Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions that come up most often.
Is Vehistra free of charge?
Vehistra is published under the MIT license, without subscription or usage fee. The database costs nothing either: a solo installation needs none at all, and network operation runs on the free SQL Server Express. The only paid element is optional assistance with setup, data migration or custom development by LSP Virtual Services.
Is Vehistra really open source?
Yes. The source code and the guides are open, and since version 1.0.0 Vehistra is published under the MIT license – one of the most permissive licenses there is. The license file is installed with the program.
Does Vehistra require a cloud?
No. Vehistra runs entirely inside your company network: workstations and server are yours. There is no cloud transfer, no telemetry and no tracking. No data is sent to LSP Virtual Services without being asked for.
Which database is required?
That depends on the operating mode. A solo installation needs none at all: the database is a single file on the PC and nothing has to be installed for it. Network operation uses Microsoft SQL Server; for nearly every fleet the free Express edition is enough, with its limit of 10 GB per database – 150 vehicles with ten years of history typically stay below 500 MB. Documents and photos live in the file system and do not count towards that.
Do I have to install SQL Server myself for network operation?
Yes, deliberately: you install SQL Server Express yourself so that control over the server stays with you. The setup wizard then detects the instance, creates the database and verifies the connection. A solo installation skips this step entirely.
Does Vehistra also run on a single PC?
Yes. The installer offers the “solo” mode: program, database and backup then live on a single computer. Since version 1.0.0 this needs no database server at all – the database is a single file. Network shares, firewall rules and TCP/IP are not needed either, and setup takes about ten minutes.
Can I move from solo to network operation later?
Yes, and without losing data: the database is backed up and restored on the server, then the workstations are connected. The solo guide describes this in a chapter of its own.
Can Vehistra be used on several PCs?
Yes – that is the “network” operating mode. All workstations work on the same database at the same time; there are no local copies and no synchronisation. If someone changes a mileage reading, the others see it immediately. If two people edit the same record, the second save overwrites nothing but offers a comparison.
What fleet size is Vehistra built for?
Vehistra is designed for 150 vehicles and more, with around fifteen workstations. Smaller fleets work just as well – but the effort for server and setup should be worth it.
Does Vehistra run on Windows?
Yes. Workstations run on Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) and need the .NET Desktop Runtime 10. As a server, a Windows PC that is always on is sufficient; Windows Server 2019 or newer is recommended.
Can I host Vehistra myself?
Vehistra is built exclusively for self-operation. Database, documents, backups and updates live on your server – there is no operator service in between.
How much work is the setup?
About ten minutes for a solo installation – nothing has to be installed afterwards. For a server, plan about an hour, most of which is downloading SQL Server; the setup itself takes around fifteen minutes and walks through database, folders, shares and the first account in twelve steps. Every further workstation is connected in about five minutes.
How do updates work?
The new version is placed in the update folder on the server once. Every workstation detects it at startup and installs it itself. Before starting it, the update service verifies the package’s checksum; on a mismatch, or with no checksum at all, nothing is started. An update never deletes the database and never recreates it; a backup is taken before every schema change, and if that backup fails the update stops.
How do I back up my data?
You back up the database and the documents folder. In network operation through a scheduled backup job with a recommended seven daily copies; in solo mode the program creates a complete copy of the database file and then checks it for damage – even while running. In addition, the updater creates a backup before every database change.
Where do I get support?
Bugs and feature requests belong in the repository. Questions about setup, data migration and operations are answered by LSP Virtual Services at support@vehistra.dev.
Can I use Vehistra commercially?
Yes. Vehistra is published under the MIT license and built for operational use. The license explicitly permits commercial use, modification and redistribution and only disclaims warranty. The full text is in the repository as LICENSE.