Hardware Recommendations by
Transcript of Hardware Recommendations by
Forrestt Williams
● Tech Support● Office IT● Website● Graphic Design
Jeremiah Farmer
● CEO● Developer● Support● Head Honcho
Outline
1. Land F/X Technology Quick Explainer2. Why Upgrade Hardware / Budget / How
Often3. Ideal Office Setup4. Key Hardware Components5. Operating Systems6. Hardware Recommendations7. Backup Concepts8. Security
Image provided by Falling WatersProject created using Land F/X
In order to use Land F/X effectively, you’ve got to
understand it!
1.Land F/X
Technology Quick Explainer
Image provided by EDSAProject created using Land F/X
Land F/X Technology Quick Explainer
● Land F/X is a plugin for AutoCAD.● F/X CAD is AutoCAD.● F/X CAD requires a Land F/X license to operate.● Land F/X Projects and Project Managers are populated
from a database, not the DWG files.
+ =Awesome
Landscape and Irrigation Plans
Land F/X Technology Quick Explainer
Land F/X basically consists of three components:● Database● Folder● Cloud Libraries
Folder:Plant blocks, Irrigation blocks, Site blocks, Details, CTB files,
Software files
Database:Project list, Project managers, associating data with blocks to
make them “smart blocks”
Cloud Libraries:Plant database, Irrigation
Manufacturer database, Site Manufacturer database
Standard Land F/X Small Office Setup:
CAD Workstations:AutoCAD / F/X CAD.
Land F/X Workstation installed, which connects to Land F/X Server.
Server:Land F/X Server installed containing
Land F/X folder and Land F/X database.DWG file storage.
Backup Drive
Offsite Backup Drive
CAD laptop in field or at home:AutoCAD / F/X CAD.
Connects through Internet for cloud file storage (Land F/X folder and DWG files).
Land F/X cloud database.
Optional Land F/X Cloud Setup:
CAD Workstations in Office:AutoCAD / F/X CAD.
Land F/X Workstation installed, which connects to server for Land F/X Folder and DWG files.
Connects through Internet to Land F/X cloud database.
Server:Synced with cloud file storage for
Land F/X folder and DWG files storage.
Backup Drive
Offsite Backup Drive
Land F/X Cloud:Contains Land F/X
database only
Cloud File Storage:Such as Dropbox. Contains Land F/X folder and DWG files
2.Why Upgrade
HardwareHow to Budget
How often
Image provided by Falling WatersProject created using Land F/X
Business Budgeting 101
1. You are a Professional (act like it)2. Software -- Land F/X, Adobe, Microsoft,
Google, Dropbox, PDF…. $700 - $2,0003. Maintenance $150 - $4004. Hardware
a. Top Dell Workstation tops $20,000b. 5 year old machine risks a lotc. Where to toss a 4 year old machined. Sure would be nice to freshen each
machine every 2-3 years, right?Image provided by Falling Waters
Project created using Land F/X
Lease!
Dell Business Lease● $1,500 Workstation, $65/month (2 year Fair Market Value lease)● Mix and match -- 3 or 4 year term, $1 buyout● Software ($700) + Maintenance ($150) + Hardware ($750)
Other Options● Online bank like Ally, put away $20/week● 0% financing credit card● Find a very cheap computer somewhere and ask Land F/X if that will
work
Typical Land F/X Small Office Equipment:
● Server○ Store DWG files, Land F/X database, &
other Enterprise software
● Desktops○ Powerful enough for AutoCAD
● Laptops○ Powerful enough for AutoCAD
● Fireproof & theft-proof backup drive
Our Office Equipment:
● Server○ Mac Mini Server○ File storage, Land F/X
● Desktops○ iMac 5K & Thunderbolt 27” monitor○ Running Parallels & Windows 10
● Laptops○ MacBook Pro & 2 Thunderbolt 27” monitors○ Running Parallels & Windows 10
● Fireproof & theft-proof backup drive○ ioSafe SOLO G3 unit bolts to floor, fireproof○ 3 terabytes!
Our office needs differ from those of a typical landscape design office: Software development, graphic design, Web development, content creation, video editing & more.
Key Hardware Components when looking at a computer (in this order):
Video CardAs good as you can get = ideal.
Solid State Disk Storage (SSD)An absolute must these days. HDD = Slow.
RAMThe more, the merrier.
ProcessorMost modern processors should suffice.
Operating Systems
● We recommend Windows 10. Solid OS, robust, kinks seem to be worked out now – stay updated!
Windows XP(RIP)
WindowsVista
Windows 7 Windows 8/8.1
Windows10
Servers
● Dell PowerEdge Series○ Windows Server 2012 R2○ Windows networking made easy○ Automated backups○ $1,278.99
● Mac Mini Server○ Mac OS○ Setup takes longer○ Automated backups○ Ideal only for a Mac-centric office○ $999.99
● Cloud?○ Even with cloud file solutions, we still recommend having a server.○ Central file storage makes life easier.○ Enterprise software needs.
● WD My Cloud Business Series○ NAS Only works with
Land F/X Cloud Data○ Pre-configured○ 4 Bays○ 8 Terabytes○ Cloud access options○ $699
Laptops
● Alienware 15○ I5 Quad Core 3.2ghz○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (2x8GB) RAM○ 256GB SSD + 1TB Storage HDD○ NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GPU○ $1499
● Dell XPS 15○ i7 Quad Core 2.6 – 3.5ghz Turbo○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (1x16GB) RAM○ 512GB SSD○ NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M 2GB GPU○ $1699
● Dell Precision 15 3000 Series○ i7 Quad Core 2.6 – 3.5ghz Turbo○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (2x8GB) RAM○ 512GB M.2 Sata SSD○ AMD FirePro W5130M 2GB GPU○ $1999
● Dell Precision 15 5000 Series○ i7 Quad Core 2.6 – 3.5ghz Turbo○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (2x8GB) RAM○ 500GB SSD○ Nvidia Quadro M1000M 2GB GPU○ $2219
Dell XPS 15
Alienware 15
Desktops
● Dell Optiplex 3046 Small Form Factor○ i5 Quad Core 3.2 – 3.6ghz turbo○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (2x8gb) RAM○ 256GB SSD○ AMD R7 M445 4GB GPU○ $973
● Dell Precision 3620 Mini Tower○ i5 Quad Core 3.3 – 3.9ghz turbo○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (2x8GB) 2133mhz memory○ 256GB SSD○ Nvidia Quadro K1200 4GB GPU○ $1427
● Dell Precision 3620 Mini Tower○ i7 Quad Core 2.6 - 3.5ghz Turbo○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (2x8GB) 2133mhz memory○ 512GB M.2 Sata SSD○ Nvidia Quadro K1200 4GB GPU○ $1768
● Dell Precision 5000 Series Tower○ i7 Quad Core 2.6 - 3.5ghz Turbo○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (4x4GB) RAM○ 512GB SSD○ Nvidia Quadro M2000 4GB GPU○ $2260
Dell Precision 3620 Mini Tower:
Apple
Keep in mind that Land F/X is Windows-only software and is not compatible with AutoCAD for Mac. However, you can definitely run Land F/X on Windows-based CAD installed on a Mac computer, with the help of a program called Parallels.
● Apple iMac 27"○ Intel Core i5 3.1 Ghz○ 16 GB GB RAM○ 2 GB GPU○ 1 TB SSD hard drive○ Mac El Capitan○ $1,799
● Macbook Pro 15"○ Intel Core i7 2.6 Quad Core Ghz○ 16 GB RAM○ 2 GB GPU○ 256 GB SSD hard drive○ Mac El Capitan○ $2,499
● Mac Mini Server○ Intel Core Dual Core i5 2.8Ghz○ 16 GB RAM○ 2TB fusion drive○ Mac El Capitan○ $1,299
Additional Costs: Parallels : $89Windows 10 Pro: $199
● ioSafe Drive○ Bolts to the floor○ Fireproof○ Waterproof○ 4TB○ $399
Peripherals
● Western Digital External○ 2TB○ USB 3.0○ $89
● Land F/X USB○ 4GB○ Keep it on your keychain.○ Add a “Read Me” file with your
contact information.○ FREE! (Contact us.)
● PNG 128 GB USB○ 128 GB○ USB 3.0○ $25
Monitors
● Dell 27” Ultra HD 4K Monitor○ 3840 x 2160 resolution○ $999
● Dell 27” Ultra HD 5K Monitor○ 5120x2880 Ultra HD resolution○ $1549
● LG 21.5” UltraFine 4K Monitor○ 4096 x 2304 resolution○ $524
Logitech Illuminated Keyboard
- Easy typing
Peripherals
Logitech Performance Mouse MX
- Programmable buttons for CAD work
Logitech Daedalus Gaming Mouse
- Programmable buttons for CAD work
Microsoft Sculpt- Ergonomic curve- Separate 10-key- Ergonomic
“Sideways” mouse
Backup Concept
3-2-1 Backup Concept
3 Copies of your data- 1 copy on external drive- 1 copy in cloud backup- 1 copy on off-site drive
2 Different formats- Backup drive- Cloud
1 Off-site- Monthly off-site in safe
Test!- Test your backups at least once a year to verify that your backup
procedures are functional and your data is intact.
Our Backup Configuration
● Mac Mini Server runs daily backups via Time Machine to our ioSafe Backup Drive.● Our hosting company does daily backups of www.landfx.com.● Google Drive has additional backup of our server data synced.● Monthly Backup Procedure:
○ Manual backup of www.landfx.com○ Manual backup of Mac Mini Server○ Saved to off-site secure hard drive
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Hard drives are cheap – WD 2TB for under $100?!No excuse not to have robust backup procedures in place.Use brandname external hard drives.ioSafe fireproof & theft-proof drives are fantastic.
Security!
Security is a major concern now. Just look at the news lately!
● Change your passwords yearly○ World Password Day – May 5
■ Use strong passwords.■ Different password for every account.■ Use a password manager.■ Use multi-factor authentication wherever possible.
● Security software○ Anti-virus software – We’ve had good experience with:
■ Kaspersky○ Anti-Malware – We’ve had good experience with:
■ MalwareBytes
Security!
● Don’t open email attachments from strangers!!!○ Remember the Locky virus?
● Don’t download software from the following websites:○ Sourceforge.com○ CNET.com○ Softpedia.com○ Download.com
● Drawing corruption is still a major issue.○ Drawing corruption will spread like a virus.○ Slows down your computer.○ Can be prevented!
■ NUKE tool■ Manual drawing cleanup steps