Information about EDP-Systems

When you work with a software program, data will be generated, which usually should be available to use afterwards. However, computer data are unfortunately very sensitive and may be lost due to various causes. The most usual causes are:

• Data have not been saved
• The hardware suffers a defect
• The computer has been infected by a Virus / Malware
• An error occurring during an update
• Demolition of the hardware because of a fire
• Theft / loss of the hardware

Therefore you should protect your data from data loss with technical measures. Please keep in mind that, after a loss of data, you can receive the program version with your catalogues from CARAT, but that all other data, which are the result of working with CARAT, are lost irretrievable without a proper functioning data backup system! Also the support of CARAT can not help you further in this case.

Virus

A computer virus (from the Latin word virus for poison) is a self-proliferating computer program which is able to infiltrate other computer programs and reproduce itself with them. The classification as virus refers to the distribution and infection function. Once started, it can conduct changes to the status of the hardware, to the operating system or to the software that are not controllable by the user. Computer viruses can influence the safety of your system through functions desired or not desired for by the creator, and rank among malware. (Source: Wikipedia)

Malware

Computer programs that are developed to execute undesired and as case may be harmful functions, not desired by the user are called malware (a combination of the Latin word malus, meaning bad, and software). The term malware is in use as collective term, to describe the big scope of hostile, intrusive and / or undesired software or programs.

The hostile functions are usually disguised or the software runs completely unnoticed in the background. Harmful functions are for example the manipulation or deletion of files or the technical compromise of the security software and other safety arrangements of a computer (like for example firewalls and anti-virus programs), but in this context also, the unasked collection of data. With malware it is usual that a methodical de-installation with the normally used resources does not succeed, resulting in software fragments remaining in the system. These can possibly furthermore execute undesired functions, even after de-installation. (Source: Wikipedia)

The for CARAT recommended browsers in their most current versions are:

Chrome

Firefox

Edge (new version, with Chrome-Core)

For using the full range of functions of the CARAT Kitchen design it is necessary that CARAT can access the following internet addresses:

The browser windows also require access to certification and revocation servers for the certificate check.

The firewall and the installed antivirus software should furthermore allow unrestricted read and write access to the CARAT installation directory and all files located there.

CARAT cloud technology:

• CARAT cloud uses the Microsoft Azure platform.

• The hosting of the service is situated in Europe (the Netherlands) and for China in Singapore.

• No personal data are stored (GDPR-conform).

• The CARAT cloud user interface uses the Web-Framework-Angular.

• The CARAT cloud works with the latest versions of the Chrome, Firefox and Edge internet browsers.

Note about the CARAT cloud services:

• With the modules 4G (Graphic and Licence data download), 4H (Catalogue download), 4I (Setup download) data are synchronised with the CARATcloud server in cyclical intervals and the determined deviations are downloaded in compressed encrypted form and made available to your CARAT automatically. No further active user login is required for this. The intervals between the server requests (cycles) and further details can be found in the in the CloudSync.log file of the LOG directory of the CARAT installation folder.

The following additional program functionalities are also executed as CARAT cloud services:

• 3V (CARAT view) ​

• 4F (Order control (ATAK))​

• 9E (Éco-mobilier (FR))​

• 8R (CARAT kitchen+space)

For a full range of functions in the CARAT cloud, please also note the Configuration recommendations for the firewall and virus scanner when using CARAT Kitchen Design.

A loss of data in the CARAT environment could in the worse case mean for you that all Customer data, Commission data, Calculation settings, changes in the Article stock or also special Settings of the installation are lost beyond retrieval. Therefore, a total loss of data of CARAT could also mean severe financial damages for you. You should therefore plan an effective data backup protocol from the start, because, in our experience, such an occurrence happens usually unexpected. By now there are several options for a good functioning data backup procedure available. Among them is surely an alternative that is optimally suitable for your company. Especially on this issue we would recommend you to seek professional advice from your EDP-specialist.

CARAT is solely developed for operating systems of Microsoft. The recommended operating systems are:

• Windows 11 (Pro, Enterprise)

• Windows 10 (Pro, Enterprise)

You should refrain from the use of Home-versions of the operating systems because of the lack of network support.

CARAT has been especially developed for use on Windows computers. You can use Desktop or Notebook computers. However, the full functionality of CARAT can only be guaranteed with of the current operating systems of Microsoft. The use of Tablet-computers can not be overall recommended, because of the usually inadequate hardware that, especially in the range of graphics, can lead to problems.

If CARAT should be used in a network, we also recommend the use of an operating system of Microsoft for the server. This is especially recommendable for the functions planned for the future in connection with SQL-databases, to, among other things, limit the installation and update effort for you. The by us recommended server operating systems are:

• Windows Server 2022
• Windows Server 2019

Linux

Based on lower costs might the operating system of Linux be interesting for a network, however considerable higher demands on the knowledge of the administrators are necessary. Also is, with a Linux server, more effort required to install and update CARAT correctly. De installation files of CARAT are merged in one MSI-package (Microsoft installer), which usually only can be installed automatically in a pure Windows network. The extra work caused by the use of a Linux server should therefore be done by your system administrator. In these cases can the support from CARAT only be very limited.

CARAT can be used with the use of different special modules or module combinations. Therefore, it should be clarified in advance if a flawless operation of CARAT with the needed special modules or module combinations can be guaranteed on a Linux-Server.

 

Terminal-Server

Also the use of Terminal servers is oftentimes considered, mainly based cost motives. As long as CARAT is only used with simple commercial functions, this might be feasible. However, as soon as more complex functions, like for example the perspective view, come in use, the performance is usually not sufficient for a successful and fast operation of CARAT. Also in this case can the limitations based on the principles not be compensated by CARAT. In this case can the support from CARAT also only be limited.

We basically recommend to use CARAT only in pure Client-Server networks. Only in these kind of networks is the necessary performance and security to work fast, stable and reliable with CARAT guaranteed.

Peer-to-peer

We advise against the use of Peer-to-peer networks. Because with this kind of network the actual server is missing, so that the database access of CARAT can not be guaranteed adequately. Also the performance of these computer-bonds in connection with CARAT is rather poor.

VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) offers some practical advantages. It is reasonably priced, quickly deployable, and from the point of data protection very secure because of the encryption of the data communication over the internet. However, the praxis shows in many cases that the bandwidth in company networks is configured too small for the total data traffic.

Therefore is the use of CARAT as well as the further use of network resources (for example Notebook synchronisation) over a VPN not recommendable.

NAS

(Network Attached Storage) The use of a network depending storage, that in a network, instead of a server, can be reached by each client is for the use with CARAT not recommendable. Such a storage could potentially be used for data backup, however not for the installation of CARAT for daily use.

WLAN-Router

A WLAN router can also be used to allow several computers to communicate with each other in a similar way to a network. However, the wireless connection of a WLAN router is not as reliable as a cable connection. For CARAT you need a permanent proper functioning connection to the server, because the use of CARAT requires a permanent access to the database. Problems with the execution of CARAT up to loss of data can occur because of unexpected interruptions of the connection.

Because of the diversity of today's graphics cards and the still very unclear and often confusing labelling of individual graphics card types, it is not possible for us to recommend certain series of graphics cards for the use with CARAT. This is because there are sometimes considerable differences in performance despite the fact that the type designations are almost identical.

For our tests, with graphics cards, we generally use, as reference system, devices from the business line of the manufacturer Dell. Please note that the flawless functioning of a graphics card can only be ensured when also all other components (motherboard, power supply unit, drivers) work properly. Because a computer system can only be evaluated as a total, we can only give a global recommendation without obligations for graphics cards.

Nowadays are more and more Multi-Screen-environments desired. Graphic cards that are suitable for a multi-screen environment have usually a real high performance and therefore also corresponding current consumption. You should therefore be sure that the available power supply unit can provide for the necessary amount of current, because it otherwise can lead to unexpected system failures.

The VR glasses are tested with the CARAT version V2023.14.0.0 and a NVIDIA GeForce RTX3080 as well as with

a RTX4080 graphics card.

See also: The Hardware Recommendation