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Product Profiles Partner XE Offers Advantages of a Hosted System The next generation of Partner — Partner XE — works differently from the current management system when it comes to connectivity. With Partner XE, the user’s workstation is connected to the Partner XE Application (App) Server, much like an Internet connection using the Internet protocol (HTTP). You can connect directly to the XE server and work from anywhere — across the room or across the country. But unlike an Internet connection, XE is a direct connection to the App Server instead of browser-based connection via Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. You will need to install the Partner XE “Client” software made exclusively for the Partner XE client/ server connection on each workstation. The biggest question for Partner XE is who should host the Partner XE App Server? Since it doesn’t matter where the XE server is located, using an “ASP” or Application Service Provider instead of owning and maintaining your own Partner XE server can make a lot of sense. Question: What is hosting? Answer: Hosting means the ”host” takes responsibility for setting up and maintaining the XE App Server — hardware and software. You can host your own agency’s system by loading Partner XE and SQL Server software on your own server and take care of it as you do with your current Partner system now. But with Partner XE’s newer architecture, SIS or an outside ASP can also host Partner XE and its data. Note: Although Partner XE is still designed to accommodate our current Partner agency environments, its new capabilities are more powerful. Question: Where’s the data? Answer: The data is on the XE App Server. The XE Client workstation connects to the App Server to tell it what work to do in Partner XE, but the data remains on the Server. For example, you can print reports, create and print letters, send photos or scanned documents to the server from the XE client’s workstation or even extract data to your computer to use with other applications. You are in control wherever the App Server is located. Question: What are the advantages to having Partner XE hosted? Answer: You may choose to have XE hosted because it’s easier to let someone else worry about managing the App Server and proper maintenance. Hosting includes: • good backups made in a timely manner and stored for as long as needed • hardware is kept operating properly with enough redundancy built in to keep the system running even when there are hardware failures or catastrophes • software is kept updated with the latest service packs and security patches • users and data guarded by firewalls and up-to-date antivirus software If your App Server is hosted, you still need workstations with the XE Client installed and located at your agency or the location from which you will connect to the App Server over the Internet. Question: What are hardware and software requirements for Partner XE? Answer: If you have five or fewer workstations, you don’t need a real server-grade operating system. Instead, you can use a Windows 2000 or XP Workstation as your App Server (peer-to-peer or stand-alone). If you have more users, you need to use a real server-grade operating system, either Microsoft Windows 2000 Server or Microsoft Windows Server 2003. REQUIREMENTS The following are minimum requirements. Server-grade components, more RAM, bigger hard drives, faster processors and faster components are better. NEW SERVER EQUIPMENT (MINIMUM) • Pentium 4 or Athlon 2Ghz • 1 GB RAM • 80 GB Hard Drive • 8 MB video card • 48X CD (or DVD) ROM Drive EXISTING SERVER EQUIPMENT (MINIMUM) • Pentium 3 - 450 MHz• 256 MB RAM Note: A Server (stand-alone or peer-to-peer) will need the New Server Equipment requirements listed above. NEW CLIENT PC EQUIPMENT (MINIMUM) You need a client PC for each user to connect to the App Server. Acceptable client operating systems are Windows 98, Windows 2000 or XP. • Pentium 4 or Athlon 2Ghz • 512 MB RAM • 40 GB Hard Drive • 8 MB video card • 48X CD (or DVD) ROM Drive • 10/100 Mbps Ethernet Network Card (name brand) EXISTING CLIENT PC EQUIPMENT (MINIMUM) • Pentium 3 - 450 MHz• 128 MB RAM • 10/100 Mbps Ethernet Network Card (name brand) a beat in delivering top-notch service to its clients.
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