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, 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 is able to 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 Server Specification

A central Windows Server 2003/2008 for SQL Server of at least:-

Pentium-4/Xeon/3ghz or higher.

2GB RAM or more, especially if server also running other apps or file/print.

Note: 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 or Quad Core Processors to obtain higher performance.

X64 hardware may also be used. X64 does not support payroll encryption currently.

72GB SCSI 10K or 15K (pref) 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). Recommended configuration is 5 drives with mirrored system and logs and Raid 5 for data. For transaction log have 2 drives in Raid 1 (simple Mirror). Absolute minimum is 2 x Mirrored Drives.

SAN can also be used, provided optimised for SQL Server. NAS devices or another computer/server should be used for a secondary off-site backup.

(in decreasing performance)

• 8 Drives – RAID 1 (System), Raid 0+1 (Data), Raid 1 (Logs)
• 7 Drives – RAID 1 (System), Raid 5 (Data), Raid 1 (Logs)
• 6 Drives – RAID 1 (System and Logs), Raid 0+1 (Data) (or possibly Raid 5)
• 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. However, SQL uses lazy writes so it will write to the log immediately and write to the database when possible. RAID 5 is extremely fast for reads and provides adequate redundancy, which is why we recommend implementing it for data files.

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. Only use caching on RAID controllers where it is specifically designed for databases. A battery backup should be installed as a failsafe.

Backups are normally kept with the logs, as these are also sequentially written. It is faster to create backups if they are not stored with the data files.

RAID 1, 0+1/5 capable SCSI controller

DVD/CD-ROM

DDS / DLT / Ultrium 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 tunnel (Microsoft or CISCO)

If using Windows Server 2003/2008, Terminal Services/Remote Desktop Connection must be installed

Windows Server 2003/2008

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP3

NOTE Synergetic Production environments must be installed on the primary instance of a server. Secondary instances can only be used for disaster recover/testing purposes.

 

2. Web Server (if required)

• Windows 2003/2008 with IIS 6/7 and .NET 2.0
• Pentium-4/Xeon/3ghz or higher
• 2GB RAM or more
• Mirrored 80GB Hard Drive

Note: Synergetic operates 2 web sites which you may host on the same server, or separate servers – an intranet site and an extranet site.

 

3. Workstations for Power Users

• Pentium/Celeron 2.8GHz or dual/quad core
• 1GB to 2GB RAM
• 100 GB SATA Hard Drive (or more)
• 19" Panel or 1200x800 or higher
• Ethernet Card
• Microsoft Windows XP/Vista

3. Workstations for Other Users

Requirements for existing computers:

Minimum: Pentium 1Ghz 768MB RAM 20GB IDE/SATA Hard Drive 15" Non Interlaced 1024x768 Ethernet Card Windows XP / Windows 2000

Recommended: Pentium 4 1.5Ghz 1 GB Ram 40 GB SATA/IDE Hard Drive 17” Monitor Ethernet Card Microsoft Windows XP/Vista

 

Workstation Software Recommendations

Operating System Software	Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/ Vista each workstation
Network	Microsoft Windows 2000/2003/2008 Server OR Novell Network – for file, print and SYNERGETIC application (and appropriate licences ) Microsoft Windows 2003/2008 Server with SQL Server 2005- for SYNERGETIC database (and appropriate Server and 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