Hardware & Software

The actual machine specification for any system is determined by a number of different factors; system modules installed, database size, the degree of resource sharing between individual machines and other applications and the number of concurrent users using the system.

An absolute minimum recommended hardware specification is as follows. Any lower specification will not provide adequate database performance.

Larger databases with high concurrent usage will require a multi-processor machine with extended memory, high bus speeds and enhanced drive arrays using RAID technology to produce acceptable performance levels and hardware redundancy. Activa contains standard processes and reporting tools that generate intense transaction processing and therefore larger databases do not just present a higher storage demand but greater CPU/memory utilisation.

An appropriate specification can only be determined with the knowledge of anticipated transaction loads and therefore data growth rates. In addition, the Activa application often utilises extensive background SQL processing functions which may raise the resource load.

Memory and processor performance are the most critical resources for the application server. There is no significant hard disk storage requirement for the application server, therefore there is no real IO. Activa uses significant processor capacity to perform system processes and under-sizing will seriously limit application performance and extend processing times considerably. No level of memory paging is a good idea.

The application server can share the same physical computer as the SQL database server providing the combined specification requirements are met with regard to memory and processor capacity. Most of the time, Activa system processes are mutually exclusive and do not compound the resource requirements.

A guide to the specification requirement is;

The client executable is ultra thin but this does not mean that the resource requirement at the workstation is minimal, only that the network traffic has been minimised [thin client].

In addition to the processing capability there is a need for larger profile, high resolution monitor to obtain the maximum benefit from the graphical data display and to eliminate scrolling.

All system file outputs are directed to the user default directory on the client workstation. A specification guide is;

The Activa Server executable requires an absolute minimum of Windows 2003 Server. Windows 2003 R2 Server or Windows 2008 R2 Server is preferred for both the Microsoft SQL and application servers.

In all cases, the application server requires the pre-installation of MS SQL Server connectivity components as a minimum. Existing installations using SQL Server 2000 will not be supported beyond December 2010 and no new installations using this version can be accepted.

The Activa Client executable requires an absolute minimum of Windows XP Professional SP3. Client workstations must have at least one printer installed as a default as the system display grids require this.

In order to make use of the OLE capability of the product the client workstations should have access to Microsoft© Office applications and Adobe Acrobat Writer 6 minimum. The addition of documentation to the Activa database should normally be in Adobe .pdf format to minimise file sizes and to maintain optimum data security.

Further information on this functionality is provided with the application.

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Article last updated : Apr 17 2012 9:00AM