Two User network

Where only two people require to access the Paragon Database simultaneously it is possible to use two computers with one computer acting as both a server and a workstation and the second computer just as a workstation.

Three or more (up to five) User network

A separate computer acting as a server must be used. This computer can use a workstation operating system, it should be of a high specification as it will be running the MySQL Database Server and our Paragon Virtue service.

More than Five User network

A dedicated server running on server hardware and one of the following Operating Systems

Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008 (February 2008)

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Standard (February 2008)

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 (July 2009)

Microsoft Windows Server 2012 (August 2012)

Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 (October 2013)

Microsoft Windows Server 2016 (October 2016)

Workstation

Operating systems currently supported.

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (July 2009) [Support will end January 2020]

Microsoft Windows 8 (October 2012)

Microsoft Windows 8.1 (October 2013)

Microsoft Windows 10 (September 2015)

We DO NOT recommend or support the use of any of the Home or Media Center editions of Windows in a multi-user setup.

The operating system on all workstations should be consistent. Mixing very old with new will lead to network problems.

Local Area Network

Router

It is important to use a professional grade router when using handhelds either internally or externally, and also if you are relying on cloud communications with YourMOO or sending email invoices. Routers provided by BT or Talk Talk with broadband connections simply do not have the advanced features and capabilities required. We recommend the DrayTek Vigor line of routers.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)

This essential part of a network is handled by the Router and ensures that each device (computer or Handheld) on the network is given a unique number (IP address). We get most of our communication issues because the router fails to provide this consistently. It is good practice to ensure that the machine acting as a server has a static IP address, as this is required for handheld communications.

Cabling

Physical cable must be used between server and workstations and be running at a minimum of 100MBits. Wireless networks (specifically running at 802.11b) are not suitable for the amount of data our application passes between server and client (workstation).

WiFi

Although WiFi is not suitable for our Database application, it can be used for handheld uploads and downloads.

Firewall

TCP port 3306 must be open in any firewall software to allow remote connections for monitoring and maintenance. For security this should only allow connections from 82.133.53.106 and 83.67.1.118

Database

Paragon uses two back end Database technologies at present.

FoxPro. A network share is required (we usually call it DAIRYDATA) and all Workstation users will need Full Control (Read/Write) permissions to the share. Also a mapped drive letter will be required on both the Server and each Workstation connected to the share. This drive letter (we usually use I:) must be consistent on every machine.

MySQL Community Server 5.6. Dairydata will usually install and configure the database engine but the Server machine must either have a static IP address or a fully resolvable hostname (for example HERD).

The server machine should not go to sleep or reduce performance due to power saving configuration.

Remote Support

For remote support we use Teamviewer 13 and this should be installed on the server and each workstation. It is desirable to 24 hour access to the server computer and we will configure a secure password to allow this once Teamviewer is in place. Installing Teamviewer from our web site automatically links any computers to our account. http://www.dairydata.net/support/self-help/teamviewer/

Where network support is also being provided through Teamviewer by a third party we can simply add a password onto the already installed software, for Dairydata to use for software support.