily reference:

1. Put an image object on to the worksheet.
2. Click Property
3. Select Picture Tab
4. And click on formula for Graphic Location
5. Once in there, you can enter any graphic location you want.  It can be an URL, UNC directory, Physical Drive location.

The graphic setting location works fine when running from my desktop, but when deploying the report to a website, well that a whole different story. What I used was URL location as a reference for the image, but that will not work. I am not sure why, but I am not going to try to figure it out, but somehow the image will not show up when the report runs from the website.  The only way for me to get it to work is to use UNC or Physical Address(ie. C:/).  A little tip, if you are trying using the .net and trying to pass the parameter for UNC or Physical Address, you need to put an extra "\" on to the "\".  Example: UNC "\\ComputerName\Directory\Image.jpg" when sending parameter to Crystal Report XI, you would form it as "\\\\ComputerName\\Directory\\Image.jpg.

Everest 5.0.2.5 with Paypal Paypro Flow 4.0

As usual, Everest has several issues with their deployment procedures.  When installing a new application server, be sure to install .Net Framework or Pay flow pro will not work.  You may get the following message when processing ecommerce orders:

"PayFlow Pro files are missing OR not installed properly"

Everest just needs to include a script to perform a prerequisite check for all necessary components.

SDK 5.0.2.5

Not sure what is going on with Everest, but I have a feeling that they rush this product out to meet the deadline for Paypal integration.  But in doing so, have compromise the installation of SDK 5.0.2.5  If you run the API browser to obtain session key, you will notice that an error message will appear.

Could not login because there is version mismatch between the current version of your Everest application and the Everest business server
800200AE

The solution is to overwite the following dlls with the correct ones.  You can contact me for it or contact Everest.

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SDK 5.0.2.5 install failure

You may have noticed when you try to install SDK 5.0.2.5 you are getting an error.

Apparently Everest must be missing some important object or it's corrupted.  The work around that works is to download SDK 4.0.1 from the support website and install that first.  Once that is done, then install SDK 5.0.2.5. 

If anyone finds out a different way let me know. 

There is yet another problem when running the SDK 5.0.2.5.  It will give a mismatch error.  Please read my next blog for the solution.

As of 3/14/2011, the problem still remains the same.   I have a feeling that if  you did a fresh install with 5.0.2.5, you will not have this problem.  It's only when you upgrade from previous version.  And that is why Everest does not see any problem with it.

Paypal Pro and Everest

There is a confusion out there with all Everest Customers using the Everest Advanced product and Payflow Pro. As you know Paypal is upgrading it's Payflow Pro product for higher security. But Everest is requiring that all Everest user register their Paypal account with them in order to use the new 5.0.2.5 version. An excerpt is found below. It's a bit unusual as I am not sure why we would need to do that. It seems that Everest wants to link their client Paypal account with theirs, which I think can be a privacy issue.

So I asked an Account rep at Everest to confirm the requirement and found out that as of today, it's no longer needed.

Excerpt from Everest site 08/12/2009:

Will my existing Payflow Pro accounts be impacted?

Paypal’s announcement caught us by surprise along with many of our customers. We didn’t know how many customers were impacted so we had to use a survey to better understand the scale of the impact. To eliminate this scenario in the future, Everest has partnered with Paypal in order to provide a better customer experience and more comprehensive product communications. This partnership requires that Everest customers create new Payflow Pro account(s) in order to use Everest Advanced and the new Payflow Pro integration. You need to contact Everest to create the accounts. Existing accounts and new accounts created by Paypal or their other partners will not work with Everest Advanced. The new accounts will not change how customers use Payflow Pro.

RESOLUTION:

If you already have an existing Payflowpro processor, just change the processor type from "Payflow Pro(legacy)" to "Payflow Pro". Then in the host change it to "payflowpro.paypal.com"

Note: Make sure you have upgraded to 5.0.2.5 or else you won't see the option.

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Everest acquired by Versata

We knew it was coming but just didn't know when. In the past couple of months, Everest's poor performance was due to the fact that they were either running out of funds or they were ready to sell the company. Well I guess we found out today. I hope Versata will inject some needed management and mind set of the old Everest and continue to grow this product into a world class product.

Here is an excerpt from Everest. You can also read down below:

Versata Enterprises Acquires Everest Software
Acquisition of Business Management Software Leader Strengthens Versata’s Enterprise Portfolio

AUSTIN, TEXAS, August 7, 2009 - An affiliate company of Versata Enterprises, Inc. (Versata), a leading provider of enterprise software solutions, announced today the acquisition of Everest Software, Inc. (Everest), the leading provider of retail and wholesale business management software. Everest’s fully integrated business application suite, Everest®, addresses the challenges of growing small to medium businesses (SMBs) by allowing them to dramatically increase their efficiency and profitability with a solution that provides a remarkably rapid return on investment. Updata Advisors, Inc. acted as financial advisor to Everest on the transaction.

Versata has almost two decades of experience partnering with hundreds of large enterprises to enhance and simplify critical IT operations. The company maintains a persistent focus on decreasing customers’ IT spending by reducing hardware and associated maintenance, leveraging open source technology, and accelerating value delivery to business customers. As one of the only companies in the industry with a focus on total cost takeout, Versata has established a reputation as a true ally to the IT department.

The company will operate Everest as a stand-alone entity with a dedicated customer service and product team. Everest joins the Versata portfolio consisting of multiple enterprise software companies acquired and integrated over the past four years. Integration will begin with implementation of Versata’s Customer Success program, designed to emphasize Versata’s intense focus on successful customer relationships and alignment of product development investments with customer priorities.

“The acquisition by Versata provides an outstanding path forward for Everest’s customers and products,” said Edwin Miller, Everest’s CEO. “In the past two years Everest grew the top line of the Company 26% while simultaneously restructuring expenses by over 50% - all while consistently improving the customer experience. Through Versata’s highly respected Customer Success program, we will continue to build upon the past two years of consistent improvement. Everest will be a stronger company and in an even better position to be a leader in the SMB space.”

Versata veteran Danielle Royston will assume a leadership position for the Versata-Everest team. “Everest has one of the best customer bases in the industry and we're excited to work with those customers to help grow their top line and help cut their costs especially in today's challenging times. We will continue to work with Everest’s customers to enhance Everest and deliver even more value to their growing businesses. Edwin Miller and his team have done a great job of building an integrated business software company and we are excited to have them as part of the Versata family.”

About Everest Software, Inc.
Everest® Software, the leading software provider for retail and wholesale business, enables companies to manage every function of their business more effectively. This fully-integrated business management software addresses the challenges of growing SMBs. Everest Software is the proud winner of numerous awards including the SIIA Codie Award for “Best Business Software Product.” For more information, visithttp://www.everestsoftwareinc.com.

About Versata Enterprises, Inc.
With a global presence covering 45 countries, Versata Enterprises solves the most complex business problems for the world’s largest organizations. Versata Enterprises comprises a number of leading enterprise solution providers, including Versata, Inc., Artemis International Solutions Corporation, Nextance, Inc., Gensym Corporation, Clear Technology, Inc., Tenfold Corporation, eCora Software, Inc., Evolutionary Technologies, Inc. and AlterPoint, Inc. Versata distinguishes itself in the software industry by focusing on customer priorities as driven by value delivered. Versata’s market-leading Customer Success Program ensures customer involvement in product decisions and business priorities and provides twice-yearly opportunities for customers to score Versata’s performance against commitments. Versata’s world-class engineering capability ensures substantive and valuable product releases, thereby ensuring customer success. Versata also offers customers the opportunity to leverage Versata’s global efficiency by offering a menu of services to help customers lower the cost of technology services across the enterprise. Versata’s relentless focus on customer priorities, coupled with an unmatched global engineering capability, provides Versata customers continuous innovation and repeatable value propositions. For more information, visit http://www.versata.com.

About Updata Advisors
Based in New York, New York and Reston, Virginia, Updata Advisors is a leading investment bank specializing in mergers, acquisitions, private placements, fairness opinions and corporate restructurings for the information technology industry. Since 1987, the firm has advised on over $15 billion in transactions for application and infrastructure software, internet, security and IT services companies. For more information, visit http://www.updataadvisors.com.

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