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setting_up_msupply:requirements [2023/05/02 20:15] – [General hardware recommendations] Mark Glover | setting_up_msupply:requirements [2024/05/13 02:54] (current) – [2.01. Requirements] Mark Glover | ||
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<WRAP center round important 60%> | <WRAP center round important 60%> | ||
- | For mSuppy Mobile, refer [[https:// | + | For mSuppy Mobile, refer [[https:// |
+ | \\ | ||
+ | \\ | ||
+ | For more detailed configuration information on mSupply Client/ | ||
</ | </ | ||
+ | |||
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=== General hardware recommendations === | === General hardware recommendations === | ||
- | We have clients running mSupply on a wide range of hardware in a wide range of operating environments. We are happy to discuss hardware options further | + | We have clients running mSupply on a wide range of hardware in a wide range of operating environments. We are happy to discuss hardware options further |
- | * In environments with regular power outages, it is highly recommended to procure Laptop machines rather than desktop machines. Laptop machines will almost always be the best solution in terms of both cost and effectiveness for these reasons: | + | * In environments with regular power outages, which is most institutions using mSupply :-?, it is highly recommended to procure Laptop machines rather than desktop machines - refer to why [[setting_up_msupply: |
- | * In environments with poor quality electricity supply, laptop computers will generally be more reliable than desktop computers with UPS protection. | + | * A connected printer is not absolutely necessary in every situation, but for most situations it is a requirement. A laser printer |
- | * Even when the battery runs out on a laptop, the power management will normally cause the machine to shut down gracefully. | + | |
- | * Laptop computers have built-in microphone and camera for provision of support | + | |
- | * Laptop computers have built-in Wi-Fi adaptor for network connection | + | |
- | * Laptop computers are smaller and lighter than desktop computers, and so are less costly | + | |
- | * A connected printer is not absolutely necessary in every situation, but for most situations it is a requirement. A dot-matrix | + | |
* Buy hardware for which good after sales support is available. | * Buy hardware for which good after sales support is available. | ||
* Buy brands with a reputation for quality (even if it means buying a slower/ | * Buy brands with a reputation for quality (even if it means buying a slower/ | ||
- | |||
=== Windows and Mac hardware requirements === | === Windows and Mac hardware requirements === | ||
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Hardware requirements vary widely depending on what you want to use mSupply for. Here's a rough guide: | Hardware requirements vary widely depending on what you want to use mSupply for. Here's a rough guide: | ||
- | <WRAP center round important 60%> | + | ^ Machine |
- | Recording stock transactions is a core mSupply activity. | + | | Windows |
- | </WRAP> | + | | Mac Client machine for use with server. | 64 bit processor\\ macOS Mojave (10.14), 4 GB RAM, 50Mb of disk space | Mac OS 10.14.6 or later, 8 GB RAM | |
+ | | Windows server | 64 bit, i7 processor | ||
+ | | Windows Single-User sync machine | 64 bit, i7 processor or equivalent, 8 GB RAM, 256GB HDD/SDD volume plus daily backups to an external volume plus daily off-site backups\\ Windows 10 | i9 processor or equivalent, 16+ GB RAM, 500GB HDD/SDD plus daily backups to an external volume plus daily off-site backups | | ||
- | == Version 5.0 and above == | + | For a Terminal server, the general specification changes in that |
- | Any requirement | + | * More RAM is needed. |
+ | * Hard disks are less important, as no data is stored on the server (unless you are using the same server for both hosting the mSupply server and hosting the terminal sessions). | ||
+ | * An additional Gigabit Ethernet port could be useful | ||
- | ^ Machine | + | <WRAP center round alert 90%> |
- | | Windows Client machine for use with server | + | If you are running a server |
- | | Mac Client machine for use with server. | 64 bit processor\\ **macOS Mojave (10.14) – macOS Big Sur (11)**(Latest release | + | |
- | | Windows server | 64 bit processor\\ Windows 10 Pro or Win Server 2016\\ **8** Gb RAM\\ 500 GB HDD/SDD volume with daily backups to an external volume\\ Attached to a Smart UPS (see below)| 64 bit processor\\ **Win Server 2016+**\\ **16+** GB RAM - 32GB for busy sites with lots of history\\ 4 x HDD/SDD volumes, 3 configured as RAID1 or RAID5 with hot spare\\ Daily backups to the fourth volume plus daily off-site backups\\ Attached to a Smart UPS (see below) | | + | |
- | | Windows Single-User sync machine | 64 bit processor\\ Windows 10\\ **8** Gb RAM, 500GB HDD/SDD volume with daily backups to an external volume plus daily off-site backups\\ | 64 bit processor\\ Windows 10\\ **16** Gb RAM, 500GB HDD/SDD with daily backups to an external volume plus daily off-site backups | | + | |
- | == Version 4.14 and below == | + | At least one country using mSupply on servers in health facilities with SSDs installed has had the bitter experience of the SSDs failing after ungraceful shutdowns due to failing UPSes. |
- | ^ Machine | + | The vast majority of ICT documentation on the internet is written from and for locations enjoying relatively stable power supplies. When the above-mentioned experience happened, there was precious little information available for facilities suffering from the sort of chronic power supply issues which the majority |
- | | Windows Client machine | + | |
- | | Mac Client machine for use with server. | 64 bit processor\\ Mac OS 10.13 or later\\ **4** Gb RAM, 50Mb of disk space | 64 bit processor\\ Mac OS 10.13 or later\\ **8** Gb RAM, 50Mb of disk space | | + | |
- | | Windows server | 64 bit processor\\ Windows 10 Pro/Win Server 2012 or later \\ **8** Gb RAM\\ 500 GB HDD/SDD volume with daily backups to an external volume\\ Attached to a Smart UPS (see below)| 64 bit processor\\ Win Server 2012+\\ **16+** Gb RAM\\ 4 x HDD/SDD volumes, 3 configured as RAID1 or RAID5 with hot spare\\ Daily backups to the fourth volume plus daily off-site backups\\ Attached to a Smart UPS (see below) | | + | |
- | | Windows Single-User sync machine | 64 bit processor\\ Windows 8.1\\ (known to work in Windows 7 but **not recommended**)\\ **8** Gb RAM, 500GB HDD/SDD volume with daily backups to an external volume plus daily off-site backups\\ | 64 bit processor\\ Windows 10\\ **16** Gb RAM, 500GB HDD/SDD with daily backups to an external volume plus daily off-site backups | + | |
- | * **Smart UPS** A ' | + | </WRAP> |
- | <WRAP center round tip> | + | === We now recommend that you use laptops === |
- | In our experience, the primary cause of computer hardware failure is data corruption | + | |
- | | + | <wrap em>Laptop machines, preferably with long battery life, will almost always be the best solution in terms of both cost and effectiveness.</ |
- | | + | |
- | * Software isn't configured correctly | + | == The problem with power cuts and UPSes == |
- | * Software | + | |
+ | In our experience, the primary cause of mSupply database | ||
+ | A common mitigation to prevent ungraceful shutdowns is to use an [[https:// | ||
+ | * Cable becomes disconnected | ||
+ | * Software isn't configured correctly | ||
* UPS batteries degrade (normally within 2 years of installation in environments with regular power cuts) and there is too little capacity to run long enough for the computer to shut down gracefully after receiving the notification from the UPS | * UPS batteries degrade (normally within 2 years of installation in environments with regular power cuts) and there is too little capacity to run long enough for the computer to shut down gracefully after receiving the notification from the UPS | ||
+ | |||
+ | == The merits of laptops == | ||
Laptop computers tend to be much more resilient to power failure: | Laptop computers tend to be much more resilient to power failure: | ||
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* Even if the laptop internal battery degrades, the ' | * Even if the laptop internal battery degrades, the ' | ||
- | Here are some additional advantages of laptops vs. desktop | + | Here are some additional advantages of laptops vs. desktop |
+ | * Can be more resilient to hot and humid working environments if you buy the right model. | ||
* Lower cost of freight: | * Lower cost of freight: | ||
* To send the machine to site | * To send the machine to site | ||
* To send spare parts for repair on-site | * To send spare parts for repair on-site | ||
- | * To retrieve the machine from site for any repairs that can not be undertaken on site | + | * To retrieve the machine from site for any repairs that can not be undertaken on site < |
+ | There are countries using mSupply where the cost of sending a 40kg traditional server computer to the site is comparable to the purchase price of the server. | ||
+ | </ | ||
* Wi-Fi capability normally included without extra cost | * Wi-Fi capability normally included without extra cost | ||
* Bluetooth capability normally included without extra cost | * Bluetooth capability normally included without extra cost | ||
* 'Sound card', speaker, earphones and video camera normally included without extra cost | * 'Sound card', speaker, earphones and video camera normally included without extra cost | ||
- | A concern with laptop | + | == Battery life == |
+ | While the consequences of running out of battery power on a laptop is not as catastrophic as on a desktop machine, | ||
- | Because mSupply is dealing with lots of numbers (quantities of stock), <wrap em>it is highly recommended to have a keyboard with a numeric keypad</ | ||
- | Useful productivity accessories for laptop computers include | + | == Security == |
- | * External mouse (not wireless - batteries replacement is expensive and environmentally irresponsible) | + | |
- | * External keyboard (not wireless - batteries replacement is expensive and environmentally irresponsible) | + | |
- | * External screen | + | |
- | There has been some good experience | + | A concern |
- | </WRAP> | + | |
+ | === Keyboard === | ||
+ | |||
+ | Because mSupply is dealing with lots of numbers (quantities of stock), <wrap em>it is highly recommended to have a keyboard with a numeric keypad</wrap>. Smaller laptop computers (14" screen or less) will not have this. Smaller laptop computers normally have an impractically small screen. | ||
+ | * A laptop computer with a keyboard that includes a numeric keypad - which will necessarily entail a larger screen or | ||
+ | * A smaller laptop computer with an external keyboard, mouse and maybe even external screen. | ||
==== Backup system ==== | ==== Backup system ==== |