Recommended server specifications

We recommend that you install Meridian on a server with the following specifications:

Note    Lesser specifications might be insufficient to configure HyperCache. For more information, see About HyperCache.

• Dedicated server that is not used for anything other than Meridian and its database engine, SQL Server or Oracle.

• Processor:

• Intel Pentium IV processor, 2.0 GHz or higher (minimum)

• Intel Xeon 64-bit processor, 3 GHz or higher (best)

Two or more processors (as fast as possible) are recommended when Oracle or SQL Server are used on the same computer or with multiple active vaults.

• Memory:
• 2 GB (minimum)
• 4 GB or higher depending on the total of all database sizes (recommended)
• 8 GB RAM or higher depending on the total of all database sizes (best)
• CD-ROM drive (for installation only).
• One of the Windows Server operating systems (with latest Service Pack) listed in the Supported Software document for this release of Meridian. We recommend the 64-bit editions of Windows and Meridian, particularly if SQL Server or Oracle are installed on the same computer with Meridian (not recommended). The operating system should be installed with the roles and services described in Server role requirements.
• Microsoft Core XML Services 6 64-bit (msxml6_x64.msi) only before running the Meridian 32-bit setup program (Setup.exe) on 64-bit computers running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 or prior Windows versions. Installing this component is not necessary on Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 or higher because it is included with Windows.

• If the vaults will not be hosted on the Meridian application server with the Hypertrieve database engine, a connection to one of the database management systems listed in the Supported Software document for this release of Meridian.

• The vault audit trail feature of the Meridian FDA Module and the subscriptions feature of Meridian Enterprise require:
• A connection to one of the database management systems listed in the Supported Software document for this release of Meridian.
• Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1

• SQL Server Compact Edition (64-bit servers only). This is the default storage for external lookup tables, the user account database, and Local Workspace. This is not installed by the Meridian setup programs. An installation package is provided on the Meridian Enterprise distribution disc for manual installation.

  The data can be stored in Microsoft Access tables instead if the following requirements are met:

• An OLE DB driver is installed. Microsoft Office 2010 includes a 64-bit OLEDB driver named the 2010 Office System Driver that can be used to connect to Access, Excel, and text files. The provider name is Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.14.0. If Office 2010 is not installed, the driver is available as a separate download from the Microsoft Download Center named Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 Redistributable. For additional information, see Jet for Access, Excel and Txt on 64-bit systems at ConnectionStrings.com.
• The ConnectionString registry setting is configured
• The TablesDb registry setting is configured
• The WorkspaceDB registry setting is configured

• Internet Information Services version 5 or higher (for optional Web Access). The minimum IIS components that must be installed for proper operation of Web Access are described in Server role requirements.

  Note    If the computer is running a 64-bit version of Windows and 32-bit Web Access components are installed, the Meridian website must run in a 32-bit application pool. For more information on how to create a 32-bit application pool, refer to Running 32-bit Applications on 64-bit Windows (IIS 6.0) in Microsoft TechNet.

• Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher (some components are used by Meridian).
• Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0
• Adequate free space on high performance drives. Non-system partition volumes recommended.
• Any additional requirements for specific operating systems or Meridian releases that are documented in the BlueCielo Meridian Enterprise 2012 Release Notes.

These specifications are recommended for the following environments:

• Minimum – Up to 50,000 documents and 15 users, or for demonstration computers.
• Recommended – Up to 100,000 documents and 30 users, or for demonstration computers.
• Best – More than 100,000 documents and more than 30 users.

These specifications pertain to Meridian Enterprise only. Meridian can be one system within a larger computing environment that also includes Meridian Explorer, which can serve many times more users than Meridian Enterprise. For information about Meridian Explorer system requirements and deployment, see the BlueCielo Meridian Explorer Administrator's Guide. For the best possible performance with 32-bit servers, see About the High Performance Option. For larger deployments, see About HyperCache. This specification is recommended for SQL Server or Oracle installations on the same computer with Meridian.