Hardware Requirements
V6.5 Windows Installation
1.1 PREAMBLE
This document describes the minimum hardware requirements to run Sage ERP X3 on Microsoft
Windows platform in a variety of configurations.
Sage ERP X3 is composed of a possible 5 required parts (in bold). These parts can all be on
separate servers, a mix of servers (such as having the process, report and the web server on the
same server) or installed all on one physical machine. Typically we recommend placing the
application server and database server on the same machine, unless business policies and
transaction volumes require them to be separated. For the best performance, the server should be
a physical machine. The Web, Report and Connection server can be installed on one or more
virtual machines for installations with more than 25 users.
X3 Application Server/Console Server
X3 Database Server
X3 Web Server
X3 Report Server
X3 Connection Server
X3 Java Bridge
Sage EDM/EDD
The following component(s) should be placed on a dedicated server and database depending on
the expected size of the data warehouse.
Business Objects
The following component(s) require a separate, dedicated server and database, regardless of
expected size.
Sage Search
1.2 SERVER(S)
This section describes the basic configuration necessary for installation of X3 on Microsoft
Windows 2008 R2 - SQL Server 2008.
SQL Server 2012 is supported with v122 of the Console and runtime compatible with v6.5 Patch
21.
To install the various components of X3 on the server, the following prerequisites are necessary.
The following application and database server configuration will support the required
components for a user installation from 25 and up to 50 users depending on transaction volumes.
Application & Database Server
Category
Required Configuration
Computer:
Processor: Dual or Quad with at least 4MB of L2 Cache at 2.4 Ghz or
better. Number of processors is dependent of transaction
volume/number of concurrent users.
Memory RAM:
16 GB+
DVD-Rom:
12x minimum speed
Operating System:
Microsoft Windows 2008 Server R2 (64 bit)
Disk Space:
Best value:
Raid 1 for the OS (73 GB)
Raid 5 for the database (need at least 250 GB free)
Best performance:
Raid 1 for the OS
Raid 10 for the database files
Raid 1 or 10 for the transaction log files
One of the biggest performance gains for I/O is to move the
transaction log file to a different drive.
Internet Browser:
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7 or greater must be installed on
the application server
IE 9.0 is supported with Web v126
Database software:
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (with latest service packs) installed with
the following options:
Character set = Latin1_General_BIN
Sort Order = Binary
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 will be supported on patch 21
User Accounts:
A user account needs to be created for the startup account of the X3
console listener service. The account must belong to the
administrators group, be able to logon as a service, and have the Act
as part of the operating system user right.
Web Server (stand-alone)
Category
Required Configuration
Computer:
Processor: Dual with at least 2MB of L2 Cache
Memory RAM:
3 Gb for up to 50 concurrent client connections
4 Gb for up to 100
DVD-Rom:
12x minimum speed
Operating System:
Microsoft Windows 2003 Server (32/64 bit), 2008 Server (64 bit)
Disk Space:
A raid configuration is recommended with at least 73 GB of space
Internet Browser:
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7 or greater
User Accounts:
A user account needs to be created for the startup account of the X3
console listener service. The account must belong to the
administrators group, be able to logon as a service, and have the Act
as part of the operating system user right.
Report Server (stand-alone)
Category
Required Configuration
Computer:
Processor: 2.4 Ghz or better with at least 1MB of L2 Cache
Note: Typically this is installed on either the web or application
server
Memory RAM:
2 Gb
DVD-Rom:
12x minimum speed
Operating System:
Microsoft Windows 2003 Server (32/64 bit), 2008 Server (64 bit)
Disk Space:
A raid configuration is recommended with at least 73 GB of space
Internet Browser:
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7 or greater
User Accounts:
A user account needs to be created for the startup account of the X3
console runtime listener service. The account must belong to the
administrators group, be able to logon as a service, and have the Act
as part of the operating system user right.
Connection (Process) Server (stand-alone)
Category
Required Configuration
Computer:
Processor: Dual with at least 4MB of L2 Cache
Memory RAM:
4 Gb + 60 MB for each concurrent client connection. Minimum 8Gb
DVD-Rom:
12x minimum speed
Operating System:
Microsoft Windows 2008 Server R2 (64 bit)
Disk Space:
A raid configuration is recommended with at least 73 GB of space
Internet Browser:
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7 or greater
User Accounts:
A user account needs to be created for the startup account of the X3
runtime listener service and the console listener service. The account
must belong to the administrators group, be able to logon as a service,
and have the Act as part of the operating system user right.
Java Bridge Server (stand-alone)
Category
Required Configuration
Computer:
Processor: Dual with at least 2MB of L2 Cache
Memory RAM:
3 Gb for up to 50 concurrent client connections
4 Gb for up to 100
DVD-Rom:
12x minimum speed
Operating System:
Microsoft Windows 2003 Server (32/64 bit), 2008 Server (64 bit)
Disk Space:
A raid configuration is recommended with at least 73 GB of space
Internet Browser:
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7 or greater
User Accounts:
A user account needs to be created for the startup account of the X3
console listener service. The account must belong to the
administrators group, be able to logon as a service, and have the Act
as part of the operating system user right.
1.3 SAGE EDM/EDD
The minimum requirements for a server to run the core EDM Settings components are as
follows. This is typically installed on the X3 application/database server.
Category
Processor
RAM
Operating Systems
Disk Space
LAN
SQL Server
Required Configuration
Pentium IV
2 GB
Windows 2003 Server or higher
712 MB
Min 100MB LAN to clients
2005 or higher
*Average image size is 60K 100K per page: 20,000 pages per year = 2GIG of hard drive space.
*Installed to a SQL database preferably on the same server as the Sage X3 installation.
*The print server service must be installed on the server which EDD/EDM is installed on.
*Web services are required to use EDD / EDM services
EDD fax tools have the following requirements:
An analog phone line is required for faxing
Fax Modem requirement is a fax class 2 modem (class 2.0 is not compatible)
o The suggested model is Multimodem ZDX desktop (Model MT5656ZDX).
A physical server / workstation with an RS-232 connection port for each fax modem to
be connected
o Minimum requirements for the physical faxing machine are in the table
o Fax modems are not supported with connection with virtual servers.
Category
Processor
RAM
Operating Systems
Disk Space
LAN
Required Configuration
Pentium IV
2 GB
Windows XP SP3 or higher
1 GB storage space
Min 100MB LAN to clients
EDD can send approximately 50 faxes per hour per fax modem
EDM mail tools have the following requirements:
EDM only support SMTP or MAPI mail servers, with Outlook 2007 or higher
Access to the mail server from the application server for the sending of e-mails
Barcode labels require a Zebra label printer
Suggested model is connected to the desktop or network (with Active Directory) Zebra
GK420d with Zebranet
Barcode Labels Type A 55 mm x 32 mm
The scan station component and deposit tool require the following specifications:
For Black and White images: TIFF Grp IV 300 dpi resolution output format
For Color images: JPEG output format
For scanning documents with barcode labels attached, barcode recognition must be native
to the scanner or VRS software must be added also
Recommended Scanner Brand: Kodak, with VRS software
1.4 BUSINESS OBJECTS
Business Objects, when installed on a dedicated server has the following requirements.
Category
Required Configuration
Computer:
Processor: Dual with at least 4MB of L2 Cache
Memory RAM:
8 GB
DVD-Rom:
12x minimum speed
Operating System:
Microsoft Windows 2008 Server R2 (64 bit)
Database:
Microsoft SQL Server 2008/R2 (with latest service packs)
Disk Space:
A raid configuration is recommended with at least 100 GB of space
Internet Browser:
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7 or greater
User Accounts:
A user account needs to be created for the startup account of the X3
runtime listener service and the console listener service. The account
must belong to the administrators group, be able to logon as a service,
and have the Act as part of the operating system user right.
1.5 SAGE SEARCH
Sage Search is a complete indexing engine which requires its own, dedicated database and server
with the following configuration.
Category
Required Configuration
Computer:
Processor: Dual or Quad with at least 4MB of L2 Cache at 2.4 Ghz or
better. Number of processors is dependent of transaction
volume/number of concurrent users.
Memory RAM:
16 GB+
DVD-Rom:
12x minimum speed
Operating System:
Microsoft Windows 2008 Server R2 (64 bit)
Disk Space:
Best value:
Raid 1 for the OS (73 GB)
Raid 5 for the database (need at least 250 GB free)
Best performance:
Raid 1 for the OS
Raid 10 for the database files
Raid 1 or 10 for the transaction log files
One of the biggest performance gains for I/O is to move the
transaction log file to a different drive.
Internet Browser:
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7 or greater must be installed on
the application server
IE 9.0 is supported with Web v126
Database software:
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (with latest service packs) installed with
the following options:
Character set = Latin1_General_BIN
Sort Order = Binary
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 will be supported on patch 21
User Accounts:
A user account needs to be created for the startup account of the X3
console listener service. The account must belong to the
administrators group, be able to logon as a service, and have the Act
as part of the operating system user right.
1.6 X3 CLIENT
X3 Client is available for the following operating systems:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Windows Vista (32 and 64 bit)
Microsoft Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit)
The following table lists the requirements of the X3 Client, in case of using the Web Client, only
the Internet Browser requirements apply.
Category
Sub-category
Required Configuration
Computer:
All systems
Pentium 1 Ghz or better
All systems
1GB minimum
DVD-Rom:
All systems
4x speed DVD-ROM
Not necessary in the case of an installation carried
via a mapped drive on the server or Web Client.
Display:
All systems
Screen Super VGA in mode 1024 X 768
Disk Space:
All systems
X3 Client: 1GB
Internet
Browser:
All systems
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7 or greater
IE 9.0 is supported with Web v126
Chrome & Firefox are supported with the IE Tab
add-in and Web v126
Network
software:
All Systems
TCP/IP
Microsoft SQL
Server
MDAC 2.6 or greater installed
Email Software:
All Systems
MAPI compliant (Microsoft Outlook, etc.)
Memory:
1.7 RF HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
Only applicable if ADC module is purchased:
At minimum, the device must be VT 100 compatible
The screen must support 16 lines by 20 columns.
The client must support a telnet connection.
The web server component must be installed, it is recommended when using more than 25 users
on ADC that a web server is dedicated to the ADC users.
1.8 VARIOUS ARCHITECTURE MODELS
The above section lists the requirements for an application server as well as a process server. The
architecture of X3 consists of a runtime listener that accepts connection requests from the X3
client as well as a directory of all of the source code and executable (i.e., application software
components) used to run the software.
The application server contains both the runtime listener and the application software
components. In an instance of an X3 installation, there will always only be one application
server. Typically the maximum number of users that this application server will support is 50
If the user count is above 50, then process servers are used. A process server has the runtime
listener install but it does not have the application software components. Those are read from the
application server.
Since a process server by definition is one that has the runtime listener install and can accept
client connection requests, the application server itself is also a process server.
When a user connects to the application server, a process called Adonix.exe is created that runs
the X3 business logic. If only an application server is to be used, all users connect to the
application server and all Adonix.exes are run there.
If process servers are used, then the user load can be split between the application server and
process server(s). For example, if 60 client sessions are connected, 30 can be on the application
server and 30 can be on the process server.
Architecture 3-tiers
A
A: Application Server/DB Server
Local area network
Configuration
Up to 50 Users
Servers
A : Quad processor/ 16GB RAM
Note: This does not include EDM, Business Objects or Sage Search
Process
All X3
processes/Oracle or
SQL Server
Architecture 4-tiers
A
(Network
between the servers 1Gbps)
A : Application Server/DB Server
B : Connection Servers
Local area network
X3 Clients
Examples of configuration Windows servers:
Configuration
50-100 users
Servers
A : Quad processor/16GB RAM
Process
Sadfsq/Oracle or SQL
Server
B : Dual processor/4 GB RAM
X3 and sadora or
sadoss (web,
connection and report
server components)
Forecast 1 extra connection server (B) for every additional 25 (up to 50) users.
1.9 VARIOUS MODELS OF ARCHITECTURE TO
ESTABLISH REMOTE CONNECTIONS
Architecture 2-tiers with Citrix, TSE or X3 Web
A
A: Application/Database Server
Local area network
X3 Clients in C/S
B: Citrix, TSE or X3 Web
Distant network
Architecture 3-tiers with server Citrix or TSE
A
(network
A: Application server/DB Server
Local area network
B: Citrix or TSE
Distant network
between the servers 1 Gbps)
Examples of configuration server MetaFrame Citrix or TSE:
Configuration
20 remote users
40 remote users
80 remote users
Servers
B : Single processor/ 1 Gb RAM
B : Single processor/ 1.5 Gb RAM
B : 2 Dual processors/ 1.5 Gb RAM
Process
Client
Client
Client
Architecture 4-tiers with Server X3 Web Centralized
A
(network
between the servers 1Gbps)
A: Application server/DB Server
B: Connection servers
Local area network
X3 Clients
C: X3 Web Server
Distant network
Examples of configuration server X3 Web:
Configuration
20-50 remote users
50-100 remote users
Servers
C : Dual processor / 1 Gb RAM
C : Dual processor / 2 Gb RAM
Process
Tomcat
Tomcat
Architecture 4-tiers with dual X3 Web servers and remote connections
A
(network
between the servers 1Gbps)
A: Application server/DB Server
B: Connection Servers
Local area network
X3 Clients
C: Primary X3 Web Server
Distant network
D
D: Secondary X3 Web Server and distant connections
Local area network
Local area network
Local area network
Example configurations of X3 Web Servers
Configuration
50-100 remote users
(25-35 users / site)
Servers
C : Dual processor / 2 Gb RAM
D : 3 x Dual processor/ 1 Gb RAM
Process
Tomcat
Tomcat
Architecture Web Store Configuration
A
(network
between the servers 1Gbps)
A : Application Server/Process server(s)/
DB Server
X3
Clients
Local area network
SSL/VPN or otherwise
private connection to
web server
WWW
X3 Web
Server
(Tomcat
Servlet Server
)
WebServer
and Web
Database
Port 80/8080
http and http
alternate
WWW
Example configurations of X3 Web Servers
Servers
Single Dual/Quad Core, 4gb
RAM and Raid Drives
Process
Lotus/Domino Web Server and
database
1.10 SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR THE SYSTEM
The server will need to be connected to a UPS to be protected from possible power outages.
1.11 SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS
Sage recommends:
Secure VPN and desktop management software.
Sage can only fully support:
Microsoft VPN
Citrix
Optional
Cisco Guardtower
Desktop management Sage recommends:
Terminal services or Remote Desktop
If none of the above is possible, an open port to any of the recommended desktop management products
can be used. An open port is not recommended by Sage and only suggested if the other options cannot
be used.
1.12 ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
This document covers a single instance of Sage ERP X3 and the associated required and optional
components. The following should also be considered for the installation.
Bandwidth X3 requires a persistent connectivity between the client and the application and
database. If this connection drops, the user will get errors and lost any unsaved work. If
connectivity is an issue, consider a Citrix or MS Terminal Server solution
Backups The Application server directory and Database require backups and is not handled by
X3.
Disaster Recovery - Consider how much redundancy is required to meet business requirements.
Load Balancing - Sage ERP X3 does not automatically balance the load of user connections
between multiple connection servers. A third party product may need to be considered.