CRM 6 Installation Requirements - ProspectSoft · Page 1 of 11 CRM 6 Installation Requirements ......
Transcript of CRM 6 Installation Requirements - ProspectSoft · Page 1 of 11 CRM 6 Installation Requirements ......
ProspectSoft Software This document sets out the current hardware and software requirements for running the latest ProspectSoft
CRM Software (currently 6.5x.).
ProspectSoft always recommends customers keep their CRM system up to date and deploy the latest
version, but this document also sets out the support lifecycle for older CRM versions.
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Contents
Core OS and Microsoft Software .................................................................................................................................... 2
Server OS ............................................................................................................................................................................. 2
Exchange Server ............................................................................................................................................................... 3
Client OS .............................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Microsoft Office ................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Web browsers and Internet Explorer ........................................................................................................................ 4
Hardware Requirements .................................................................................................................................................... 5
General Advice .................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Server Hardware ............................................................................................................................................................... 5
ProspectSoft Database (including Replication Services) .............................................................................. 5
ProspectSoft Automation & Integration Services ........................................................................................... 6
Network Client Hardware ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Mobile Client Hardware ................................................................................................................................................. 7
Telephony ........................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Accounting System Requirements ................................................................................................................................. 8
Exchequer............................................................................................................................................................................ 8
Access Dimensions .......................................................................................................................................................... 8
Pegasus Opera .................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Sage 50 ................................................................................................................................................................................ 9
ProspectSoft CRM Versions .............................................................................................................................................. 9
End of Support for CRM versions .............................................................................................................................. 9
Additional Notes ................................................................................................................................................................. 10
Task Centre Installation Requirements.............................................................................................................. 10
Server Virtualisation ................................................................................................................................................. 10
Wide Area Networks (WAN) and Virtual Private Networks (VPN) .......................................................... 10
Integration ................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Exchange and SQL Server ....................................................................................................................................... 10
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Core OS and Microsoft Software ProspectSoft is a Gold Microsoft Application Development Partner. We work hard to test and certify
our products on the common Microsoft platforms. However, it is virtually impossible to test every
combination of OS Version, OS Edition, OS Service pack, 3rd party Virtualisation platforms, 3rd Party
Anti-Virus or other solutions, Office Version, Office Edition, Office Service pack, Internet Explorer
version, Accounting software products, etc. We therefore strongly recommend using only up-to-
date and mainstream versions and editions of Microsoft products.
ProspectSoft cannot provide support for our Solutions running on or alongside Microsoft products
and platforms that have ended Extended Support and can only provide limited support alongside
products and platforms outside of Mainstream support.
Server OS
ProspectSoft CRM 6.5x will run on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and 2008 – running 32 or 64 bit.
However, Microsoft ended Mainstream Support for Server 2003 on 13th July 2010 and then ended
Extended Support in 2015. Microsoft also ended Mainstream Support for Server 2008 and 2008 R2
on 13th January 2015 (Extended, paid support continues until 14/01/2020).
ProspectSoft is therefore only able to provide full support for our solutions on the following 64-bit
Server Operating Systems:
Microsoft Server 2012 R2 (Recommended Platform)
Microsoft Server 2012
ProspectSoft will, at the present time, continue to provide limited support, for the following:
Microsoft Server 2008 R2
NOTE: The server installation must be a full windows installation including the Windows UI.
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Exchange Server
ProspectSoft CRM 6.5x mainly integrates with the client-side email solution (Outlook Desktop) and
most features will work with any mail server, but future versions will increasingly integrate with
Exchange Server. ProspectSoft suggests:
Office 365 Hosted Exchange (Recommended)
Exchange Server 2013
Client OS
ProspectSoft requires a full version of Windows (not RT or embedded).
ProspectSoft CRM 6.5x is likely to run on Microsoft Windows XP or Vista PC’s, however Microsoft
ended Extended Support for Windows XP on 8th April 2014; Windows Vista ended Mainstream
support on April 10, 2012; Microsoft also ended Mainstream support for Windows 7 on January 13,
2015.
ProspectSoft is therefore only able to provide full support for our solutions running on the
following 64-bit Client Operating Systems:
Microsoft Windows 10
Microsoft Windows 8.1 (Recommended)
Microsoft Windows 8
Microsoft Office
Many ProspectSoft features require a local installation of Microsoft Office (Desktop version),
including Word, Excel and Outlook.
PLEASE NOTE: Currently ProspectSoft 6.5x does not support integration with Office 2016. Office
2016 support is planned for a future update in ProspectSoft 6.5x. (Office 2016 is currently
supported in Prospect 365).
ProspectSoft CRM 6.5x will generally run with Microsoft Office 2003 (with some limitations),
however Microsoft ended Extended support for Office 2003 alongside Windows XP on 8th April
2014; Office 2007 ended Mainstream support on 9th October 2012; and Microsoft ended
Mainstream support for Office 2010 on 13th October 2015.
ProspectSoft is therefore only able to provide full support for our solutions running alongside the
following 32-bit* Microsoft Office products:
Microsoft Office 365 with local installation of Office 2013 (Recommended)
Microsoft Office Professional 2013
*Microsoft recommends 32-bit Office installation even on 64-bit Operating Systems – mainly
due to compatibility with their own and third-party integrated components. ProspectSoft CRM only
integrates with 32-bit Office.
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Web browsers and Internet Explorer
Many older versions of Internet Explorer are tied to Operating Systems that are no longer
supported by Microsoft. ProspectSoft provides support for our solutions running alongside the
browsers:
Internet Explorer 11 (Recommended)
Internet Explorer 10
Microsoft themselves will only support Office 365 with the latest two versions of Internet Explorer.
Other browsers are generally compatible with Web-based ProspectSoft Solutions but cross-
browser compatibility is an ongoing challenge across the internet and ProspectSoft recommends
one of the above be installed as a minimum. ProspectSoft endeavours to provide general support
for the latest version of other mainstream browsers (such as Chrome and Firefox).
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Hardware Requirements
General Advice
The information given below is for guidance only. You should seek appropriate professional advice
with regard to your hardware and networking requirements.
In particular, the hardware required is dependent upon not just the needs of running your
ProspectSoft software but also upon the needs of other applications and services running on the
same server network. This includes memory, processor, disk and other contentions.
Similarly the recommendations below should be considered in the context of usage, volume of
CRM data, volume of accounting system transactions and other relevant factors.
Server Hardware
The following recommendations are based on a dedicated ProspectSoft CRM server, further
allowances should be made for other applications or services running on the same server (such as
Exchange, other databases, Accounting System Software and Anti-Virus products).
Ultimately Microsoft recommends running different server applications on separate server
machines (either physical or virtual) and while this is not always practical it will reduce the conflicts
for memory, handles, and CPU. It is worth noting that without a specific configuration, virtualisation
will not reduce disk contention (i.e. where the virtual servers use the same physical disk).
ProspectSoft Database (including Replication Services)
The table below shows the system requirements for the database services.
GUIDELINE
ONLY
eCommerce
Integration
Gateway / up to
1,000 orders per
week
10-20 Users /
up to 50,000
CRM records &
1,000 orders
per week
20-50 Users /
up to 100,000
CRM records &
10,000 orders
per week
Larger
CPU Cores 1 4 8 8+
Installation disk
space 1Gb
Disk Drives SATA RAID SSD RAID
Dedicated
SSD RAID
array
Data disk space 10Gb 50Gb 100Gb 100Gb+
Available RAM 1Gb 4Gb 4Gb 8Gb+
Network 100MB 100Mb/Gigabit Gigabit Gigabit
Internet Access Mandatory. Outbound FTPS is required for replication. Remote support
access is also mandatory for a ProspectSoft support contract.
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UPS
A suitable and regularly tested & serviced UPS, with working Smart
Shutdown software is essential to guard against data loss / corruption
in the event of a power outage. Note, a UPS provides very little
resilience without compatible and correctly configured Smart
Shutdown software.
Backup Utility
The ProspectSoft / SAP backup utility should be scheduled or triggered
to run (and complete) before your backup solution backs up the
ProspectSoft “backup” folder.
Tape or Offsite
Backup
It is essential to protect against data loss with a suitable backup system
and backup regime. Ideally this backup regime will include daily,
weekly and monthly backups and for maximum protection these
backups should be offsite backups.
ProspectSoft Automation & Integration Services
The Automation Services will run on a schedule processing your accounting and other data. The
requirements below are in addition to the database requirements above::
GUIDELINE
ONLY
eCommerce
Integration
Gateway / up to
5,000 invoice
lines per week.
Up to 10,000
invoice lines
per week
Up to 50,000
invoice lines
per week
Larger
CPU Cores 1 2 4 4+
Installation disk
space 1Gb
Data disk space 1Gb 2Gb 10Gb 50Gb+
Available RAM* 1Gb 2Gb 4Gb 8Gb+
Network 100MB 100Mb/Gigabit Gigabit Gigabit
* NOTE: Exchequer integration requires approximately twice this amount of RAM and, due to
limitations with UNC paths in the COM Toolkit, must be run on the same server as the Exchequer
database.
Network Client Hardware
The following recommendations are based on ProspectSoft CRM Client running alongside
Microsoft Office, further allowances should be made for other applications or services running on
the same machine (such as Accounting System clients, Anti-Virus products).
GUIDELINE ONLY Minimum Power User
Suggested Processor Core Duo/i3 or equivalent i5 or equivalent
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CPU Cores 2 4
Disk Drives SATA SSD
Installation disk space 1Gb
Data disk space N/A
RAM 2Gb 4Gb
Network 100Mb Ethernet 100Mb/Gigabit
Internet Access Outbound FTP, FTPS, HTTP and HTTPS access is required
Mobile Client Hardware
For Mobile Clients, the PC must run the database and replication services as well as the application.
As such the requirements are higher:
GUIDELINE ONLY Minimum Power User
Suggested Processor i5 or equivalent i7 or equivalent
CPU Cores 4 8
Disk Drives SATA SSD
Installation disk space 1Gb
Data disk space For full replicating data, the mobile client requires the same
space as the server database and log files. With replication by
account manager this can be substantially less.
RAM 4Gb 8Gb
Network 100MB 100Mb/Gigabit
Internet Access Reliable broadband is mandatory including outbound FTP,
FTPS, HTTP and HTTPS.
Telephony
Any client (PC or Laptop) that requires telephony integration (via the optional telephony module)
will require suitable TAPI drivers provided and configured by your telephone system vendor.
Drivers must be TAPI 1.4 compliant. Exact functionality and features may vary between phone
systems and drivers.
A useful tool for testing and validating PBX and driver compliance is TAPI Line Watcher from Line
Master - http://www.tapimaster.eu/en/tapilinewatcher.htm
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Accounting System Requirements ProspectSoft CRM has accounting system integration at its core. We lead the market in integration
and are continually developing greater and broader integration features. However, we know that
stability is equally important when you are running a business. We therefore recommend that you
allow six months for full public testing on any new accounting system version, but don’t allow your
accounting version to become more than eighteen months out of date.
Ultimately some releases of ProspectSoft CRM will require newer versions of your accounting
system and vice versa. If in doubt, please ask for advice and perform your own testing before
upgrading your CRM or your Accounting system.
More specific advice of known scenarios is given below.
Exchequer
ProspectSoft 6.5x requires Exchequer 7.07 as a minimum. ProspectSoft provides full support for our
solutions running alongside the following Exchequer Versions:
Exchequer 2015 R1 on Pervasive SQL (Recommended)
Exchequer 2015 R1 on SQL Server
In all cases, ProspectSoft CRM requires the Exchequer Toolkit for integration. The Automation
Server requires a COM toolkit (and pervasive or SQL) license, as does any client wishing to
communicate directly with live Exchequer data.
Access Dimensions
ProspectSoft 6.5x requires Access Dimensions 2.50.x as a minimum. ProspectSoft Recommends:
Access Dimensions 2.50.g
Access dimensions runs on Microsoft SQL Server. ProspectSoft requires SQL Server 2008 R2 as a
minimum. ProspectSoft Recommends:
Microsoft SQL Server 2012
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2
Pegasus Opera
ProspectSoft 6.5x requires Opera II or Opera 3. For full sales integration capabilities, ProspectSoft
requires:
Pegasus Opera 3 with Cashbook, Stock and SOP modules (Recommended)
Pegasus Opera II with Cashbook, Stock and SOP modules
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For the optional Purchase integration and full forward stock calculations, ProspectSoft additionally
requires Purchase Ledger and POP modules.
Sage 50
Sage usually release a new version of Sage 50 annually. ProspectSoft typically recommends the
latest Sage50 release but only after full ProspectSoft testing. Customers must check with us before
applying the very latest Sage 50 version. ProspectSoft are fully accredited Sage50 developers, so
we know that each Sage50 release is not intended to be backwards compatible as you might
expect. Each release typically requires specific work to make it fully compatible and will often
require a parallel CRM upgrade.
ProspectSoft Recommends:
“New” Sage 50 Accounts Professional (Sage 50 2015) *
*ProspectSoft integration requires Sage Professional Edition.
ProspectSoft CRM Versions ProspectSoft only provides full support on fully patched mainstream versions. Support resolutions
may well require you to upgrade to the latest patch on the latest version.
Mainstream versions currently include:
ProspectSoft CRM 6.51
ProspectSoft CRM 6.52
ProspectSoft CRM 6.53
End of Support for CRM versions
CRM Version 5 reached its end of life date on 31st July 2013 – meaning that Version 5 licenses are
no longer available (support for ProspectSoft CRM Version 5 as ended on 31st December 2012).
ProspectSoft CRM Version 6, prior to 6.51 ended support on 1st November 2014. Licenses for
versions prior to 6.51 will no longer be available after 1st November 2016.
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Additional Notes
Task Centre Installation Requirements
Task Centre is a product used in many ProspectSoft installations but developed by Orbis Software
Ltd. Details of the installation requirements for Task Centre can be found at:
http://www.orbis-software.com/products/requirements.php
Please note however that ProspectSoft only supports Orbis Task Centre running against a full MS
SQL Server database. ProspectSoft does not recommend or support Task Centre deployed with the
traditional proprietary back-end database.
Server Virtualisation
ProspectSoft recommends Microsoft Hyper-V (which we use ourselves in our datacentre).
ProspectSoft CRM is also being successfully deployed by customers on VMWare and other
virtualisation platforms. ProspectSoft will support our software running within a Virtualised
Windows deployment but we recommend you take appropriate expert advice on the underlying
Virtualisation and Networking infrastructure.
Wide Area Networks (WAN) and Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
ProspectSoft CRM Version 6.x is built as a client-server LAN application and requires LAN-speed
access to the database. It will not run reliably or responsively over a WAN or VPN. In order to
access ProspectSoft CRM Version 6 from home, on the road or a remote office, you should
consider one of the following solutions:
a) Prospect 365 Cloud Solution which is specifically developed for companies who want users
to be able to access the data remotely via the internet (without even needing a WAN/VPN –
just reasonably good Internet access)
b) ProspectSoft Mobile Client – which uses a replicating database to provide always-available
remote use
c) ProspectSoft Remote Office – which uses a replicating database to provide fast and reliable
local database access in a remote office
d) Terminal Services which will allow the ProspectSoft Client to run on the LAN, while allowing
the user “remote access” to a windows session running on the LAN
Integration
Integration with other systems is at the heart of ProspectSoft CRM and you should therefore
consider this document alongside the supported and recommended environments for your
Accounting Solution and other products.
Exchange and SQL Server
Microsoft recommends a dedicated (virtual) server for running Exchange Server, SQL Server and
many other Microsoft Services. Although Small Business Server bundled these, that solution has
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been all-but abandoned by Microsoft and, in general installing multiple database products on a
single Microsoft Server is problematic and leads to Exchange grabbing all available resources etc.
Installation on shared servers is not recommended. Wherever possible we would recommend
dedicated (virtual) servers for Exchange, your Accounts System and ProspectSoft database. Or,
alternatively look at hybrid hosting solutions such as Office 365 hosted Exchange to reduce the
load on your servers.
If you IT Service provider does install combinations of ProspectSoft, your Accounting System and
Exchange or Microsoft SQL etc on the same server, then they must ensure that a cap is put on the
resources that these other products can use (especially RAM) – and that there is always enough
free RAM and resources for new processes to start or ramp up as and when required (e.g. your
ProspectSoft Accounts Import which only runs periodically).
Various advice is available online with regard to limiting the resources used by Exchange Server,
e.g.
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/b3b342a2-de13-47ee-89f6-ccb023c8a1ff/sbs-
2008-server-high-memory-usage?forum=smallbusinessserver
http://msmvps.com/blogs/bradley/archive/2005/02/04/34984.aspx
http://msmvps.com/blogs/bradley/archive/2012/01/09/solving-the-unresponsive-exchange-sbs-
server-problem-third-tier.aspx
http://www.kbcloud.com/Microsoft-Exchange-Server/Limit-Exchange-2010-2007-Store.exe-
Memory-Usage-on-a-Windows-Small-Business-Server-2011-2008.html