FreezerPro FAQ



 


General

Where FreezerPro will be installed?
FreezerPro will be installed in your laboratory.
Where FreezerPro can be used?
FreezerPro can be used in a wide range of environments from small laboratories with a few freezers storing a few hundred samples to much larger sites with many freezers, users, and millions of samples.
Can FreezerPro be translated to other languages?
Yes. Additionally to English, FreezerPro is already available in Russian, Chinese and Japanese. Additional translations coming soon.
Where is FreezerPro used?
FreezerPro is used world-wide in more than 10 countries (USA, Canada, France, Germany, China, Russia, Australia, Italy, Arab Emirates, Japan and Singapore).
Where FreezerPro will be installed?
FreezerPro will be installed in your laboratory.
What is the software license?
The license is for one installation on a central computer (server). Once installed, FreezerPro can be accessed from any computer (Mac, Windows or Linux) on your network with any web browser that comes with your operating system. There is no limit on the number of users (or freezers) and no additional licenses are required.
How many users can simultaneously access FreezerPro?
There is no limit on the number of users and our tests revealed excellent performance with a hundred users working simultaneously.
What about the software updates?
FreezerPro comes with the build-in software update manager and can be updated to the latest version over the Internet free of charge.
How we install FreezerPro?
FreezerPro is distributed as a Virtual Appliance - a pre-built, pre-configured, ready-to-run application packaged along with an operating system. FreezerPro VA can be deployed on Windows, Linux and Mac OS servers. Installation is simple and comes with step-by-step instructions.
What are the terms of software license?
Full License cost $1499.00 ($1099.0 Academic, Government and Educational) and allows installation of FreezerPro 2010 on one server in your facility. There is no limit on the number of users, up to a 100.
What is the database that comes with FreezerPro?
FreezerPro comes with a PostgreSQL database. This database is capable of storing massive amounts of data.
What support options are available?
If you purchase the Subscription Plan, you are entitled to unlimited toll-free phone support, free updates, and free upgrades to new versions of FreezerPro. In addition, we offer on-site as well as web training via WebEx. Please visit the Online Store for more information on Support Subscriptions. Maintenance updates are included in the base product free of charge.
Does FreezerPro offer multi-lingual support?
Yes. FreezerPro offers full Unicode (UTF-8) support. Any font may be used to make records in FreezerPro.
Does FreezerPro keep track of multiple aliquots of the same sample?
Yes.
Does FreezerPro track sample volumes?
Yes. It keeps track of total sample volume and volume of individual sample aliquots.
Is it possible to group samples into sample sets or study lists?
Yes.
Can FreezerPro track the number of freeze/thaw cycles?
Yes.
Is FreezerPro compatible with barcoding of samples?
Yes.
Is FreezerPro compatible with RFIDs?
Yes.
Is it possible to create new sample types?
Yes.
Is it possible to add our own fields that are associated with each sample type? For instance an identification number, date, comment, web link, image, etc.?.
Yes.
Is it possible to assign individual passwords and usernames to our customers so that they could independently access the database and work with samples?
Yes. Administrator can create new accounts for new users and specify their rights. Access to FreezerPro is password-protected and all activities of users are tracked in a read-only audit.
Is it possible to monitor the temperature of the freezers using FreezerPro?
Yes, FreezerPro is compatible with freezer sensors and will display freezer status (such as temperature, humidity, open/closed and so on) in a monitor window.
Is it possible to generate a list of samples in a box with all sample coordinates?
Yes. Right-click on the box name in the freezer tree and choose "Samples Report". Similar reports can be created for any subdivision or entire freezers.
Can we search boxes by name?
Yes. Go to “Samples, Groups and Sources" , then click "All Boxes in all freezers" and then create “Filter” in the right panel.
Is FreezerPro HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant?
FreezerPro is compliant with HIPAA guidelines for software security and information privacy. FreezerPro is also compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and GLP/GMP (Good Laboratory Practice and Good Manufacturing Practice) and with caBIG guidelines.
How data stored in FreezerPro are protected from unauthorized access and activities?
We go a long way to protect the data. Here are a few things: Administrator creates user accounts with specific permissions and restrictions to access sample data and software, sets minimum password length, idle-timeouts to lock the screen after a period of inactivity. All activities are recorded and permanently stored in a read-only audit log file.
How many samples would FreezerPro tolerate?
There is no limit for the number of samples stored in FreezerPro. FreezerPro comes with an industry leading PostgreSQL database. This database is capable of storing massive amounts of data. We tested FreezerPro with 50 freezers, 1 million samples, and 100 users working simultaneously. The server was installed on a desktop computer with 3 GB of RAM, 2.4 Ghz quad-core CPU and 500 GB hard drive. There was no performance slowdown observed.


Installation

How is FreezerPro installed?
FreezerPro is distributed as a VMWare Virtual Appliance - a pre-build, pre-configured, ready-to-run application packaged along with an operating system inside a virtual machine. FreezerPro VA can be deployed on Windows and Linux computers under the free VMWare Server (http://ww.vmware.com/products/server/). Once FreezerPro VA is started, it can be accessed from any computer (Mac, Windows or Linux) on your network with any web browser that comes with your operating system. Because FreezerPro VA is supposed to be accessed from any computer and at any time, we don't recommend installing it on a personal computer but rather on a computer or server that is always on.
The VM (virtual machine) is recommended installation method of FreezerPro. The current virtualization technology is fast, reliable and eliminates a lot of problems associated with traditional installation ways.
What about network IP addresses?
The IP address is obtained via DHCP by default. You can change it to static IP address (choose Network Settings in FreezerPro VM console). This way the VM will always have the same IP address. You may also add this IP address to your DNS (on a router or on a server) so that you can access FreezerPro from any computer in your local intranet using address: http://freezerpro.intranet
Can FreezerPro store the data in external databases such as Oracle, DB2, mySQL, PostgreSQL and MS SQL Server?
Yes, FreezerPro Enterprise is now available with support of 5 major SQL engines.


Data Import

Is it possible to import data from other sample-tracking software into FreezerPro?
Yes. It is possible to import data from Excel spreadsheets, ezFreezer and FreezerWorks. We also offer a service to import from any other format.


Barcoding

Can barcode labels be customized?
Yes, FreezerPro supports full ZPL and DPL languages for barcode printers.
Can RURO customize barcode labels for us?
With FreezerPro, you can design labels with sample name, description, owner, and creation date, position and rearrange the barcode on the label any way you want. This requires some knowledge of the printer language (which is ZPL or DPL) depending on the printer model. If you prefer, we can set up printer for you. That is included in the Gold support.
What's the difference between linear and 2D barcodes?
2D barcodes are more compact and can be placed on top of the vial. There are commercially available vials with the barcodes already printed, like Cryobank vials. 2D barcode printers are more expensive and require special barcode readers, like HHP 4600g or other. FreezerPro supports both linear and 2D barcodes as well as RFIDs.


Customization

How the customization credits work?
The customization credits are the number of minutes allocated to software engineers for implementing and testing the requested features. Please note, we do not charge for customizations that would benefit all our customers and make FreezerPro a better product.
How fast is customization?
We are very prompt with customization requests. The average turnaround time is within 30 days. We will also provide a preview in advance to make sure that the feature is implemented according to your expectations.
How this will be installed?
Once the customization is ready it will be available through the Online Update.


Ordering

Is there a demo version available?
Yes, a free, full-functional, 30 days demo is available and can be activated later by ordering an activation code.
How to order FreezerPro?
Order and pay online:
You can order it online at www.ruro.com/buy.html

Call us toll-free 1-888-881-RURO

Fax: 1-888-755-8536

Email: sales@ruro.com
What payment options are available?
We accept Visa, Master, AMEX, Discover cards, Checks, and Money Orders.