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Alarm Master Client Server
Background
Since 1998, Alarm Master has operated on a Paradox database, which at the time was one of the best desktop databases available to us. As with dBase/Access/Fox Pro and other similar databases, Paradox was designed for desktop use and its capability was expanded to provide multi user functionality. Because of the way Paradox works, as the number of application users at the site increases, the size of the database doubles, or triples, the network is progressively swamped with traffic and index corruption can occur. When hardware faults occur, a workstation or the network goes down, then the database can become corrupt. In addition, as more users have access to a company’s network then additional security measures are needed to protect the database.
Paradox has not been developed over the years and it has been progressively more difficult to meet the reliability and security aspirations of our customers. We have therefore decided to depart for Paradox and, from V300 of Alarm Master use an SQL database known as Advantage.
The Alarm Master V300 has been in use on a number of beta test sites over a period of the last 10 months and has been shipped to all new customers since IFSEC 2004. No occurrences of loss of service have occurred due to database issues. Two sites have suffered lightning strikes with attendant power loss, on both occasions the system was restored without a problem. With Paradox, this would have involved extensive table re-building.
The Advantage Database Server is available to our customers in two versions
- Local Server
- Client Server
The Local Server database is a no cost option but is limited to a maximum of 5 users, the Client Server can support any number of users from 1 to 100+ but the database must be purchased separately to the Alarm Master program.
We are positive that the benefits derived from Advantage are in line with our customer requirements and all future development of the Alarm Master will be on the Advantage based system only.
Local Server
The Local Server is very similar in the way it works to Paradox, it is a file based system which moves all the data from the database server, processes the changes and then posts the changes back to the server. There is no reduction in network traffic and, as with Paradox, we cannot be positive no database corruptions will occur. The local server will support up to a maximum of 5 concurrent users. Unless requested otherwise, the local server will be provided to all our supported customers, with Alarm Master V300, who have licences for a maximum of 5 Alarm Master Users.
Client Server
The Client Server works in a vastly different way to the Local Server, in that much of the processing is completed on the server and the results are passed to the client workstation thereby vastly reducing network traffic, eliminating database corruption and offering improved security. In particular, filtering performance is also vastly enhanced.
The Advantage Database Client Server eliminates index file corruption. Table and index updates are performed on the server. A table or index is never passed to the client to be updated. When a table record and the associated index files are updated by Advantage, the update operations do not occur until all necessary information has reached the Advantage Database Server on the file server. Even if a workstation or the network goes down, no index corruption will ever occur and the database integrity will always remain intact.
The Intelligent Lock Management System of the Advantage Database Client Server allows multiple users to search through and read from shared files concurrently. This leads to drastically improved performance in multi-user systems.
From the V301 version of Alarm Master, the Advantage Database Client Server can be used to provide database security by allowing only Advantage-enabled applications to access the database. The system administrator can take away all desired network access rights to the directories that contain the database tables and index files, so that non-Advantage applications cannot gain access to the database. Unauthorized access to the database is eliminated. Advantage Database Server provides further database security functionality by allowing creation of user accounts to control the access to tables, columns, views and stored procedures.
Why Advantage and not Microsoft’s SQL Server?
Basically two issues:
Cost – A 25 user SQL Server will typically cost 15 times more in Software Licences, Maintenance Charges and Administration than a typical 25 user Advantage installation
Administration Complexity – Advantage SQL needs minimal training and ongoing Administration whilst Microsoft’s SQL Server requires extensive Database Administrator Training to install the server and keep it operational.
Advantage SQL Client Server Maintenance Policy
There is no ongoing support charge for the Advantage Client Server over and above the Alarm Master Maintenance and Support Charges. In line with the manufactures of Advantage upgrade policy, all version updates in Advantage from say 7.0 to 7.x etc. will be provided free of charge. When a new release of Advantage occurs i.e. the system moves from 7.x to 8.x then there will be a charge levied by the manufacturers for the new version. The exact charge to be made is determined at the time of release, as an illustration, this was £280.00 for a 10 user system when Advantage moved from 6.x to 7.x.
Supported Environments
Advantage SQL Client Server can run on the following Server Environments
- Microsoft Server 2000 and 2003
- Microsoft 2000 Professional
- Microsoft XP Professional
- Linux
- Novell 5x or greater
Alarm Master clients must be run on Win 2000 and above.
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Personal Computer Data Services
135a Belgrave Drive, Boothferry Road, Hull, HU4 6DP
Enquiries/Support Phone: 01482 607350 - Fax: 01482 326393
Email: sales@pcdata.co.uk
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