On the 4th January 2011, the UK government will be increasing the standard rate of VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent. In line with this increase, this new rate will be reflected in our prices and any invoices you receive from us.

Today we want to announce that our FTP- and Mailservers are IPv6 enabled.

They have been for some weeks now.
We have used the time to see if everything is running as stable as we expected.

We have completed all tests and didn’t notice any side-effects of the addition of IPv6 to our systems.

If you already are IPv6 connected to the internet and are using software, that’s supports IPv6 (Operating system and FTP/mail client), your system should automatically use IPv6.

We are delighted to announce the immediate release of VrReservations Beta v1r1. VrReservations is an online booking system for Hotels, Guesthouses or anyone who requires a booking system for there website. The bespoke booking software allows you to start your own online booking system within minutes.

VrReservations has also been designed to simplify the task of online booking and to be incorporated into any website very easily. It also provides users with a unique, intuitive and easy to use interface that improves the way people use the web today.

Ideal for:

• Hotels
• Bed and Breakfasts
• Campsites
• Tour and Travel Company
• Or anyone who requires an online booking system
• And many more …..

Features – Beta Version

Administration Area
• Secure Login with user permissions
• Full System Log
• Complete Contents Management System (CMS)
• Upload PDF Files i.e. Menus, brochures, so customers can download these from the frontend.
• Customers management
• Manage Admin and Customers account details
• Manage hotel rooms and room types
• Manage rooms availability
• Manage languages
• Manage site settings and statistics
• Manage bookings and payments
• Rooms and Room Types management
• Default and weekly day prices for rooms
• Bookings management and history
• Bookings statistics
• Book telephone orders directly into the system. Streamline the booking process. Allow staff to reserve rooms and input the guest’s information into the system. The changes in reservations are instantly reflected to other website users to prevent over-booking and improve your organisation
• Add new pages, modify existing pages or delete existing
• News
• Gallery
• CMS for pages with WYSIWYG
• Multi-Language support
• Multi-Currency support
• PayPal
• Offline Credit Card payments
• WorldPay

Customers Area
• Mange account info
• Manage current and previous bookings
• Search for available rooms

We will be upgrading our support system within the next few days to a new version of our support system. Our current support system will be taken offline, while the new support system is installed. We will also be importing the existing database into the new support database.

Please note there will be not ticket reply’s while the support system is being upgraded. Normally emails can still be sent to support@vwdesigns.co.uk

Dear Valued Customer,

We would like announce that we have now upgraded our servers and have changed our network from IPv4 to IPv6.

Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6), sometimes called the "next generation" IP protocol (IPng), is designed by the IETF to replace the current version Internet Protocol, IP Version 4 ("IPv4"), which is now more than twenty years old. Most of today's network uses IPv4 and it is beginning to have problems, for example, the growing shortage of IPv4 addresses.

IPv6 fixes many shortages in IPv4, including the limited number of available IPv4 addresses. It also adds many improvements to IPv4 in areas. The key benefits of introducing IPv6 are:

• 340 undecillion IP addresses for the whole world network devices
• Plug and Play configuration with or without DHCP
• Better network bandwidth efficiency using multicast and any cast without broadcast
• Better QOS support for all types of applications
• Native information security framework for both data and control packets
• IPv6 offers a higher level of built-in security, and it has been specifically designed with mobile devices in mind.
• Enhanced mobility with fast handover, better route optimization and hierarchical mobility

Difference Between IPv4 and IPv6

IPv4

• Source and destination addresses are 32 bits (4 bytes) in length.
• IPSec support is optional.
• IPv4 header does not identify packet flow for QoS handling by routers.
• Both routers and the sending host fragment packets.
• Header includes a checksum.
• Header includes options.
• Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) uses broadcast ARP Request frames to resolve an IP address to a link layer address.
• Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) manages membership in local subnet groups.
• ICMP Router Discovery is used to determine the IPv4 address of the best default gateway, and it is optional.
• Broadcast addresses are used to send traffic to all nodes on a subnet.
• Must be configured either manually or through DHCP.
• Uses host address (A) resource records in Domain Name System (DNS) to map host names to IPv4 addresses.
• Uses pointer (PTR) resource records in the IN-ADDR.ARPA DNS domain to map IPv4 addresses to host names.
• Must support a 576-byte packet size (possibly fragmented).

IPv6

• Source and destination addresses are 128 bits (16 bytes) in length.
• IPSec support is required.
• IPv6 header contains Flow Label field, which identifies packet flow for QoS handling by router.
• Only the sending host fragments packets; routers do not.
• Header does not include a checksum.
• All optional data is moved to IPv6 extension headers.
• Multicast Neighbor Solicitation messages resolve IP addresses to link-layer addresses.
• Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD) messages manage membership in local subnet groups.
• ICMPv6 Router Solicitation and Router Advertisement messages are used to determine the IP address of
• the best default gateway, and they are required.
• IPv6 uses a link-local scope all-nodes multicast address.
• Does not require manual configuration or DHCP.
• Uses host address (AAAA) resource records in DNS to map host names to IPv6 addresses.
• Uses pointer (PTR) resource records in the IP6.ARPA DNS domain to map IPv6 addresses to host names.
• Must support a 1280-byte packet size (without fragmentation).

After further testing of VrCommerce we are proud to release the next beta version v1R3

This version will only be available to register members, for testing. Please use our forums to report any bugs, etc.

We are planning to have the final release late September 2010

FIXES:
• Frontend not viewable in Maintenance Mode, even when logged in as admin.
• Adding items to cart shows no products in cart
• Deleting Downloads from Admin does not remove file
• Paypal warning about Receiver Email doesn't match
• Cart sidebox checkout button is HTTP instead of HTTPS
• Paypal Standard not passing Handling and other order fees.
• Paypal Standard not setting state for Authorization mode.
• Transparent PNG Images not always working.
• Unchecking all user group options gives foreach error when logging in with a user in that group
• Product report grouped by product_id instead of model since that is a not a unique field
• Maintenance mode bypass for payment callback updates
• Product stock restore on order delete
• Restored the default --None-- option in the order status list (added in Beta 1 and lost in Beta 2)
• Improved default confirm message to be clear about the action
• Fixed Search page bookmark
• Added support for + in email addresses
• Fixed page total for filter by customer group on admin customer list
• Admin user and Customer email logins were case-sensitive
• Fixed account/invoice error when no order id is supplied
• Fixed HTTP to HTTPS in breadcrumb for account related pages
• Partial fix for & in storename and contact form

After further testing of VrCommerce we are proud to release the next beta version v1R2

This version will only be available to register members, for testing. Please use our forums to report any bugs, etc.

We are planning to have the final release late September 2010.

FIXES:
• Fixed additional email for loop issue causing "Please Wait" and "Error Send To Required"
• Improved featured products query to make all status checks and return all pertinent data to match latest and bestseller queries.
• If no shipping, tax zone set to buyer's payment zone instead of default store zone
• Session uses full path for session to prevent session sharing
• Removed unneeded products variable from admin order.php
• Removed error on empty language file
• Admin/controller/catalog/review.php double text validation cleaned up
• Admin Order Edit now supports product options & updated grand total
• Coupon discount check only for flat value coupons
• Pagination in search & specials
• Worldpay not updating order
• Admin Country, Zone, & Download pagination
• Thickbox agree to terms fix on checkout payment page
• Continue button with ajax add to cart off goes to not found
• Division by zero if catalog/admin item limit set to 0 (tho it should not be possible)
• UPS error scenarios weren't showing properly
• UPS weight display at the title instead of redundantly per-rate
• UPS Test mode confusion cleared up
• USPS weight display at the title instead of redundantly per-rate
• removed "source" for ckeditor to cut down filesize
• Add $config->set('config_language', $languages[$code]['code']); to index.php
• Changed new tables for product_tags and stuff to utf8_bin
• Order Comments not included in email
• Added default invoice id & prefix to install/upgrade.sql
• Added conditional check for the admin header base path: (HTTPS_SERVER) ? HTTPS_SERVER : HTTP_SERVER;
• restore all languages in backend even if disabled
• replaced add to cart javascript: $('#add_to_cart').removeAttr('onclick'); to allow handling by other scripts.
• sort arrow images were reversed
• Perpetual Payments Test mode confusion cleared up
• Featured limit default - add (int) to limit in model to prevent error
• Specials fix for limit in sidebox
• Going to wrong page while using SEO now shows error page
• Fixed Combined Tax rate issue
• Fixed Low Order Fee order total typo for tax setting
• Fixed Sales tax issue for non-shipped products to use payment address
• Install admin email not populating the user table
• Update royal mail rates or make them editable from admin
• Fix pp standard to use the update statuses and so that curl and fsock both use the proper "else" options.
• Changed default success message "2-5 working days" to be more vague
• Reordered the children for "common/header" to appear last so that document class methods can be called from within modules.
• Fix default weight/length to default to what the setting has.
• Bestsellers wasn't updating immediately after purchase because the cache wasn't cleared on purchase


NEW:
• Feature Module uses category-style selector for products
• Extension install/uninstall hook. Now when you install/uninstall extensions, if they have their own install/uninstall functions, they will be triggered.
• Logout destroys session completely.
• sort by model
• Cache for featured products
• Cache for categories
• Image class supports proper extension name on resize and transparency for png and gif.
• Extensions will "self-clean" if the files are deleted without uninstalling the extension first.
• Restored "Show Out Of Stock warning" option in setting
• Parent Category pages show image next to description
• Select All / Unselect All to all checkbox lists
• Postcode required option added to countries. Now postcode can be required on a per-country basis.
• Coupon code can be entered on Payment AND Confirm page, for those payments that skip the payment page
• New Paypal Improved. Itemised products, PDT support, debug messaging and more.
• Added Northern Ireland zones to UK
• FilesMatch check in htaccess to prevent viewing of tpl and ini files
• Category Description Name to be longer than 32 (255)
• SEO proper "not found" redirect
• mail parameters field to mail tab (useful for adding authentication "-f" options and more)
• Full Customer Details in admin
• Manual Order Edit
• Additional checkbox for order update (Notify = send email, Update = add history)
• confirm delete added to admin delete/uninstall actions
• Longer email fields (96)
• Added product tags to bottom of product page for easy cross-referencing.
• Auto-select first radio button for shipping or payment
• increased contact form character count from 1000 to 3000
• Fixed bug in thickbox js to allow use of rel tag for prev/next additional images with main image in popup
• Show category description info even where there are no products
• add customer email to invoice under the payment address
• added order comments on invoice
• moved some inline javascript to external files (ajax add to cart now in ajax_add.js)
• moved coupon box to the payment page to allow coupons to change the possible payment options (i.e. freecheckout for 100% discount coupons)
• Comments to order invoice
• Counts for all tabs on product page
• Optional checkbox to push updated downloads to all previous customers upon new version save
• Added current download filename under the input box on admin download form
• Options -Indexes and tpl file disallow to default .htaccess file to prevent showing directory listings
• CSRF Fix for new admin user insert (captcha on user edit form)
• Additional Images & Related products count added to tab on product page by default
• Fixed LIQPAY confirm button
• Disable Reviews option
• Enhanced Order Email (HTML Admin emails)
• Guest Checkout separate addresses
• Enter key for Product filter in admin
• Telephone number on invoice
• Validation check to Product Copy (Daniels request)
• Add model to the related products in product edit
• Automatic Copyright in admin footer
• Added Meta Keywords to products and categories
• Added return on language load to allow simple array merge for language files
• Added Send Newsletter By Products Purchased
• Lots of improvements to cart sidebox (ajax delete item, all totals, view/checkout links)
• GET method for add to cart
• Add to cart button in all modules? small + button?
• Stock decrease option moved to product level
• Minimum Order Qty (per-product)
• Product "cost" field
• Add back default sort order
• Individual zone/country/postcode for products
• Cross-linked related products (relationship goes both ways now). Relating product A to B also relates B to A
• Maintenance Mode
• Multiple Email address for store email
• remove/combine the Show Out of stock. Just show it when Stock checkout is no and product is out of stock
• Add IP Address to order view
• Freecheckout integrated into core.
• Low Order Fee only applies if there is a subtotal, allowing free products to remain free
• Homepage is now modular and new "home" position for modules configurable in admin
• Additional ability to use "modularized" sideboxes on main page (3 across) by adding the module to the $this->children list.
• Free Checkout as part of the core
• Comments saved if payment checkbox not checked
• Added customer email, telephone, ip to order email to make it more complete
• Admin Token system for CSRF security
• Royal Mail rates update

After 8 months of development to make the most robust and feature-rich eCommerce system, Virtual Web Designs are proud to announce a beta release of our new eCommerce software called VrCommerce. This version will consist of Multi Shops and B2B functions and will also be compatible with PHP 5.3.x.

This version will only be available to register members, for testing. Please use our forums to report any bugs, etc. We hope to have the final release late August / September.

VrCommerce will be a major new release to our exiting range of eCommerce software, and addresses a number of key issues, adds a lot of new functionality, and further increases the power of our eCommerce range of software.

Features – Summary (Not a full list)

• Newly designed admin interface, very clean and more visual impacting and very fast
• Very fast frontend loading and very clean looking
• A lot more use of Ajax / JQuery within the software.
• Compatible PHP 5.3.x
• Full Documentation
• Full B2B integration
• Full Multi-shop integration
• Full Modular System
• Unlimited Categories
• Unlimited Products
• Unlimited Manufacturers
• Full Template System
• Multi-Language
• Multi-Currency
• Product Reviews
• Product Ratings
• Downloadable Products
• Automatic Image Resizing
• Multiple Tax Rates
• Related Products
• Unlimited Information Pages
• Shipping Weight Calculation
• Discount Coupon System
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Module System
• Backup & Restore Tools
• Export / Import
• Printable Invoices
• Full Reporting System

We will also give a full list of all the features of VrCommerce, once the beta testing has been completed.

Dear Valued Customers,

We apologies for any inconvenience caused, by these server upgrades. There will be no downtime in this server upgrade, and there will be no loss of emails. This will allow us to expand our other hosting businesses, within the Webnetics UK group.

Contents

1. Server Upgrades
2. eCommerce Users – Important Information
3. Spam Filters, Personal SSL and Shared SSL
4. Hosting Accounts – Upgraded
5. Server Backup

Server Upgrades

Following on from our system announcement in May 2010:-

If you do not know your server number, please login to your control panel. You will find this information on the first page, or just contact us and we will tell you.

We are planning to transfer all customer accounts in three (3) batches. The first (1) batch will be database driven websites the second batch will be non-database websites and the third (3) batch will be eCommerce websites.

Batch 1 (Database driven websites) – These will be transferred on Tuesday 13th July 2010
Batch 2 (Non-database websites) – These will be transferred on Thursday 15th July 2010
Batch 3 (eCommerce Websites) – These will be transferred on Tuesday 13th July 2010

eCommerce Users – Important Information

There may be a cross over point when the IP addresses are being updated, from the old server to the new server IP addresses. This can take anything up to 24 hours for the IP addresses to filter through to each ISP. Customers would still be able to place orders as normal, except these may appear on the old server. You will still receive email notification of any orders as normal, except this may not tie up with the current database on the new server.

NOTE: If you are a busy eCommerce website, we would advise you to take down your website while these IP addresses are being updated to stop any cross over orders.

If customers wish to have their website taken offline while the IP addresses are being updated, please let us know?

Spam Filters, Personal SSL and Shared SSL

Spam filters and personal SSL will automatically be updated to the new server IP addresses, as each account has been transferred to the new server.

Customers who use our shared SSL, this will be changed at the same time as we transfer all the eCommerce websites.

Webmail

Customers who currently store their emails on this server, will have to download there mail by the 13th and the 15th July. These will not be transferred to the new server.

Hosting Accounts - Upgraded

All hosting accounts on this new server have been upgraded. We have now doubled the amount of pop accounts, disk space and bandwidth.

Server Backup

Please remember all our server(s) are backup 24/7/365. If you ever need your website to be restored, please drop us a email. These tapes are rotated every 3 days.

We are now offering FREE client management software and domain resellers accounts to all our resellers accounts.

VrHosts is a highly customisable client management system for our Resellers, allowing you to sell web hosting, domains and add-on products to end users through your website. As well as registering and transferring domains; activating hosting packages and domains in real time and selling a range of add-on products. VrHosts will allow you to reduce costs while at the same time increasing profitability, efficiency and customer satisfaction.

All customers who are currently on our resellers plans can have this software installed on to there hosting account and also have access to a resellers domain account free of charge. This software can be accessed from within your account area.

Registrars supported by VrHosts

Webnetics (own resellers accounts)
Directi
Email (No Registrar)
Erom
Nominet
Opensrs