SICS Hardware Requirements

SICS Hardware Requirements

End-User PC #

The requirements described here, are valid for an end-user who performs normal online (GUI) related tasks and who has SICS Workstation and/or System Administration Utility installed on his own PC.

For centralized operation, please see the section on Remote Desktop Operation.

For heavy processing, please see the section on SICS Batch Server.

For interfacing via the SOAP/XML-based API, please see the section on SICS API Server.

Minimal Setup #

The absolute minimum hardware requirements for SICS is as follows:

  • x64 single-core processor 1.5 GHz or better
  • 64-bit Operating System
  • 2 GB RAM
  • Display at 1024x768 resolution with a minimum of 16-bit highcolor
  • 2 GB free storage space

In a scenario where SICS is run together with other typical desktop applications (e.g. Word Processor, Mail System, Web Browser, etc), the RAM size should be increased.

It should also be noted that System Management Applications (e.g. virus scanners, power management software, diagnostic tools, and remote workstation facilities) all use up memory and may increase the hardware requirements.

After adding more RAM, increasing the processor speed and/or the number of processors or cores would be an option to improve performance. The above mentioned processor speed must be taken as an absolute minimum and does not necessarily result in a performance which is satisfactory for all users in all circumstances.

Note: The overall performance of the network connection to the database server, and the database server itself, also affect the performance of SICS. Even a high-end PC will not make SICS perform if the network or database server is slow.

Optimal Setup #

A faster PC and more RAM (memory) will give increased performance. With the recent advances in PC hardware technology, any reasonably new PC - be it desktop or laptop - has sufficient processor power to run SICS optimally.

With regards to memory - assuming the end-user will also run other software applications on his/her PC - it is advisable to install at least 8 GB of RAM.

The total amount of memory needed depends on what applications will run simultaneously. The main point is to avoid a situation where there is too little physical memory and therefore the operating system starts to swap to its virtual memory area on local storage.

As said above, the overall performance of the network connection to the database server, and the database server itself, also affect the performance of SICS. Even a high-end PC will not make SICS perform if the network or database server is slow.

Remote Desktop Operation #

When there is a geographic spread of end-users, SICS should be executed on a centralized server with LAN access to the SICS database, because running SICS in each end-user’s PC with remote access to the SICS database over a Wide Area Network does not give sufficient performance.

In such a centralized setup, it is necessary to use some remote access software to bring the mouse and keyboard input from the end-user’s PC to the centrally running SICS instance, and also bringing the SICS window output back to the end-user’s PC.

There are at least two alternatives for such remote access, as discussed in the following.

Microsoft Windows Remote Desktop Services #

Microsoft Windows Server includes a technology named “Remote Desktop Services” (formerly known as “Terminal Services”). RDS allows users (clients) to access applications on remote computers (servers) over a network, using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). With RDS, only the user interface of an application is presented at the client. The application itself runs on the server. Depending on configuration, the presentation at the client could be a full Windows “desktop” in which the application runs, or just the application GUIs (socalled “seamless” mode).

Licensing of RDS is available in several flavors, but basically the requirement is a Remote Desktop Client Access License (RDS CAL) and a Windows Server CAL for each client connection.

In SICS context, RDS enables the installation and execution of SICS on one or more centrally located (close to the SICS database) servers running Windows Server, while end-users access SICS using RDP over the network. Each end-user will run her own instance of SICS on the server. Depending on hardware configuration, each RDS server may run dozens of SICS instances concurrently.

Citrix Virtual Apps & Desktops #

Citrix Virtual Apps & Desktops (formerly Citrix WinFrame Server, Citrix MetaFrame Server, Citrix Presentation Server, Citrix XenApp and XenDesktop) is a product that allows users to access applications on remote computers over a network, using the ICA protocol. Citrix extends (and requires) Microsoft Windows Remote Desktop Services.

It is important to note that in addition to concurrent user Citrix licensing, there must exist a Remote Desktop Client Access License (RDS CAL) and a Windows Server CAL from Microsoft for each client connection.

In SICS context, Citrix XenApp enables installation and execution of SICS in the same manner as described for Microsoft Windows Remote Desktop Services (above).

General #

Citrix Virtual Apps & Desktops claims to provide additional benefits over and above Microsoft RDS, though at an additional license cost. The choice between the two depends on customer requirements and DXC is not unconditionally promoting one solution over the other.

Note that users that have access to the SICS database through a LAN (not a WAN) can run SICS locally in their own PCs (in which case they will need a PC configured as described above). Only remote users need to use the Remote Desktop servers. However, there could be administrative and operational reasons for choosing to have all end-users run SICS in a Remote Desktop configuration.

Cloud #

Public or Private Cloud providers such as AWS or Microsoft Azure offer VDI remote desktop solutions. AWS offers AWS WorkSpaces or AWS AppStreamer. Microsoft offers Windows Virtual Desktop. SICS is compatible with these and other Cloud based VDI solutions.

Server Requirements #

The hardware configuration of a Remote Desktop server is quite flexible. Of course, a more powerful computer will be able to serve a higher number of concurrent users. Please contact DXC for more advice in this area.

End-User (client) PC Requirements #

A suitable configuration for an end-user PC running SICS in a Remote Desktop configuration is as follows:

  • Processor speed: Anything will do
  • RAM requirements: Only what is needed for the local OS and the Remote Desktop connectivity client (and non-SICS applications, if any). SICS requires no RAM in the end-user’s PC when executed on a Remote Desktop server
  • Disk Space: As with RAM.

SICS Batch Server #

In SICS there are a number of long-running tasks that access a large amount of data from the database. Most of these long-running tasks are various kinds of accounting orders, e.g. installment order, retro calculation order, etc. There are also some long-running tasks in the underwriting area.

SICS has the capability of executing most (but not all) long running tasks as ‘batch jobs’ in an unattended mode. Although any end-user client PC can be started in batch mode, the nature of this kind of processing indicates that it is better to use one or more dedicated PCs for batch processing.

Those long-running tasks, which can not be executed as batch jobs, must be started manually by selecting a menu option or clicking a button in some GUI.

Independently of whether a long-running task is started manually or is executed as an unattended batch job, the PC on which the task runs must be suitable for the task at hand.

The minimum hardware requirement for a PC processing long-running tasks depends on the amount of data to be processed. For small installations, an ordinary end-user PC (see above) with some extra RAM may be sufficient. However, long-running tasks typically involve a lot of data manipulation, which will complete quicker the faster the PC is. And, when a large amount of data is to be processed, much more RAM is needed.

For medium-sized and large installations, a recommended specification for a PC processing long-running tasks is as follows:

  • x64 dual-core processor 2 GHz or better
  • 6 GB RAM
  • Display at 1024x768 resolution with a minimum of 16-bit highcolor
  • 5 GB free storage space

It is also important to make sure that the PC(s) that will process long-running tasks are connected through a fast (at least 1 Gbit) network connection to the database server, and that this network connection is not overloaded by other traffic.

In order to utilize the larger amount of RAM, one needs to increase the SICS memory settings. Please see the “Memory Settings” document for details.

SICS API Server #

SICS API Server is a special SICS offering which provides a SOAP/XML-based API to a number of SICS functions.

For optimal performance, ease of operation and configuration control, SICS API Server should be installed on a dedicated computer.

The recommended minimum server hardware configuration for running SICS API Server is as follows:

  • x64 dual-core processor 2 GHz or better
  • 4 GB RAM
  • 2 GB free storage space

It should be noted that System Management Applications (e.g. virus scanners, power management software, diagnostic tools, and remote workstation facilities) use memory and some CPU and may therefore increase the hardware requirements.

The recommended minimum server hardware configuration for running SICS API Server on Linux is comparable to the above requirements regarding processor power, memory and disk space.

Database Server Hardware #

The hardware requirements for the database server depend on the type of RDBMS, number of concurrent users/connections, database volume, transaction rate, SICS installation options (system parameters), etc. This has to be analyzed in each case.