CMS System Requirements

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CMS system requirements are fairly meager considering the capabilities of today's machines. As such, most anything you buy or already own may be more than adequate. You do, however, want to make sure you're meeting the following system requirements.

Contents

64-bit vs 32-bit

This option affects both your hardware and software. Some Windows operating systems are available in either a 32-bit or 64-bit version. Either will work both with CMS and CMS's database server software - Sybase SQL Anywhere. The 64-bit version does not offer any benefits to CMS over its 32-bit counterpart for the workstations. Sybase, on the other hand, would stand to benefit from a 64-bit OS on the server, not the least of which is its support of additional RAM. If you're looking at running Windows Vista we'd recommend sticking with the 32-bit editions. If you're considering Windows 7, 8.1, or 2008 Server you may opt for either the 32 or 64-bit editions. Note that Windows Server 2008 R2 and Server 2012 are only available in 64-bit.

Hardware

Servers

This section applies to machines that are operating as pure servers or for stand-alone installations which are acting as both a server and workstation.

Minimum Requirements 

For small volume companies with one or few workstations
  • Pentium 4 - 1.8 GHz or faster CPU
  • 8 Gigabyte RAM
  • 500 GB Hard Drive with at least 2x your CMS database size always available in disk space

Database Server - Additional Recommendations 

Server enhancements to consider as your server demands increase (higher volume, more workstation connections, larger/multiple databases)
  1. The best things you can do to improve the performance and capability of your CMS server is to maximize your RAM, purchase fast hard drives, and ensure adequate available disk space. The speed and number of processors/cores have less to do with CMS performance than does I/O (disk read/write speed) and being able to cache some or all of the database into RAM. This should be your first goal when purchasing a new server or optimizing an existing server.
  2. Solid State Drives (SSD) can be an attractive option/addition to your server. They are essentially RAM and are extremely fast.
  3. Isolate your CMS database onto its own drive so it is not sharing a drive with your operating system or other server files.
  4. Isolate CMS onto its own server so is not also being used for Exchange, file shares, etc. to achieve optimal performance (also recommended for PCI compliance)
  5. Disable Windows Themes (typically is disabled or not installed at all on server operating systems)
  6. Check your Power Options (Control Panel>Hardware>Power Options) and select High Performance (not necessary to do this and running in Balanced mode may be fine but consider this if experiencing performance issues)
  7. Fast network cards - Especially useful if you run a lot of reports from your workstations. In conjunction, evaluate the speed and age of switches (replace hubs) and network cabling.
  8. RAID 6 or other drive arrays. Prioritize redundancy over striping if going with a different RAID configuration. Your server is at the heart of your company's operation and you need to make sure you can keep it going. Redundancy will help you sleep at night.
  9. Backups - While not a performance issue, this is an important consideration for a new server. You'll want to have an automated system in place to move the nightly CMS backup (must be turned on and configured in CMS) to other storage locations. Ideally, you'd have a rolling backup routine that allows you to store backups for each night without overwriting the previous backups and then move the last backup of the week off-site (DVD, tape, or online backup location). This way even if your place of business was in a natural disaster or your server was stolen, you would reasonably be able to recover. We had, unfortunately, a customer of ours go out of business because they were unable to recover when their server was lost in a fire. Please protect yourself from the same fate.

Configuration

When running directly on a Windows server (2003 and up), CMS will not be able to make web service calls until the following configuration change is made. This can impact some CMS integrations so the following setting should be made on your server. Go into Control Panel->System & Security->System->advanced System Settings->Performance->Settings and choose the Data Execution Prevention tab.

The default setting is Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select, and there is no reason to change it for CMS. However, you need to add CMS to the exception list, which will then allow CMS to communicate with web services.

  • Themes - CMS 8.0 and later requires Windows Themes be enabled if you are running CMS on your server (including Terminal Services).

CMS workstations

Workstations are those machines that are running CMS from a server on your network. If you are running CMS on only one machine or that machine is your server, please see the Server requirements above.

Minimum Requirements

  • Pentium III 500 MHz or faster
  • 2 GB RAM
  • 20GB Hard Drive with 2GB available
  • 10Mbps Network Card(s) or faster

CMS Workstation Recommendations

Very little processing, disk space, or hardware is required to run CMS on a workstation. Most everything takes place on the server or in memory so your workstation requirements are reasonably small. Our only recommendation, beyond the above minimums, is to upgrade your RAM to 8+ Gig to support operations on large sets of data (e.g. mail list filtering, reporting, exporting).

Peripherals

CMS will work with most any peripheral (e.g. printers) as long as the manufacture still supports it and offers drivers for your operating system. If the manufacture does not support your device and offer drivers for your operating system, NewHaven Software cannot assist you with it. It may work with CMS but, if not, you must upgrade your device to a currently supported model.

While this may seem like we're just washing our hands of supporting older hardware, there is really more to it. CMS, like most other Windows applications, relies on Windows to operate as an intermediary with its peripherals. CMS communicates to Windows and then Windows handles the communication with the peripheral. If Windows does not have a current driver, that communication may fail or operate in unexpected ways. In other words, any problems with the peripheral are outside of our software and control.

POS Module

The only place where CMS has more specific hardware requirements are the peripherals used with its POS Module. The Point of Sale Module only supports specific models of printers, cash drawers, credit card swipes and UPC bar code scanners.

  • Printers - Most any Windows compatible printer should work but the following are the 80 column thermal printers we have tested and can support:
    • Star TSP143II
    • Samsung SRP-350
  • Barcode Scanners - CMS requires either USB serial emulation mode or USB HID POS. Contact Support for a programming guide suitable for your model of scanner. If you are not purchasing these models through NewHaven Software, be sure that you are supplied with a proper cable to allow USB serial emulation if USB HID POS is not supported.
  • Cash Drawer
    • APG 320 MultiPro
    • MMC 225151644204
  • Credit card swipe/reader - Magtek model 21040102 (many look the same but are not, it must be this model)
  • Pole Display - Logic Controls PD-3000 series

Other hardware may work with CMS but these are the only models we have tested and can support or offer configuration instructions for. The credit card reader, however, is unlikely to work unless you have the specific model we have recommended.

Shipping Station

Barcode scanners

CMS supports the USB HID POS, USB/serial, and keyboard wedge style scanner (albeit with reduced capability, not recommended). Read this article on Barcode Scanners for more information and a list of supported models.

We also provide a sheet of barcodes suitable for use at the shipping station. Print this and tape it to your monitor for fast and easy hands-free shipping.

Scales

  • CMS version 7 or earlier - CMS will work with most any scale that connects via a serial connection and can emulate a Mettler Toledo (models 8213 or PS60) or the UPS Fairbanks scale.
  • CMS 8.0 or later - USB connections are supported for the Toledo models PS60 and PS90 (in addition to supporting serial connections for the scale models mentioned above.)
  • CMS 9.0.5 or later - Any of the above plus the Adam brand scale - CPWplus models (e.g. CPWplus 35). These scales require a serial connection with null modem cable which is not included or can be used in conjunction with a USB-serial converter if your computer has no serial port (although a $15 serial card is cheaper and better.)
  • CMS 10.0.14.270 adds support for the Mettler Toledo BC-30 and BC-60 models which replace the model PS60 in Mettler Toledo's lineup (both are available in CMS.)

If you are using a scale provided by UPS or FedEx, you may need to change a setting in the scale's menu to restore it to default settings (so it is no longer using a proprietary communication protocol).

Other scanners or scales may work with CMS but these are the ones we support and can assist you with configuration. Please contact us if you'd like us to evaluate other hardware (typically requires shipping a unit to us for testing.)

See our article on Shipping_Station_-_Best_Practices for more tips!

Operating Systems

The following are operating systems currently supported by Microsoft and NewHaven Software for use with CMS. NewHaven Software will only support use of CMS on operating systems currently supported by Microsoft. Noting also the PCI Compliance requires that your payment application (CMS) be used on an operating system that has current security updates.

Servers

Server 2008 is end of life January 2020

  • Windows Server 2012 (CMS v9.0.9 or later)
    • Server 2012 R2 Editions supported - Essentials, Standard

NOTE: Our experience has been that the server OS has never presented an issue for CMS or Sybase (our database server software.) Newer versions of Windows Server would be expected to work equally as well for editions corresponding to those listed above.

Workstations or CMS Solo (i.e. single-user)

  • Windows 8.1 Pro (only) - Supported only in CMS 9.0.9 or later. An updated Sybase database driver is required to support Win 8.1 and workstation updates will be required.
  • Windows 10 - CMS 10.0.5 or later (noting that some barcode scanners do not work with Windows 10 due to a manufacture's driver issue. Please see the above section on scanners for more information.

NOTE: Microsoft ended support for Windows XP Professional on April 8, 2014 and Vista on April 11, 2017, and Windows 7 on January 14th 2020.

Remote Connections

There are many options available to you when wanting to run CMS remotely. The core issue that must be observed is that CMS must be running on a machine that is connected locally to its database server. As long as that is true, you'll have no troubles running CMS remotely. You cannot, however, have CMS running locally on your workstation and connect to a remote server. The following are some remote access solutions and tips.

Remote Access Software

Software like TeamViewer, LogMeIn, and GoToMyPC are inexpensive remote access tools that allow you to connect to your PC via their website, thus from any other PC. Performance is a little slower than other solutions but is low cost, flexible and easy to use.

Remote Desktop and Terminal Server

  • Our preferred method is to use Windows' built-in remote access options. Remote Desktop (RDP) allows you to connect to your work machine with CMS on it and control it remotely. To do this you must first establish a virtual private network (VPN) connection.
  • Terminal Services or Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is also an option that will allow you to VPN into your server and create/run a remote session right on the server and without the need for a dedicated workstation. This is also a popular option but does require purchasing Windows client access licenses (CALs). Note: Running CMS 8.0 or later on terminal services will require that you enable Windows themes (usually off or not installed with Windows Server OS's). Also note that when running CMS in terminal services, all users share the same 'Workstation Specific' settings (In CMS see Setup>General>Workstation Specific to review these settings and assess if this trade-off is acceptable.)
  • We've written a separate article on configuration recommendations for RDP - http://wiki.newhavensoftware.com/index.php/CMS_over_Microsoft_Remote_Desktop

Printing can present some challenges under Terminal Services, not to CMS but in general. Here is an excellent resource to help address them - http://wiki.newhavensoftware.com/index.php/CMS_over_Microsoft_Remote_Desktop#Printing

Warning

At this time Endicia's Dazzle software is not supported by Endicia for use on a Terminal Services server. Please take into account your use of peripherals and integrations to make sure they are supported and will work as expected under Terminal Services.

Cloud Computing

Licensing

Only one database server can be running concurrently. Connections to that database server must come from the same domain. As stated above, CMS must be run on network local to the database server (i.e. you can remote into a vm, machine, or terminal server hosting CMS). You cannot run CMS locally and connect to a remote server.

Peripherals and Integrations

While cloud deployment does not present any inherent challenges to CMS, there can be complications with getting a remote instance of CMS to properly interact with local hardware. While printers are commonly used and not typically a problem, communication with serial or USB devices (e.g. bar code scanners, scales, card swipes, pole displays) can be more challenging. Testing of existing/needed peripherals must be done before launching into production to ensure all users can continue to operate efficiently. We recommend you read our separate article on running CMS via RDP, including peripheral sharing, for some guidance that may be helpful - http://wiki.newhavensoftware.com/index.php/CMS_over_Microsoft_Remote_Desktop

If you are using any other integrations with CMS, specifically if they are not done with web services, you'll also want to test those to ensure expected operation is possible.

PCI Compliance

There are PCI implications when moving your CMS database (which stores credit card data) to the cloud. It will add risk and corresponding cost/effort to mitigate that risk in order to remain PCI compliant. Here is a document from the PCI Council for guidance - https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/pdfs/PCI_DSS_v2_Cloud_Guidelines.pdf

From the security experts, Coalfire Systems who validated CMS for PA-DSS, comes this Cloud Deployment Intelligence report which provided valuable insight to consider before launching in the cloud.

Network Requirments

During the Setup of CMS on your network, you need to also ensure that your network security software is set to allow the following through it:

  • TCP/IP 2638
  • HTTP 80
  • HTTPS 443
  • CMS.exe

Virtual Machines

NewHaven Software will support CMS running on a virtual machine as long as the operating system (OS) running in the virtual machine is also supported. However, if NHS is unable to reproduce an issue, the customer may be asked to reproduce the problem running natively on the supported OS, outside the virtual environment. NHS does not explicitly test or certify products running in a virtual environment.

In other words, NHS can support CMS running in virtual environments but not the environments themselves. We strongly recommend that if you decide to pursue running virtual machines that you have someone with related expertise to assist with the setup and administration of these, much the same as you would network administration.

Recommendations

CMS can run on a virtual machine/server as long as it is provided enough resources (e.g. disk space, memory, processor). We in fact run CMS here at NewHaven Software on a virtual server and have had great success with it. We have been using VMware ESXi v4.0 and have also had successful tests with Xen Server 5.6 Feature Pack 1 although have yet to run CMS in production on Xen Server. We do have several CMS clients running live on virtual servers presently as well.

As a rule, CMS and the database server will run with no particular technical issues although performance may not be as good as running on a dedicated non-virtual server. Reinforcing what has been said above, lots of RAM and fast drives (disk I/O) are the biggest factors that impact CMS performance. Our recommendations for running CMS on a virtual server is simply to ensure that sufficient resources are allocated.

If you think virtualization is in your future, please contact us for assistance in setting up a test environment. Before deploying into production we of course strongly recommend testing. You'll want to validate that performance is acceptable and that all connectivity, including from peripherals (if applicable), and all integrations are working and performing at acceptable levels.

3rd Party Software

Many 3rd party software solutions can be used in conjunction with CMS but it is important to note that we do not support these software solutions. Examples of 3rd party software include Crystal Software, Microsoft Access, Mapforce, etc. The NHS technical staff is not responsible for answering any questions about features/functionality or bugs within these software programs. Please view your Software License and Support Agreement for details.

We are, however, happy to provide assistance as a professional service. For more details, please contact your account manager.

FAQ's

Can I use Windows 10?

We support running CMS on Windows 10 workstations under CMS versions 10.0.5 and later.

NOTE: If you're using older peripherals (scales/printers) the manufacture may never release a Win10 compatible driver. Something to consider before replacing a machine or updating its operating system. Either research to make sure compatible drivers are available or be prepared to replace the peripherals with newer models that are compatible.

SCANNERS: We've learned that Honeywell is not yet able to get serial emulation working with the USB bar code scanners. If you are using a scanner on a machine you intend to upgrade to Win10 you will need to obtain a scanner that can work in USB HID POS mode. Read the POS section of our System Requirements page for more details.

Do I need a new machine to run CMS?

Probably not. The operating system is far more important than your hardware. If your operating system is no longer supported by Microsoft, you may be able to update it or reinstall a supported operating system on your current machine. Please consult Microsoft for their minimum requirements for the operating system your selecting. Generally if it meets Microsoft's requirements for their operating system, it will be good enough for CMS as well. From there, you need to decide if good enough is in fact really good enough and that will be clear in the performance of Windows, CMS or other applications. Often times poor performance is a factor of limited memory and, since memory is typically quite cheap, you should consider maximizing RAM before replacing a machine (and on any new machine).

My operating system is currently supported, do I need a new machine?

Hardware is rarely an issue with CMS and you could be running old machines and still experience reasonable performance. If you're satisfied with the speed of CMS, you're able to run a supported operating system without errors, and you have adequate disk space, you may choose to continue to run on your existing machine(s).

If you were to do only one thing, it should be to max the amount of RAM your machine will take. RAM is cheap, too cheap to not have plenty of it.

Secondarily, a CMS server needs a lot of disk space not just for its database but also requires additional free gigabytes of space for temp files that the database server creates and destroys through normal usage to optimize performance. You should never have less than 2x your database size in free drive space on your server (and this only considers CMS's needs, not Windows or other processes). Here too, drive space is too cheap for this to be a limiting factor.

There may be other compelling reasons to upgrade your machines, be it for speed, other applications or compatibility with other new technologies. New machines that are capable of running 64-bit operating systems, for example, are capable of handling more than 4 Gigabytes of RAM. While this would rarely be a CMS consideration for a workstation, if you have a database (.db file) that is larger than 2 Gig, you should seriously consider a server with more than 4G of RAM.

As a rule, the performance you need from CMS is merely a factor of hardware. As your company grows, CMS can scale perfectly well with you but may require improved hardware to keep up with the increased server load. Evaluating CPU/memory usage and free disk space during the heat of the day will give you an indication of how well your server is handling the load and if more resources are needed.

Why can't I continue to use an older operating system?

Even if has worked fine with CMS for years, if Microsoft no longer supports it, you really don't want to be using it. Once Microsoft stops offering security patches, as they have for Windows XP and 2003 Server, you become vulnerable to new threats (viruses, hacks, etc.) and you may find that new versions of CMS will no longer work. Such was the case with Windows 2000 as it did not contain the encryption components needed for newer versions of CMS to run properly and satisfy PCI requirements. This link provides more information on this subject.

PCI requirements also dictate that your systems must be kept up to date with current security patches. In other words, you cannot be PCI compliant while running CMS on machines with unsupported operating systems.

Can I run CMS on my Mac?

CMS does not run natively on a Mac but there are solutions for running Windows applications on a Mac.

  • Microsoft’s free remote desktop solution can run on non-Intel Macs running OS 10.5.8 or later. This is desktop sharing (connecting to a remote PC/server).
  • Parallels is one of several solutions worth exploring if you prefer not to remote into a Windows machine. They have a 14 day free trial.

In either case, there is no USB/HID support, meaning printers are the only supported peripherals (no scale, scanner, card reader, or pole display).

What about my network?

Our recommendations here are pretty generic. If you're still on the old 10mbps cards you should consider upgrading. 1Gbps is pretty standard these days. CMS doesn't need a lot of bandwidth but could benefit from 100mbps over 10mbps...depending on what other network traffic you might expect. If you have hubs or old switches, that would be a good place to look at upgrading.

Will CMS work with wireless?

Yes, although CMS must maintain a constant connection with its database and even momentary interruptions in that connection can be enough to cause errors. As such, we do not recommend running CMS over a wireless network connection. You can, however, use Remote Desktop via wireless to connect to a machine that is on your physical network and, in that scenario, you would not be subject to disconnect issues.

Can I run CMS remotely?

Yes, but it must be done using RDP (remote desktop), terminal services or remote access software like Logmein. CMS must be running on the same network/domain as its database server. You'll need to remote into Windows first and then run CMS from that machine. You cannot have CMS installed locally and connect to a remote network/server. See the section on remote connections above.

Can NewHaven Software assist with purchasing or configuring my hardware/network?

We can make recommendations, like we have in this article, but the actual purchase, configuration and maintenance of your hardware and network must be performed by someone at your location. This would either be done by someone on staff that is capable or a local contractor that can provide these services and expertise to you. We're happy to consult with your staff or contractors on any CMS related configurations.

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