Square 9 Hardware Requirements

Overview

The hardware requirements in this document outline the minimum requirements for each product.  When determining the hardware requirements for your installation, assume each hardware requirement to be cumulative.  For example, if you have both GlobalSearch and GlobalCapture, be sure to add both requirements together to determine the total number of cores, memory and storage you need.

GlobalSearch

Overview

GlobalSearch^® is a next-generation document management software that runs on the Microsoft .NET platform.  It is fully supported in both virtual or physical environments and runs on Windows Professional and Server Operating systems.  GlobalSearch uses Microsoft SQL for its database backend and IIS (Internet Information Services) to communicate to its clients.

Server Requirements

Server Operating System Requirements

• Square 9 recommends you install on later versions of Windows Server to ensure continued support.

• Desktop based Operating Systems, such as Windows 10 only support up to 3 concurrent users.

• Only 64 bit versions are supported for server operations.

Demo Operating System Requirements

Microsoft SQL Server

Other Notes:

• GlobalSearch requires creation of 5 databases during the installation process.

• GlobalSearch supports connections to SQL using named pipes using Windows Authentication or SQL authentication.

• At the time of installation, the user running installation must have “sysadmin” privileges to create its related databases, otherwise a SQL user with the necessary permissions should be specified at installation time.  Square 9 recommends using trusted authentication whenever possible.

• Hosted instances of SQL such as Amazon’s RDS service or Microsoft’s Azure are supported, but may affect the performance of GlobalSearch depending on the latency between the GlobalSearch server and SQL instance.

• Clustered SQL Instances are supported.

• For installations greater than 40 users, SQL Server Standard or better is recommended.

• Microsoft does not recommend deploying SQL Server on a server configured as a Domain Controller. Since SQL Server is required for the operation of GlobalSearch, Square 9 does not recommend this configuration. You are able to deploy in that fashion if you need to, but if you plan to do so, we recommend that you first install SQL Server and then install your Square 9 application, following the Square 9 guidelines for deploying to an existing SQL Server instance. Additional information from Microsoft can be found here.

Hardware Requirements

The below hardware requirements outline resources that need to be available for GlobalSearch. GlobalSearch’s hardware requirements can vary based on the number of concurrent users in the system at a given time, capture volume, number of workflows and more.  For more specific recommendations, please contact your Regional Sales Manager or Square 9 Authorized Reseller.

Drive Partitioning

Square 9 recommends a drive partition separate from the Operating System partition for the Application Installation.  Images may be stored on the same or different partition if stored on the same local server.  The size of your application partition should allow for enough free space required by Square 9's application services as outlined above.

Virtualization Support

GlobalSearch is fully supported in Virtual Environments such as VMware ESXi, Citrix XenServer and Microsoft Hyper-V.  Over-allocation of shared resources in virtual environments may negatively impact your software’s performance.

Image Storage Requirements

Storage requirements for images can vary greatly depending on the types of documents to be stored and volume.  It’s important that storage requirements be considered when planning for GlobalSearch as well as future growth, the table below outlines average file sizes.  For a good mix of quality for both viewing and recognition, Square 9 recommends 300 DPI.

To calculate storage requirements, use the below formula.

[Documents Received Weekly * Average Number of Pages * Average Page Size (in KB) / 1000 / 1000 = Estimated Number of GB Needed

• Image Storage can exist on the server as local storage, or as any network addressable network storage, including DFS configured storage or storage on a SAN or NAS.

GlobalSearch Client Requirements

Client Requirements

Square 9’s GlobalSearch has two clients, a Web Based client and a Windows based client.  Depending on your choice, requirements may vary.

Terminal Server & Citrix Support

The GlobalSearch Desktop Client is supported in Citrix XenApp, Microsoft RemoteApp and Terminal Services environments.

Encryption and Security

The GlobalSearch Go Client requires a valid SSL Certificate for on-premise installations to be installed in IIS on the server in which Square 9 is installed.

GlobalCapture

Overview

GlobalCapture^® is next generation Capture Software that runs on the Microsoft .NET platform.  It is fully supported in both virtual or physical environments and runs on Windows Professional and Server Operating systems.  GlobalCapture uses Microsoft SQL for its database backend and IIS (Internet Information Services) to communicate to its clients.

GlobalCapture Server Requirements

Server Operating System Requirements

• Desktop based Operating Systems, such as Windows 10/11 only support up to 3 concurrent users.

• Only 64 bit versions are supported for server operations.

Demo Operating System Requirements

Microsoft SQL Server

Other Notes:

• GlobalCapture requires creation of 3 databases during the installation process.

• GlobalSearch supports connections to SQL using named pipes using Windows Authentication or SQL authentication.

• At the time of installation, the user running installation must have “sysadmin” privileges to create its related databases, otherwise a SQL user with the necessary permissions should be specified at installation time.

• Hosted instances of SQL such as Amazon’s RDS service or Microsoft’s Azure are supported, but may affect the performance of GlobalSearch depending on the latency between the GlobalSearch server and SQL instance.

• Clustered SQL Instances are supported.

• For servers greater than 40 users, SQL Server Standard or better is recommended.

• Microsoft does not recommend deploying SQL Server on a server configured as a Domain Controller. Since SQL Server is required for the operation of GlobalSearch, Square 9 does not recommend this configuration. You are able to deploy in that fashion if you need to, but if you plan to do so, we recommend that you first install SQL Server and then install your Square 9 application, following the Square 9 guidelines for deploying to an existing SQL Server instance. Additional information from Microsoft can be found here.

• An installation of GlobalCapture will also install MongoDB for storage of submission data from GlobalCapture and GlobalAction.

Hardware Requirements

The below hardware requirements outline resources that need to be available for GlobalCapture. GlobalCapture’s hardware requirements can vary based on the number of concurrent users in the system at a given time, capture volume, number of workflows and more.  For more specific recommendations, please contact your Regional Sales Manager or Square 9 Authorized Reseller.

Note on Processors

The number of cores available on a processor (assuming they are licensed for GlobalCapture) and CPU Clock Speed has a direct impact on the speed which documents process through GlobalCapture.  A higher number of cores will allow documents to be broken out into more processes for individual processes, whereas a higher clock speed will decrease the time it takes for those individual processes to complete.  In addition newer generations of processors generally will perform better than older ones.

Drive Partitioning

Square 9 recommends a drive partition separate from the Operating System partition for the Application Installation.  Images may be stored on the same or different partition if stored on the same local server.  The size of your application partition should allow for enough free space required by Square 9's application services as outlined above.

Virtualization Support

GlobalCapture is fully supported in Virtual Environments such as VMware ESXi, Citrix XenServer and Microsoft Hyper-V.  Over-allocation of shared resources in virtual environments may negatively impact your software’s performance.

Image Storage Requirements

Storage requirements for images can vary greatly depending on the types of documents to be stored and volume.  It’s important that storage requirements be considered when planning for GlobalCapture as well as future growth, the table below outlines average file sizes.  For a good mix of quality for both viewing and recognition, Square 9 recommends 300 DPI.

To calculate storage requirements, use the below formula.

[Documents Received Weekly * Average Number of Pages * Average Page Size (in KB) / 1000 / 1000 = Estimated Number of GB Needed

• Image Storage can exist on the server as local storage, or as any network addressable network storage, including DFS configured storage or storage on a SAN or NAS.

GlobalCapture Client Requirements

Client Requirements

Square 9’s GlobalCapture is a completely web based application supporting modern web browsers.

GlobalForms

Overview

GlobalForms^® is an Enterprise level Web Forms designer and form rendering platform.  The below requirements outline Square 9’s minimum requirements for GlobalForms.  When planning for a server, it’s important to note that the below hardware requirements are in addition to any requirements set forth by other products.

GlobalForms Server Requirements

Server Operating System Requirements

• Only 64 bit versions are supported for server operations.

Other Notes:

• GlobalForms does not need to live on the same Server as GlobalSearch or GlobalCapture.

• GlobalForms uses MongoDB as a database backend and Node.JS for a web service.

• GlobalForms can perform authentication against Microsoft Active Directory.

• Hosted Instances of GlobalForms on cloud or virtualized servers such as Amazon’s RDS service or Microsoft Azure is supported.

• Clients utilizing GlobalForms may require internet access, some external API and libraries.

• An installation of GlobalForms will also install MongoDB for storage of submission data from GlobalForms.

Hardware Requirements

The below hardware requirements outline resources that need to be available for GlobalForms. GlobalForms hardware requirements can vary based on the number of concurrent users in the system at a given time, number of forms and more.  For more specific recommendations, please contact your Regional Sales Manager or Square 9 Authorized Reseller.

Drive Partitioning

Square 9 recommends a drive partition separate from the Operating System partition for the Application Installation.  Images may be stored on the same or different partition if stored on the same local server.  The size of your application partition should allow for enough free space required by Square 9's application services as outlined above.

Virtualization Support

GlobalForms is fully supported in Virtual Environments such as VMware ESXi, Citrix XenServer and Microsoft Hyper-V.  Over-allocation of shared resources in virtual environments may negatively impact your software’s performance.

Public Access

GlobalForms is commonly made available for public access to facilitate users both public and internal access to forms outside the network.  To make GlobalForms publicly available, the following must be configured:

• Port Forwarding – Your firewall must allow traffic from the outside network to the destination server and port GlobalForms is installed on.  By default, GlobalForms uses port 3001 for non-SSL encrypted traffic and 5454 for SSL encrypted traffic.
  

  • Port mapping can be altered easily, for more information contact Square 9’s support team or your Square 9 Authorized Reseller

• A fully qualified domain name must be configured to point to your external IP GlobalForms is available. For example, globalforms.square-9.com.

• SSL Certificate (Optional, but highly recommended) – To secure traffic between clients and the GlobalForms server, a SSL certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority (such as Network Solutions, Comodo) must be provided and issued for the Tomcat Web Engine.

• For more information or additional materials to assist in configuring GlobalForms to be available publicly, contact Square 9’s Software Support team or your authorized Square 9 Reseller.

GlobalForms Client Requirements

Client Requirements

Square 9’s GlobalForms is a completely web based application supporting modern web browsers.

GlobalAction Engine

Overview

GlobalAction^® is an Enterprise level process workflow platform.  The below requirements outline Square 9’s minimum requirements for GlobalAction.  When planning for a server, it’s important to note that GlobalAction is already included in the installation of GlobalAction and supports the processing of 15 documents simultaneously.  The below requirements are for a distributed installation of GlobalAction, GlobalSearch and other componentry.  Additional hardware (outlined below) is only required if installing separate GlobalAction Engines.  

GlobalAction Server Requirements

Server Operating System Requirements

• Only 64 bit versions are supported for server operations.

Other Notes:

• GlobalAction’s Engine requires access to the primary GlobalSearch Server.

Hardware Requirements

The below hardware requirements outline resources that need to be available for GlobalAction.  Requirements may vary depending on the number of documents which need to be processed simultaneously.  By default GlobalAction processes 15 documents at a time, which can impact other resources like SQL Server in high volume workflows.  In high volume environments, where speed is a necessity, it is recommended that SQL Server Standard or better be used.

Microsoft SQL Server

Supporting Applications

Overview

Square 9’s products sometimes require addon on applications. For example, if you are using GlobalSearch cloud, you may need to use CTS DirectConnect or DirectConnect to import documents from your local scanner. If you are looking to share data between on-premise databases, such as Microsoft SQL Server other applications, such as CloudBridge is required.

Server Operating System Requirements

• Only 64 bit versions are supported.

Hardware Requirements

The below requirements are hardware recommendations for the workstation running these supporting applications. These requirements are not in addition to any other requirements for other Square 9 products.

CloudBridge

• 4 Core / 8GB of RAM

• Microsoft NET Framework 5.0

• Internet Connection 10+ Mbps with Dedicated IP Address

GlobalCapture CTS DirectConnect and DirectConnect

• 4 Core / 8GB of RAM

• Internet Connection 10+ Mbps

Server Configurations

Square 9’s product offers are modular, meaning you can have the products installed on completely separate servers, the same server (hardware resources permitting) or the same product installed across multiple servers (for example having two GlobalSearch servers to handle user load).  Below are some examples of common server configurations.

GlobalSearch with all services and database on a Single Server

GlobalSearch, GlobalCapture and all other Square 9 applications can live on a single server.  This is suitable for small - medium environments.

GlobalSearch with a Separate SQL Server

In environments where a SQL Server is centralized or demand requires it any of Square 9’s GlobalSearch or GlobalCapture databases can be installed on a separate, remote  Microsoft SQL Server.

GlobalSearch with Network File Storage and Separate Database Servers

In more enterprise level environments, SQL, file storage and application operations may be separated entirely.  In the diagram below images are stored on a separate file server, such as a NAS, SAN or any other addressable storage and database operations are performed on a dedicated or shared SQL server.

GlobalSearch with Multiple Application Server

In high volume environments, it may be necessary to spread GlobalSearch across multiple application servers.  As such, use of a Load Balancer can handle traffic distribution, utilizing separate servers for image storage and database operations. You can create a more highly available environment when databases are stored on clustered SQL instances or images across redundant file storage.

Technical Diagrams

Each one of Square 9’s products and individual components can be spread out to different servers to support scalability.  Below are some common scenarios of how multiple products may be distributed across multiple servers.

Separate Servers

Everything on a Single Server