Architecture
The Relate Software suite of products are windows based applications. The suite consists of DRIVE CRM & Practice Management, Relate Accounts Production, Relate Corporation Tax, Relate Personal Tax and Company Secretary.
DRIVE CRM & Practice Management, Relate Accounts Production, Relate Corporation Tax and Relate Personal Tax are installed on the client machines and server. The database is hosted using Microsoft SOL Server. A dedicated Windows server is required where Microsoft SOL Server will be installed to host the database which the applications will use.
Client machines must use Windows Operating Systems and must be able to connect to the server using TCP/IP network protocol.
Company Secretary is the only member of the suite which uses a Microsoft Access database. This database must be accessible to all Company Secretary users in the office.
The Architecture for the applications using a SOL Server Database is as follows;
Client Machine (Minimum) Requirements
• 64-Bit Intel Core i5
• 4GB RAM
• 500GB Hard Disk 7200 RPM SATA
• 100 MBPS/1 GBPS Ethernet Card
• Windows 8 /Windows 10
• Internet connection
Network Requirements
• 100MBPS/ 1 GBPS Network Switch /Router /Access Point
• CAT-6 Cabling
• TCP/IP Networking Protocol
ARCHITECTURE
SQL PRODUCTS
DRIVE software is based on Client/Server architecture and connects to a SQL Server database as the
back-end. DRIVE requires a dedicated Windows Server where the SQL Server needs to be hosted
and the client machines having Windows desktop operating systems need to connect to the server
using TCP/IP network protocol. So, the basic architecture looks like the following:
Relate Accounts Production, Relate Personal Tax and Relate Corporation Tax will use the same
database as DRIVE so the specifications for these programs will those of DRIVE.
SERVER MACHINE REQUIREMENT
FOR 1 TO 5 USERS
32-Bit/64-Bit Dual Core Xeon based machines
4 GB RAM
500 GB Hard Disk 7200 RPM SATA
DVD-ROM Optical Drive
1 GBPS Ethernet Card
Windows 2008 Standard Edition Operating System or Above
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition or Above
FOR 5 TO 15 USERS
32-Bit/64-Bit Quad Core Xeon based machines
8 GB RAM
1 TB Hard Disk 7200 RPM SATA
DVD-ROM Optical Drive
1 GBPS Ethernet Card
Windows 2008 Standard Edition Operating System or Above
SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition or Above
SQL Backup Agent will be required
FOR MORE THAN 15 USERS
64-Bit Quad Core Xeon based machines (Multi-Processor Recommended for optimum performance)
16 GB RAM
1 TB Hard Disk 7200 RPM SATA / 15000 RPM SAS
DVD-ROM Optical Drive
1 GBPS Ethernet Card
Windows 2008 Standard Edition Operating System or Above
SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition or Above
OTHERS
Backup software to back up the SQL Server database.
Note:
SQL Server 2005/2008 Express Edition has a database size limit of 4 GB, SQL Server 2008 R2 Express
Edition has a database size limit of 10 GB
SQL Server Express Editions will only utilise 1GB RAM and 1 core of the processor on the server
CLIENT MACHINE REQUIREMENT
HARDWARE / OPERATING SYSTEM
Intel Core i3/Equivalent or Above
4 GB RAM
500 GB Hard Disk 7200 RPM SATA
DVD-ROM Optical Drive
1 GBPS Ethernet Card
Screen Resolution = 1024x768 or higher with 100% scaling, Font used Tahoma 8 pt
Architecture
x86 but runs on x64 on WOW mode
Supported OS
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows 8.1
Windows 10
.Net Framework
Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0
OTHERS
Broadband/Leased Line Internet Connection for using online Tax calculation or submission in Tax
products and for E-Mail/SMS in DRIVE.
Microsoft Office 2007 or above (Mail merge, Data Mining, Excel Exports)
Adobe Reader (Viewing Report exports)
NETWORK REQUIREMENT
1 GBPS Network Switch / Router / Access Point
CAT-6 Cabling
TCP/IP Networking Protocol
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
We do not support database connections over WIFI since it may cause performance bottlenecks. You
should have a physical connection from your desktop/laptop to the internet/network for optimal
performance.
COMPANY SECRETARY ACCESS DATABASE SPECIFICATIONS
STANDALONE
The minimum requirement for a computer to run the Relate Company Secretary is Intel Dual Core
CPU or above. The computer will need 2 GB of memory and at least 50 Mbytes of free space on the
hard disk.
The computer will need to run on one of the following operating system:
• Windows 7
• Windows 8
• Windows 8.1
• Windows 10
The minimum requirement for a WORKSTATION running the Company Secretary is Intel Dual Core
CPU or above (or compatible equivalent). The computer will need 2 GB of memory and at least
50 Mbytes of free space on the hard disk. An SVGA monitor which should support a screen resolution
of at least 800 x 600 pixels.
NETWORK SYSTEM REQUIREMENT
The minimum requirement for a SERVER to run the Company Secretary is Intel Dual Core CPU or
above (or compatible equivalent). The computer will need 4 GB of memory and at least 50 Mbytes
of free space on the hard disk.
The server will need to have any of the following Server Operating System:
• Windows Server 2008
• Windows Server 2008R2
• Windows Server 2012
• Windows Server 2016
• Small Business Server Operating System
The recommended requirement for a SERVER running the Company Secretary is Intel Dual Core CPU
or above (or compatible equivalent). The computer will need 4 GB of memory and at least 200
Mbytes of free space on the hard disk.