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Windward System Five can be setup
in many different configurations so it would be difficult to give
you exact specifications without knowledge about your business and
needs. When you are ready to make your purchase, we will gladly
spend some time with you to design your network and give you a shopping
list.
We generally do not sell hardware, so we can give you
an independent evaluation on your quotations.
Windward can be setup on a single workstation, or a
small peer- to-peer network of two or three computers,
or into a proper client/server network from three to
two hundred computers in either one or several locations.
File Server
You have the choice of Microsoft Windows 2000 or 2003
Server, Novell Netware 3.12 or higher or Red Hat Linux
9 or higher as the network operating systems for your
network. Novell is great, but it is sometimes difficult
to get technicians that are available to install and
support. Red Hat Linux is a fantastic networking software,
but again, it requires specialized knowledge. As Linux
becomes more popular, it will be easier to recommend.
Microsoft Windows 2000 and 2003 Server does the job
and if you have technicians that know and understand
it, then this may be the best option to choose.
The server machine itself should be a Pentinum III
350 Mhz or faster with 256 Mbs of Ram and 4 gigs of
hard
drive space or more. Most important, the server must
be of server quality instead of just a low end work
station. This does not mean you need to spend a lot
of money, but if you buy a discount machine to use
as a server, you might run into problems. It's
worth spending a little extra on the server as it‚s
the heart of the whole computer system.
Workstations
Faster is better, but at a minimum is a Pentium III 350
Mhz or faster, with 128 Mbs of Ram. 150 MB of available hard drive
space. These machines can run Windows 98/NT/2000 or XP, but we
recommend Windows 2000 Professional and XP Professional as the
best operating systems for Windward System Five.
Network Cards and Switches
We recommend 3-Com 10/100 ethernet network cards due
to their high-speed and superior quality. Low-end network
cards can cause serious problems under load. The computers
should be connected via a switch, not a hub. Although
similar in appearance the enhanced quality and performance
of a switch justify the added expense. If the network
is under load, a hub will drop packets or allow collisions,
where a switch with store-and-forward technology will
prevent collisions and reduce network load.
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General Printers
Laser printers are the best option because they are quiet, fast
and can handle images very well for printing your company's identity
(logos letterhead, etc).
Bar Code
We strongly recommend the Metrologic brand of scanners,
but any scanner that supports pre-amble characters
and uses a keyboard wedge will work with Windward
System Five. The scanners come in different shapes
and sizes, from handhelds, small balls called Orbits,
or flat bed scanners like you see in grocery stores.
Cash Drawer
When an invoice is completed and is being printed, Windward System
Five can send the codes to open the cash drawer. In most cases,
the cash drawer will be hooked up to your receipt printer, but
there are other methods of connecting the cash drawer to the computer.
Windward System Five supports all standard point of
sale hardware. To find out how to implement System
Five in your existing network, call one of our technicians
today.
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