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, 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 was getting progressively more difficult to meet the reliability and security aspirations of our customers. We therefore decided to depart for Paradox and from V300 of Alarm Master use an SQL database known as Advantage.

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.

Local Server

The Local Server 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. The Local server Database is standard on Alarm Master Lite and Full systems up to 5 users; the Client Server database is available as an additional cost option if required.

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, virtually eliminating database corruption and offering improved security. In particular, filtering performance is also vastly enhanced.

The Advantage Database Client Server virtually 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.

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.

The Advantage Client Server Database is standard on Alarm Master Premium systems and available as an option on Lite and Full systems. The Client Server Database is required if remote connection is required to the Alarm Master using MS Terminal Services and Remote Desktop.

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

As with all Client Server Databases the database is separate to the main Alarm Master program and is therefore upgraded separately to the Alarm Master Program. The annual Advantage upgrade fee is added to the Alarm Master Support fees enabling the Database to be kept up to date with the Alarm Master program, as a guide this additional support charge is currently £281.00 per annum for a 10 user database and £152.00 for a 5 user database.

Prices are exclusive of VAT and correct at 14/09/2011

Supported Environments

Advantage SQL Client Server can run on the following Server Environments

• Microsoft Server 2003 and above
• Microsoft XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows 7 Business

Alarm Master Clients must be run on Windows XP Professional and above, Windows Home editions are not supported.

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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