Requirements for running Express Software Manager

Express Software Manager includes several integrated components for data collection, administration, and reporting.  The database, reporting, and web-based communication components can be installed on one server or on multiple servers depending on your specific requirements. If you choose to install all components to a single server, you should ensure that the selected machine meets the memory requirements shown for the Express Database component.  

When you run the Express Setup program, its Requirements Checker alerts you if you attempt to install to a machine that doesn't meet the minimum requirements for the component(s) you're installing.

Express Administrative Console

2.0GHz, Windows Workstation (XP SP2 or above) or Windows Server (2003 SP1 or above), 1GB RAM, 100 MB disk, Microsoft .NET 3.5.

You must also be logged in with local administrative rights on the Administrative Console machine. If you are running Microsoft Windows Vista, you will be prompted for administrative credentials when needed.

Express Reports Console

1.5 GHz, Windows XP Service Pack 2 or above, 256 MB RAM, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or greater (or Mozilla Firefox 3 or greater) with cookies and JavaScript enabled. If you're running Internet Explorer with Enhanced Security Configuration enabled, you should add the Express Reports server to the Intranet Zone in Internet Explorer. To view dashboard reports, also make sure Adobe Flash Player is installed.

Express Reports Web Site

2.0GHz, Windows 2003 SP1 or above, 100 MB disk, Microsoft Internet Information Service (IIS) 6.0 or above, Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.

Express Server

2.0GHZ, Windows Workstation (XP SP2 or above) or Windows Server (2003 SP1 or above), 100 MB disk, Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

The Express Server maintains the data collections that are viewed within the Express Administrative Console. The following are memory recommendations for the Express Server machine based on the number of Express Clients installed:

• 0–1000 computers: 1GB

• 1001–2000 computers: 2GB

• 2001+ computers:  4GB

Express Database

2.0GHZ, SQL Server 2000 or above (SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is included with the product), Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 (required for automated database creation).

Note: The Express Database can reside on any Microsoft SQL Server and the RAM requirements may vary greatly depending on other SQL Server-based applications. The Express Database will consume approximately 1MB of data for every computer on which the Express Client is installed.  The following are guidelines based on running the Express Database on a dedicated SQL Server:

• 0–500 computers: 2GB

• 501–2000 computers: 4GB

• 2001+ computers: Recommend 64-bit processor and OS with 8GB of RAM

Express Access Point

2.0GHz, Windows 2003 Server SP1 or above, 1GB RAM, 100 MB disk, Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, IIS 6.0 or above.

Notes:

• The Express Access Point runs under IIS and can be installed on Windows 2003 Server and above. Note that the installation of the Express Access Point on a non-server version of Windows may impose restrictions on the number of clients supported.

• Windows XP Home Edition does not include IIS and cannot be used to host the Express Access Point.

• Internet Information Service is included with Windows Vista, but is not installed by default.

Express Client

WMI 1.5 or greater, and one of the following operating systems:

• Windows XP, 32- or 64-bit.

• Windows 2003 Server, 32- or 64-bit.

• Windows Vista, 32- or 64-bit. (There are some limitations; the preemptive control feature on Vista machines is not available, and end users of Vista machines may need to log out and log back in before you can use the metering feature on those machines. On 64-bit machines, MSXML 6.0 is required for preemptive control.)

• Windows 2000 (Workstation and Server) or above, including version 2.7 SP1 Refresh  (2.70.9001.0) of Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC). The correct version of MDAC is installed and used by Internet Explorer version 6.0 and other products, so it should already exist on most client machines that use Windows 2000. If a machine lacks the correct version of MDAC, you can install it from the Microsoft Web site.

Note: Windows Firewall must be configured to allow remote access (or disabled) to install the client remotely via the Express Administrative Console.

If you have client machines running Windows NT or Windows 98, you can still use version 9.0 of Express Software Manager, but you will need to install an earlier version of Express Client on those machines.

Other requirements

• Domain administrator or local administrator credentials for installation of all non-client components and to run the Administrative Console.

• Database administrator credentials for initial database creation.

• Domain administrator credentials for installing the Express Client on client computers.