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Windows & Network Issues >> General Windows & Network Issues >> New Server Time
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Message started by BurrKing_Mfg on 05/02/16 at 17:50:41

Title: New Server Time
Post by BurrKing_Mfg on 05/02/16 at 17:50:41

Its been a good run with our current server, but I know our days are numbered. It will be turning 8 years old in a couple of months, and it might be time to start over.

We currently run a 2008 HP DL380 xeon E5345 2.33 2 processors. 24 gb of ram

12 pervasive users.

Also will be installing ACT on to this server for CRM for our users

Thoughts? Need more info?

James

Title: Re: New Server Time
Post by Kelloggs on 05/03/16 at 06:40:02

Get the fastest, biggest machine that you can afford.

Consider getting vmware vSphere.
We have it for almost 3 years?. There is event a free version.

Amazing. We run a virtual domain controller, a file server and a dbaserver in one single machine.

have fun,

Kelloggs

Title: Re: New Server Time
Post by BurrKing_Mfg on 05/03/16 at 06:49:43

Standard vSphere license?

Give me an idea of what you are running Kelloggs.

I don't have 35 users, but I want a fast system for my users.

As I understand, CPU speed is more of an issue for Pervasive then actual horsepower? I understand that's a little bit of a loaded question, but I have read where a users had an older say 3.0 ghz server and purchased a newer server that had much more hp under the hood but only ran at 2 ghz and pervasive performance tanked.

Title: Re: New Server Time
Post by Kelloggs on 05/03/16 at 08:16:12

We are running VMware ESXi Version 5.5.0
On an Intel Server with Xeon E5-2650 v2 2.60Ghz processors, with 64GB of memory. 4 Network cards.

VWware truly takes advantage of multiple processors. It is a Linux based OS.
You will not have to deal with it. Just enter an IP. That is it.
The installation process is flawless, and the VMWare client is 100% windows application.

EVO and ACT uses sql servers (ACT MS SQL Server 2008), it needs the best Hard Drives. The fastest the better.
Consider buying enterprise HD's. Don't use regular HD's. Do not mix hard drives, same brand, same size, and same batch.

RAID!! very important. We tried several configurations. The best? the fastest? RAID 10!! by far.
10 HD's , 8 RAID 10 and 2 Hot spares

Our HD's are 3 years old, we will change them when they are 7 old
This time we will use enterprise SSD. Expensive but I seen them in action. Very, very fast.

We still using Pervasive V10, good enough, no plans to change it.

Money well spent, but because evo's programming language limitations (It is quite old) Evo will not get any faster. Never, no matter what.
As per you ACT, it will be fast believe me...

have fun,

8-)

Kelloggs

Title: Re: New Server Time
Post by BurrKing_Mfg on 05/03/16 at 08:26:01

Thanks Kelloggs,

This defiantly gives me some good direction. I understand you are a believer in the VMware, but when I read about virtualization on the internet, it kind of scared me a bit.

http://www.goldstarsoftware.com/papers/VirtualizingDatabaseServers.pdf

So you use ACT... Do you have any integration between ACT and EVO?

Title: Re: New Server Time
Post by Kelloggs on 05/03/16 at 08:43:10

I read that document and we had a little "chat" on the pervasive forum with BtrieveBill (aka goldstar)
Our experience has been the opposite. we can access our pervasive data very quickly.
File access as well, searching takes seconds.

But just to be on the safe side, buy your server, install vmware (you can use it for 60 days) and test it.
If you are not convince or don't see any improvement. Just install your Windows OS.

Sorry we don't use ACT but we have a bunch of software that use MS SQL 2008 and they all run very, very fast.
we also, on another division, use made2manage (it is an enterprise ERP), SQL base. Everyone is quite happy with the speed.

Take your time, Test multiple configurations. Find the one that works for your company.
if you need any help, just ask.

:)

Kelloggs

Title: Re: New Server Time
Post by BurrKing_Mfg on 05/03/16 at 09:51:31

Thanks again for the information. I think try and then buy is a terrific option.

Now its time to see what the budget will allow.

james

Title: Re: New Server Time
Post by Kelloggs on 05/04/16 at 05:06:04

James, what version of ACT do you have? I am testing the 2013v
what type of integration are you planning to have?
one way? evo to act? or bidirectional?

:)

Kelloggs

Title: Re: New Server Time
Post by BurrKing_Mfg on 05/04/16 at 07:53:06

I had started talks with Chuck Hogan and he's working some magic that is way beyond me knowledge.

We haven't pulled the trigger, but I really liked what I saw.

http://datapluscrmsolutions.com/evo/

Title: Re: New Server Time
Post by Kelloggs on 05/04/16 at 07:58:50

Excellent link!!!

:)

Kelloggs

Title: Re: New Server Time
Post by BurrKing_Mfg on 05/04/16 at 08:01:46

I'm not sure if anyone has purchased the system yet. He spec'd some of it out being I thought that I had the approval/funding and then it got pulled. It's something that would make ACT functional for us. (and we might really use it)

Title: Re: New Server Time
Post by Kelloggs on 05/04/16 at 11:33:46

Around $1,000 for one single client (dataplus)
Auch!!

Did you get a quote?

:-[

Kelloggs

Title: Re: New Server Time
Post by BurrKing_Mfg on 05/04/16 at 13:25:51

Yeah, I think that is about right. But it doesn't take to many sales to make that a good tool for the business.

The thing that I would really like to do is tie it into a telephone system. Then the computers become the soft dialers. And I think that is where the fun would really start. We would have to wait for a little better internet. We are stuck with a 10 meg dsl connection. The up speed is less than 512kb. But when we have user up and running we avg about 7.5 for the download.

We were looking at 10 seats, like anything, its going to cost some coin.

j

Title: Re: New Server Time
Post by MikeT on 08/05/16 at 11:00:13

Honestly, for a network that small you should never consider paying for VMware. Buy a single server that Hyper-V is supported on and run that. Hyper-v is free....VMware (with all the entitlements to backup API) costs money.

Title: Re: New Server Time
Post by Kelloggs on 08/05/16 at 13:04:23

vSphere 6.0 has a free version of their Hypervisor ESXi . The license key can be created for free at VMwares website.

It has no expiration date.
The binaries you will receive as “Free Hypervisor” are 100% identical to the paid version.

Limitations :

• No support
• Free ESXi cannot be added to a vCenter Server
• 2 physical CPUs
• Unlimited cores per CPU
• Unlimited physical Memory
• Max. 8 vCPU per VM

;)

Kelloggs