Server Specification

[dentistglen]

If you have about 400 patients- office open for 2 yrs. What server specification would we be looking into now. Right now we are doing a peer to peer and looking into getting a server. We have 3 ops and using open dental and visx. Also, should we continue to use peer to peer or is the server option better. Thanks

[nathansparks]

My 2cents: You should still use peer to peer, a domain is nice for larger networks where you want to be able to control the permissions of multiple user/groups centrally, or distribute software to many clients without having to physically go to the machine, but requires more IT knowledge and there is no benefit (from my point of view) if you have less than 20 computers at a single location. Windows7 allows 20 clients to connect to another windows 7 share on a peer to peer network.

[dentistglen]

What if you will add another location and want to maintain two different database- should you go with a server or peer to peer and use logme in to take a look at the other office schedule? Thanks

[Jay]

Windows7 allows 20 clients to connect to another windows 7 share on a peer to peer network.

Nathan, what happens to the 20 client limit if there are Windows XP machines mixed in with Windows 7 machines?

[teethdood]

Just to chime in...

The 20-client limit applies to the windows 7 machine acting as a peer-to-peer server hosting the OD database, along with other programs that you may have (ie. digital X-ray database). If you use win XP machines as clients, win XP's 10-client limit doesn't apply.

Windows 7 peer-to-peer server ---> 20 client computers no matter the OS
windows XP peer-to-peer server --> 10 client computers no matter the OS

Some other docs here use Linux to gain unlimited CALs, or a mixture of Linux/Windows virtual servers. However, I think most offices won't outgrow the 20-client limit so win7 peer-to-peer is the easiest way to go for newbie IT guys.

[Jay]

Excellent. Thanks.

[irfan]

open dental doesnt seem to tax a server much since each client computer runs its own software, and just accesses the database. your imaging could be different. we use a Dell T310 poweredge, it hasnt had any issues. loaded with a raid card, redundant HDDs, xeon processor, it came to $950.. not mch more than a workstation with hardware RAID added in. I just have it running windows 7 ultimate.