>I've been asked to put together a server for a client that is going to purchase a new accounting application, Famous Software, a Powerbuilder app that runs against an Oracle backend.
>
>This is a small office, with 5 users total. The recommended server specs blow my mind:
>
>Recommendations for a Site of:
>5 Users or Less
>· Windows 2003 Server (Standard) or Windows Server 2000 installed as a Member Server (Domain Controller
>is ok)
>Windows NT Server 4.0 is no longer supported.
>· SVGA Monitor (800x600 or greater)
>· DVD-ROM or CD-ROM Drive
>· Dual Intel Xeon ® Processors (3 GHz or greater)
>· 2 GB RAM or greater
>· SCSI Hard Drives
>· SCSI RAID Controller Card
>· Network Card
>· TCP/IP Networking
>· Backup System (Tape backup system with supporting software is highly recommended)
>· Modem (used by Famous Support for RAS)
>
>
>This is a $16000 machine! All for 5 people to run an app that has about the same functionality as Quickbooks.
>
>And what the heck is with the MODEM!?!? This is 2005, Everything down to a digital watch can do tunneling over the internet.
>
>I have another client with the same number of users that is running an older (3 years) version of this sofware on a PIII 800 with 512 ram. It's not instantaneous to react, but it isn't a dog either. Has Oracle bloated up that badly in 3 years?
>
>Usually when my BS detector gets pegged this hard, it turns out that I am missing something critical. I figured I should ask around before I make a complete idiot of myself.
>
>Do any of you have experience with a similar application? Is this machine really appropriate for this situation?
>
>If not, why do you think they are calling for it? To make their software look cheaper in comparison? To make guys like me happy because we get a big fat hardware sale? I'm stumped.

Russ,
If you're the one who would get 16K for such a configuration than it's absolutely the right hardware and price:)
Cetin