Requirements

PLEASE NOTE: Windows 98 is no longer supported

Hardware & Software Specifications Hardware and 3rd Party Proprietary Software Recommendations

To optimise the effectiveness of SYNERGETIC Management System for Schools, we offer the following recommendations for the purchase of new equipment and the utilisation of current equipment. We would be pleased to liaise with clients about our recommendations.

If requested, Computing Directions Australia can also assist with additional quotes or information about the recommended hardware and Windows based applications software.

Computer Equipment

Hardware and Software Requirements (32 or 64 bit)

 

Hardware Requirements

The following shows hardware requirements for installing and running SQL Server 2005.

1. File/Database Server Specification

A central Windows 2000/2003 (Recommend Win 2003) for SQL Server of at least:-

• Pentium-4/2g or higher.
• 2gb RAM or more, especially if server also running other apps or file/print.
  - Higher performance is gained with more memory and faster processors, and may indeed be required, depending on whether the SQL server is also performing other functions such as file/print/web server
• Preferably have Dual Processors to obtain higher performance. The introduction of dual core processors means you can get twice the power but only need to be licensed for a single processor (if you get MS per processor license).
• 72GB Fast SCSI-3 or higher Hard Drives, (more if running other applications or multiple drives). Should consider RAID or drive mirroring. Ideal is 8 drives in a Triple RAID configuration. Mirrored System Drive, for data have 4 drives in Raid 0+1 (also known as RAID 10), (2 striped and then the other 2 for mirroring). For transaction log have 2 drives in Raid 1 (simple Mirror). Absolute minimum is 2 x Mirrored Drives.

(in decreasing performance)

• 8 Drives - RAID 1 (System), Raid 0+1 (Data), Raid 1 (Logs)
• 6 Drives - RAID 1 (System and Logs), Raid 0+1 (Data)
• 5 Drives - RAID 1 (System and Logs), Raid 5 (Data)
• 4 Drives - RAID 1 (System and Logs), Raid 1 (Data)
• 4 Drives - RAID 0+1 (System, Logs, Data)
• 2 Drives - RAID 1 (System, Logs, Data).

RAID 5 can be used for data ONLY, but note that Raid-5 is slow at data updating due to parity writes.

The reason logs are normally separated is that logs are written sequentially, data is written randomly. Also, always use Hardware Mirroring/RAID where at all possible. Ensure that if ‘write back caching’ is enabled and if power fails that cached writes still succeed.

Fast SCSI-3 or higher PCI SCSI controller or RAID 0+1/5 capable PCI SCSI controller. Some clients have effectively implemented fibre channel SAN’s for data.

DVD/CD-ROM

DDS / DLT or similar Tape or use tape backup from existing servers (*assuming it meets CDA standards)

TAPE Backup Server based software - such ARCServe or Backup Exec (or use existing backup software) - consider SQL Agents for dual backup

 

Terminal Services RDP connection from Firewall to CDA public IP Address or VPN

If using Windows 2000/2003, Terminal Services must be installed

 

2. Workstations for Power Users

• Pentium - 4 / 1.8G or Celeron with
• 2gb RAM
• 20 GB EIDE Hard Drive (or more)
• 17" Panel or CRT Monitor 1024x768 or higher
• Ethernet Card
• Microsoft Windows XP/Vista

 

3. Workstations for Other Users

Requirements for existing computers:

Minimum: Pentium III- 500mhz 256 MB RAM 20 GB IDE Hard Drive (or more) 17" Non Interlaced 1024x768 monitor Ethernet Card Microsoft Windows XP

Recommended: Pentium 4 512 MB Ram (if XP, 1gb for Vista) 20 GB Hard Drive 17” Panel/CRT Monitor Ethernet Card Microsoft Windows XP/Vista

 

Workstation Software Recommendations

Operating System Software	Microsoft Windows XP/Vista each workstation
Network	Microsoft Windows 2000/2003 Server OR Novell Network - for file, print and SYNERGETIC application (and appropriate licences) Microsoft Windows 2000/2003 Server with SQL Server 2000 or 2005 - for SYNERGETIC database (and appropriate Server & Client licences) - best obtained through Microsoft Select. Consider per Seat or per Processor licensing models.
Word Processing	MS Office 2000 or XP or 2003 or 2007
Spreadsheets	MS Office 2000 or XP or 2003 or 2007

 

4. Web Servers

Minimum recommendation-

• CPU: Intel Xeon 2.0G
• Ram: 2.0GB
• Network card: 1GB NIC
• Disk: 60GB Raid 1 (mirrored)