We're currently using OI 8.0.8 and planning on moving to OI 9.

Typically, in a multi-user environment, we ask our clients to install on a Windows Server with the network product. However, we were asked recently if our software will run under Windows Workgroup. The interested party is currently running their database (not OI) on a Windows 7 Home Premium, 64 bit, with 8G memory. They currently have 2-3 users.

I'm not familiar with Workgroup, but the advantage to the user is that they can save money if they don't have to get a server. However, my primary concern is that Workgroup works and is reliable. I searched the forum and there isn't much on this or very recent. Maybe the last posting about Workgroup was 2006 or so.

My question is:

1) Is Windows Workgroup support with OI 8?

2) Is it supported under OI 9?

3) If supported, will Windows 7 Home Premium be sufficient to act as the server? This is not a dedicate machine. They work on this as well.

4) I'm assuming that workstations can use drive mapping to run OI and attach to the datafiles. Is this correct?

I would appreciate any feedback, suggestion, concerns, or comments.

Many thanks.

Ray Chan

We're currently using OI 8.0.8 and planning on moving to OI 9.

Typically, in a multi-user environment, we ask our clients to install on a Windows Server with the network product. However, we were asked recently if our software will run under Windows Workgroup. The interested party is currently running their database (not OI) on a Windows 7 Home Premium, 64 bit, with 8G memory. They currently have 2-3 users.

I'm not familiar with Workgroup, but the advantage to the user is that they can save money if they don't have to get a server. However, my primary concern is that Workgroup works and is reliable. I searched the forum and there isn't much on this or very recent. Maybe the last posting about Workgroup was 2006 or so.

My question is:

1) Is Windows Workgroup support with OI 8?

2) Is it supported under OI 9?

3) If supported, will Windows 7 Home Premium be sufficient to act as the server? This is not a dedicate machine. They work on this as well.

4) I'm assuming that workstations can use drive mapping to run OI and attach to the datafiles. Is this correct?

I would appreciate any feedback, suggestion, concerns, or comments.

Many thanks.

Ray Chan

Basically, you're asking:

The customer doesn't have a server, so they've networked all the machines in the same workgroup, using standard Windows shares. The machine they want to use as the OI "host" is a WIndows 7 Home Premium machine.

1. Can they use this machine as a server and as a workstation at the same time?

2. Can they then access OI from the server?

In theory, yes. The problem is, Rev doesn't support OI on Windows 7 Home, mostly because of a lack of officially supported networking protocols.

My personal opinion? If you get locking, then it should work, but watch out for those GFEs. I wouldn't do it though. Go pro man, go pro.

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Hey Sprezz,

Thanks for your quick reply.

So are you saying that if they installed Windows 7 Professional reliable performance is more assured? I know that when I researched this earlier on the forum (only XP was discussed) XP professional was preferred, but it was indicated that Home worked too. Quick frankly, I'm not sure what the difference is between "Home" and "Professional" other than costs and "Professional" sounds more serious.

Any case, I don't have a problem in suggesting they upgrade to Professional. I rather err on the side of safety. I haven't seen a GFE in years and not sure how to fix one under OI. Back in the old days, we had plenty of practice with GFEs :biggrin:

Hope all is well and peaceful with your tribe.

Ray

afaik, you would also be able to install the lh service on the 'Server' PC. Then just have a big note 'DO NOT TURN OFF B4 CHECKING OTHER LOGINS"

Hi Barry,

Very wise! I imagine that with 2-3 users they are in the same room, but nevertheless, a wise reminder never hurts.

BTW, have you experienced good luck with using Workgroup?

Thanks,

Ray Chan

Use the professional version of Windows 7 as Aaron pointed out. There are differences in what the windows home versions can share. I.e. the home versions aren't able to share every folder, only specific folders in the users' home directory. Do not use windows home as a server computer.

You can use OpenInsight in work group mode if the server workstation runs the pro version of Windows 7. Setup your Windows 7 pro workstation the same way you would a server. As Barry pointed out, be sure to install the Universal Driver's LinearHash service on the server workstation. This is a supported configuration.

If the work group is properly setup the client workstations should be able to map drives to the server workstation.

The server workstation's firewall will need to be open to allow the Linearhash TCP to communicate with the clients.

You'll need to be comfortable supporting your application in this environment. In general you shouldn't have any unusual problems related but I recommend you test it out in advance.

Hi Jared,

Thanks for your response. Most helpful.

I'm not really experience in working with Workgroup, but it could be a deciding a factor. We'll ponder this and see.

Of course, there could be other options. I may need to think about them and it's possible that I may contact you later about them, i.e., revisiting an issue that you and I talked about earlier.

Enjoy your weekend!

Ray

Ray, the price is really nothing. You can go to a 'Frys' (or who ever you have locally) and get 7pro for 140 or so. Not that bad.

Hi Jared,

Thanks for your response. Most helpful.

I'm not really experience in working with Workgroup, but it could be a deciding a factor. We'll ponder this and see.

Of course, there could be other options. I may need to think about them and it's possible that I may contact you later about them, i.e., revisiting an issue that you and I talked about earlier.

Enjoy your weekend!

Ray

Ray,

When push comes to shove, there really isn't much of a difference, really, at least from the perspective Jared is talking about. Once you load the LH Service on the "server", then it's just another NT network, as long as you get the drives all mapped correctly.

The Sprezzatura Group

The Sprezzatura Blog

World leaders in all things RevSoft

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