Server Requirements?

Posted by jboysen on May 31, 2007, 5:49 pm

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How robust of a server should I be looking at in order to run HQ alongside
file/print sharing and Quickbooks data on the same box? For the time being
we've just got one remote store with 4 lanes but we expect to have two
additional stores (with 4 lanes each) in the next few years. How fast/big do
I need to go so I don't shoot myself in the foot by being 'cheap' now?

Thanks,

Johan

Posted by Jeff @ Check Point Software on May 31, 2007, 11:05 pm

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: quoted-printable

Johan,

Most of it depends on the number of computers in the HQ location that =
will be connecting to the machine. XP Pro and Vista Business/Ultimate =
allows for up to 10 connections at a time, Windows Server 200x allows =
for thousands. We are not recommending Vista yet for any installation, =
give it another 3 to 6 months.

What you have described XP Pro with 3 gig of RAM will work fine. 4 =
lanes plus one store connecting to it at a time is only 5 connections. =
XP can only use 3.25 meg of RAM, so don't bother with 4 gig.

Hard drives are up to you, but start with at least 80 gig in a RAID 1 =
configuration (80 gig x 2 drives)

We are currently using E6320 Core 2 Duo CPUs in the database server =
machines we sell and are plenty fast.

Depending on the number of transactions per store and the database =
growth, you might think about using SQL2k5 Workgroup Edition for growth =
as the SQL2k5E that comes free with HQ can only allow for 4 gig size. =
We have plenty of small chains that haven't come close to that yet, You =
just have to watch it and be prepared to purchase it.

--=20

Jeff=20
Check Point Software

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D

You must be using Outlook Express/Windows Mail or some other type of =
newsgroup reader to
see and download the file attachment(s). If you are not using a reader, =
follow
the link below to setup Outlook Express. Click on "Open with =
newsreader"
under the MS Retail Management System on the right.

http://tinyurl.com/75bgz
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D

How robust of a server should I be looking at in order to run HQ =
alongside=20
file/print sharing and Quickbooks data on the same box? For the time =
being=20
we've just got one remote store with 4 lanes but we expect to have two =

additional stores (with 4 lanes each) in the next few years. How =
fast/big do=20
I need to go so I don't shoot myself in the foot by being 'cheap' now?

Thanks,

Johan
------=_NextPart_000_05CC_01C7A3BF.0B220B50
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charset="UTF-8"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

=EF=BB=BF<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8">
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<STYLE></STYLE>
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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>Johan,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>Most of it depends on the number of computers =
in the HQ=20
location that will be connecting to the machine.  XP Pro and Vista=20
Business/Ultimate allows for up to 10 connections at a time, Windows =
Server 200x=20
allows for thousands.  We are not recommending Vista yet for =
any=20
installation, give it another 3 to 6 months.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>What you have described XP Pro with 3 gig of =
RAM will=20
work fine.  4 lanes plus one store connecting to it at a time =
is only=20
5 connections.  XP can only use 3.25 meg of RAM, so don't bother =
with 4=20
gig.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>Hard drives are up to you, but start with at =
least 80=20
gig in a RAID 1 configuration (80 gig x 2 drives)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>We are currently using E6320 Core 2 Duo CPUs =
in the=20
database server machines we sell and are plenty fast.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>Depending on the number of transactions per =
store and=20
the database growth, you might think about using SQL2k5 Workgroup =
Edition for=20
growth as the SQL2k5E that comes free with HQ can only allow for 4 gig=20
size.  We have plenty of small chains that haven't come close to =
that yet,=20
You just have to watch it and be prepared to purchase it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR>-- <BR><BR>Jeff <BR>Check Point Software</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>You must be using Outlook Express/Windows Mail or some other type =
of=20
newsgroup reader to<BR>see and download the file attachment(s).  If =
you are=20
not using a reader, follow<BR>the link below to setup Outlook =
Express. =20
Click on "Open with newsreader"<BR>under the MS Retail Management System =
on the=20
right.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A=20
href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/75bgz">http://tinyurl.com/75bgz</A><BR>=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #008000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV>"jboysen" <<A=20
=
rosoft.com</A>>=20
wrote in message <A=20
=
01AF4-25C3-4EA5-B34D-216A8C6E6B40@microsoft.com</A>...</DIV>How=20
robust of a server should I be looking at in order to run HQ alongside =

<BR>file/print sharing and Quickbooks data on the same box?  For =
the time=20
being <BR>we've just got one remote store with 4 lanes but we expect =
to have=20
two <BR>additional stores (with 4 lanes each) in the next few =
years.  How=20
fast/big do <BR>I need to go so I don't shoot myself in the foot by =
being=20
'cheap' now?<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>Johan</BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

------=

Posted by jboysen on June 1, 2007, 1:12 pm

Please log in for more thread options

Is a 1066 FSB, 1.86GHz, 2mb cache (costing ~$50 more) going to be better than
an 800 FSB, 3.2GHz, 4mb cache in this case? I'm planning on running Server
2003 with either 2 or 4 gb of ram. What's the best combo going to be,
performance and cost wise, now and in to the future? I'd like to
'future-proof' myself as much as possible, with an expected 20 lanes total
(over 5 locations) and HQ having ~10-15 machines on the system in the next 4
years, for a total of ~30-35 connections. I know one server will suffice for
now, but am I better off having dedicated servers (one for RMS and another
for file/print sharing including Quickbooks data?) further down the road?

Johan

"Jeff @ Check Point Software" wrote:

> Johan,

> Most of it depends on the number of computers in the HQ location that will be

connecting to the machine. XP Pro and Vista Business/Ultimate allows for up to
10 connections at a time, Windows Server 200x allows for thousands. We are not
recommending Vista yet for any installation, give it another 3 to 6 months.

> What you have described XP Pro with 3 gig of RAM will work fine. 4 lanes plus

one store connecting to it at a time is only 5 connections. XP can only use
3.25 meg of RAM, so don't bother with 4 gig.

> Hard drives are up to you, but start with at least 80 gig in a RAID 1

configuration (80 gig x 2 drives)

> We are currently using E6320 Core 2 Duo CPUs in the database server machines

we sell and are plenty fast.

> Depending on the number of transactions per store and the database growth, you

might think about using SQL2k5 Workgroup Edition for growth as the SQL2k5E that
comes free with HQ can only allow for 4 gig size. We have plenty of small
chains that haven't come close to that yet, You just have to watch it and be
prepared to purchase it.

> --

> Jeff

> Check Point Software

> =====================================================

> You must be using Outlook Express/Windows Mail or some other type of newsgroup

reader to

> see and download the file attachment(s). If you are not using a reader, follow

> the link below to setup Outlook Express. Click on "Open with newsreader"

> under the MS Retail Management System on the right.

> http://tinyurl.com/75bgz

> =====================================================

> How robust of a server should I be looking at in order to run HQ alongside

> file/print sharing and Quickbooks data on the same box? For the time being

> we've just got one remote store with 4 lanes but we expect to have two

> additional stores (with 4 lanes each) in the next few years. How fast/big

> I need to go so I don't shoot myself in the foot by being 'cheap' now?

> Thanks,

> Johan

Posted by Jeff @ Check Point Software on June 7, 2007, 1:32 am

Please log in for more thread options

: quoted-printable

Johan,

First, understand I was talking about the E6320 that has 4 meg of cache. =
The E6300 only has 2 meg and is going away as the prices are the =
_same_.

Second, the Pentium D model you're talking about is being beat by almost =
everything Intel is shipping now, even the ~$90 Pentium E2140 (we put =
those in workstations now). All Pentium D models are now discontinued =
too.

Third, understand that a store connection only counts as a single =
connection. So you are looking at 10-15 in the HQ proper and 1 for the =
stores, that say your connect every 10-15 minutes.

With 10-16 connections, I don't think you would need to dedicate it to =
RMS, but it really depends on your in HQ usage, but what I described =
should get you started. Don't even think about setting this up with less =
than 4 gig of RAM, I'd be starting 4 leaning towards 6.

--=20

Jeff=20
Check Point Software

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D

You must be using Outlook Express/Windows Mail or some other type of =
newsgroup reader to
see and download the file attachment(s). If you are not using a reader, =
follow
the link below to setup Outlook Express. Click on "Open with =
newsreader"
under the MS Retail Management System on the right.

http://tinyurl.com/75bgz
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D

Is a 1066 FSB, 1.86GHz, 2mb cache (costing ~$50 more) going to be =
better than=20
an 800 FSB, 3.2GHz, 4mb cache in this case? I'm planning on running =
Server=20
2003 with either 2 or 4 gb of ram. What's the best combo going to be, =

performance and cost wise, now and in to the future? I'd like to=20
'future-proof' myself as much as possible, with an expected 20 lanes =
total=20
(over 5 locations) and HQ having ~10-15 machines on the system in the =
next 4=20
years, for a total of ~30-35 connections. I know one server will =
suffice for=20
now, but am I better off having dedicated servers (one for RMS and =
another=20
for file/print sharing including Quickbooks data?) further down the =
road?

Johan

"Jeff @ Check Point Software" wrote:

> Johan,
>=20
> Most of it depends on the number of computers in the HQ location =
that will be connecting to the machine. XP Pro and Vista =
Business/Ultimate allows for up to 10 connections at a time, Windows =
Server 200x allows for thousands. We are not recommending Vista yet for =
any installation, give it another 3 to 6 months.
>=20
> What you have described XP Pro with 3 gig of RAM will work fine. 4 =
lanes plus one store connecting to it at a time is only 5 connections. =
XP can only use 3.25 meg of RAM, so don't bother with 4 gig.
>=20
> Hard drives are up to you, but start with at least 80 gig in a RAID =
1 configuration (80 gig x 2 drives)
>=20
> We are currently using E6320 Core 2 Duo CPUs in the database server =
machines we sell and are plenty fast.
>=20
> Depending on the number of transactions per store and the database =
growth, you might think about using SQL2k5 Workgroup Edition for growth =
as the SQL2k5E that comes free with HQ can only allow for 4 gig size. =
We have plenty of small chains that haven't come close to that yet, You =
just have to watch it and be prepared to purchase it.
>=20
> --=20
>=20
> Jeff=20
> Check Point Software
>=20
> =
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D
>=20
> You must be using Outlook Express/Windows Mail or some other type of =
newsgroup reader to
> see and download the file attachment(s). If you are not using a =
reader, follow
> the link below to setup Outlook Express. Click on "Open with =
newsreader"
> under the MS Retail Management System on the right.
>=20
> http://tinyurl.com/75bgz
> =
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D
>=20
> How robust of a server should I be looking at in order to run HQ =
alongside=20
> file/print sharing and Quickbooks data on the same box? For the =
time being=20
> we've just got one remote store with 4 lanes but we expect to have =
two=20
> additional stores (with 4 lanes each) in the next few years. How =
fast/big do=20
> I need to go so I don't shoot myself in the foot by being 'cheap' =
now?
>=20
> Thanks,
>=20
> Johan
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charset="Utf-8"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

=EF=BB=BF<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8">
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<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>Johan,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>First, understand I was talking about the =
E6320 that=20
has 4 meg of cache.  The E6300 only has 2 meg and is going away as =
the=20
prices are the _same_.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>Second, the Pentium D model you're talking =
about is=20
being beat by almost everything Intel is shipping now, even the ~$90 =
Pentium=20
E2140 (we put those in workstations now).  All Pentium D models are =
now=20
discontinued too.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>Third, understand that a store =
connection only=20
counts as a single connection.  So you are looking at 10-15 in the =
HQ=20
proper and 1 for the stores, that say your connect  every =
10-15=20
minutes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>With 10-16 connections, I don't think you =
would need to=20
dedicate it to RMS, but it really depends on your in HQ usage, but what =
I=20
described should get you started. Don't even think about setting this up =
with=20
less than 4 gig of RAM, I'd be starting 4 leaning towards =
6.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>-- <BR><BR>Jeff <BR>Check Point Software</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>You must be using Outlook Express/Windows Mail or some other type =
of=20
newsgroup reader to<BR>see and download the file attachment(s).  If =
you are=20
not using a reader, follow<BR>the link below to setup Outlook =
Express. =20
Click on "Open with newsreader"<BR>under the MS Retail Management System =
on the=20
right.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A=20
href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/75bgz">http://tinyurl.com/75bgz</A><BR>=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #008000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV>"jboysen" <<A=20
=
rosoft.com</A>>=20
wrote in message <A=20
=
87659-0601-4825-940E-8BDE591CF133@microsoft.com</A>...</DIV>Is=20
a 1066 FSB, 1.86GHz, 2mb cache (costing ~$50 more) going to be better =
than=20
<BR>an 800 FSB, 3.2GHz, 4mb cache in this case?  I'm planning on =
running=20
Server <BR>2003 with either 2 or 4 gb of ram.  What's the best =
combo=20
going to be, <BR>performance and cost wise, now and in to the =
future? =20
I'd like to <BR>'future-proof' myself as much as possible, with an =
expected 20=20
lanes total <BR>(over 5 locations) and HQ having ~10-15 machines on =
the system=20
in the next 4 <BR>years, for a total of ~30-35 connections.  I =
know one=20
server will suffice for <BR>now, but am I better off having dedicated =
servers=20
(one for RMS and another <BR>for file/print sharing including =
Quickbooks=20
data?) further down the road?<BR><BR>Johan<BR><BR><BR><BR>"Jeff @ =
Check Point=20
Software" wrote:<BR><BR>> Johan,<BR>> <BR>> Most of it =
depends on the=20
number of computers in the HQ location that will be connecting to the=20
machine.  XP Pro and Vista Business/Ultimate allows for up to 10=20
connections at a time, Windows Server 200x allows for thousands.  =
We are=20
not recommending Vista yet for any installation, give it another 3 to =
6=20
months.<BR>> <BR>> What you have described XP Pro with 3 gig of =
RAM will=20
work fine.  4 lanes plus one store connecting to it at a time is =
only 5=20
connections.  XP can only use 3.25 meg of RAM, so don't bother =
with 4=20
gig.<BR>> <BR>> Hard drives are up to you, but start with at =
least 80=20
gig in a RAID 1 configuration (80 gig x 2 drives)<BR>> <BR>> We =
are=20
currently using E6320 Core 2 Duo CPUs in the database server machines =
we sell=20
and are plenty fast.<BR>> <BR>> Depending on the number of =
transactions=20
per store and the database growth, you might think about using SQL2k5=20
Workgroup Edition for growth as the SQL2k5E that comes free with HQ =
can only=20
allow for 4 gig size.  We have plenty of small chains that =
haven't come=20
close to that yet, You just have to watch it and be prepared to =
purchase=20
it.<BR>> <BR>> -- <BR>> <BR>> Jeff <BR>> Check Point=20
Software<BR>> <BR>>=20
=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D<BR>> <BR>> You=20
must be using Outlook Express/Windows Mail or some other type of =
newsgroup=20
reader to<BR>> see and download the file attachment(s).  If =
you are=20
not using a reader, follow<BR>> the link below to setup Outlook=20
Express.  Click on "Open with newsreader"<BR>> under the MS =
Retail=20
Management System on the right.<BR>> <BR>> <A=20
href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/75bgz">http://tinyurl.com/75bgz</A><BR>> =

=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D<BR>>=20
<BR>>   "jboysen" <<A=20
=
rosoft.com</A>>=20
wrote in message <A=20
=
01AF4-25C3-4EA5-B34D-216A8C6E6B40@microsoft.com</A>...<BR>> &nbsp=
;=20
How robust of a server should I be looking at in order to run HQ =
alongside=20
<BR>>   file/print sharing and Quickbooks data on the =
same=20
box?  For the time being <BR>>   we've just got one =
remote=20
store with 4 lanes but we expect to have two <BR>>   =
additional=20
stores (with 4 lanes each) in the next few years.  How fast/big =
do=20
<BR>>   I need to go so I don't shoot myself in the foot =
by being=20
'cheap' now?<BR>> <BR>>   Thanks,<BR>> =
<BR>>  =20
Johan</BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

------=