admin:server_installation

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admin:server_installation [2022/04/25 09:35] – [Turn off UAC (User Account Control)] Nick Pendergrastadmin:server_installation [2024/04/25 06:42] (current) – [Recommended hardware] Mark Glover
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 ==== Recommended hardware ==== ==== Recommended hardware ====
  
-[[https://4d.com|4D]] is the database underlying mSupply software.  4D has [[https://us.4d.com/product-download/4D-v17|recommendations for hardware]]. +Refer to [[setting_up_msupply:requirements#windows_and_mac_hardware_requirements|Windows and Mac hardware requirements]] for details of server hardware requirements.
-<WRAP center round important 60%> +
-Based on decades of experience with mSupply in demanding field environments, the single biggest cause of problems around mSupply usage is power failures.  Even if the system was working perfectly during the initial install, UPS batteries fail, and then the ICT equipment is no longer protected from power failure.  Losing access to mSupply during power cuts is bad enough.  But the real danger is ungraceful shutdown of the mSupply server resulting in corruption of the mSupply data file as well as other software and hardware.  It is often possible to fully restore a corrupted mSupply database, but not always.  In a synced system it can be almost impossible to fix all discrepancies between servers caused by such a data corruption.  The key to a reliable mSupply ICT installation is mSupply servers that are resilient to power cuts.  The solution:  Laptop computers. +
-  * Laptop batteries have a much longer life than typical UPS batteries +
-  * Laptops are inherently better at shutting down gracefully when the laptop batteries have drained +
-In certain environments, it may be important to make sure that the laptop server is secured with a locking cable. +
-</WRAP> +
- +
- +
- +
-The following table lists our current minimum recommended hardware for a locally installed mSupply server.  mSupply satellite servers in a synced system do not require the same level of data redundancy (RAID array, etc.) as the central server. +
- +
-^ Item ^ Recommendation ^ +
-| OS | 64-bit Windows 2016 /2019 or Win 10 Pro with latest service packs | +
-| Processor | For server Quad core minimum is recommended. Consider adding more cores for 15 users or more   | +
-| Memory | ECC memory Minimum 8Gb +1Gb per user over 8 users | +
-| Hard disks | 4 total:  3 Hard drives to run RAID 1 (or 5) Array + Hot Spare. 1 separate Hard disk for primary back up | +
-| Network card | Gigabit | +
-| RAID controller | RAID 1: Onboard RAID controller is fine | +
-| Power supply | Dual hot-swap power supply is best, single power supply acceptable with good power quality | +
- +
-Indicative pricing before local taxes: USD3,000 to USD5,000. +
- +
-For a Terminal server, the general specification changes in that +
-  * More RAM is needed. +
-  * Hard disks are less important, as no data is stored on the server (unless you are using the same server for both hosting the mSupply server and hosting the terminal sessions). +
-  * An additional Gigabit Ethernet port could be useful +
- +
-Pricing should be similar. +
- +
-<WRAP center round alert 90%> +
-If you are running a server that is not in a datacentre with proper power protection: Beware of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_drive|Solid State Drives]] (SSDs) without Power Loss Protection! +
- +
-At least one country using mSupply on servers in health facilities with SSDs installed has had the bitter experience of the SSDs failing after ungraceful shutdowns due to failing UPSes. +
- +
-The vast majority of ICT documentation on the internet is written from and for locations enjoying relatively stable power supplies.  When the above-mentioned experience happened, there was precious little information available for facilities suffering from the sort of chronic power supply issues which the majority of mSupply users experience.  Now there is more literature - refer here :  [[http://www.storagesearch.com/ssd-power-going-down.html|Surviving SSD sudden power loss]] +
- +
- +
-</WRAP>+
  
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   * RAID 1 volume with Spare (3 disks total)   * RAID 1 volume with Spare (3 disks total)
   * Separate backups volume   * Separate backups volume
-  * OS install with correct region, and keyboard+  * OS install with correct region, and keyboard - refer [[admin:server_installation#region_language|Region / Language]] below.
   * Administrator account called Sussol (mSupply server will operate from this account.   * Administrator account called Sussol (mSupply server will operate from this account.
  
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 ---- ----
  
-=== Remove Windows / OEM bloatware === 
  
-  * Remove all icons pinned to the Start bar except **File Explorer** +=== Decimal Symbol ===
-  * Remove / uninstall all tiles on the Windows start area+
  
-----+The PC can sometimes have the incorrect decimal symbol (e.g. $2,000,00 instead of $2,000.00). 
 + 
 +You can update the decimal symbol through your regional settings. Start by opening **Control Panel** and choose **Change date, time or number formats** (as shown below). 
 + 
 +{{ :admin:screenshot_2024-03-27_at_4.47.18 pm.png?600 |}} 
 + 
 +You will have the **Region** window appear. Click **Additional settings...** in the bottom right. 
 + 
 +{{ :admin:screenshot_2024-03-27_at_4.48.29 pm.png?400 |}}
  
-=== Hibernation / sleep === +You will now see the **Customise Format** window. Select the **Decimal symbol** drop-down list, and select the desired decimal symbol - for most countries, the default is a full stop. 
-  * The pc can go to sleep after a few hours so change the power settings to never sleep etc.  Even after setting the sleep setting to never you still must go into the advanced settings and change the hibernate setting to never:  [[https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/disable-or-enable-hibernate-on-windows-10-in-2-ways/|How to turn off Hibernation on Windows 10]]+ 
 +{{ :admin:screenshot_2024-03-27_at_4.48.44 pm.png?400 |}} 
 + 
 +Click **Apply** to save these changes!
  
 ---- ----
  
-=== Turn off Cortana === +=== Hibernation / sleep === 
-Cortana is unhelpful on mSupply servers.  It is worth disabling - refer https://www.windowscentral.com/how-turn-cortana-and-stop-personal-data-gathering-windows-10+  * The pc can go to sleep after a few hours so change the power settings to never sleep etc.  Even after setting the sleep setting to never you still must go into the advanced settings and change the hibernate setting to never:  [[https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/disable-or-enable-hibernate-on-windows-10-in-2-ways/|How to turn off Hibernation on Windows 10]]
  
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 ---- ----
    
-=== Disable system protection === 
  
-There have been instances where mSupply has crashed and the Windows OS executes a system restore to a state prior to the mSupply installation / upgrade.  To avoid this, disable System Protection: 
  
-Go to **File Explorer** -> Right click on **This PC** -> Click on **Properties** 
  
-{{  admin:gotoproperties.png?350  |System Protection}} +===== Trouble Shooting =====
-\\ \\ +
-Go to the **System Protection** tab > Click **Configure** > Click **Delete** > Click **Continue** to Delete > Select **Disable System Protection** > Click **Apply** to save the changes+
  
-{{admin:sysprotect1.png?350  |Configure  }}  {{admin:sysprotect2.png?350  |Delete and Disable the system Protection}}  {{  admin:sysprotect3.jpeg?350  |Continue to Delete}}\\    {{  admin:sysprotect4.png?350  |Apply changes}}\\+=== Turn off UAC (User Account Control) ===
  
 +<WRAP center round important 60%>
 +Only follow this step if the mSupply Client requires user permission every time to run.  In that case, you may need to do the following to avoid the UAC popup:
 +</WRAP>
  
----- 
  
-=== Remote connectivity efficiency - best performance ===+[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_Account_Control|User Account Control]] (UAC) can interfere with 4D - refer [[https://kb.4d.com/assetid=75192|4D Knowledgebase:  Tech Tip: Windows UAC and the "Program Files" directory]], so, we need to turn it off - refer [[https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/13953.windows-server-2012-deactivating-uac.aspx]]
  
-Remote access speed gain by disabling visual effects. +  * You have the option to turn off UAC via registry by changing the DWORD **EnableLUA** from ''1'' to ''0'' in **HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system** 
- +  * You **//may//** get a notification that a reboot is required.  <wrap em>Reboot anyway</wrap>. 
-  * Go to **System** -> **Advanced System settings** -> **Performance** and choose ''Adjust for best performance''.+  * After the reboot, UAC is disabled.
  
 ---- ----
-  
-=== Remote connectivity efficiency - remove background picture === 
  
-Remote access speed gain by [[https://www.windowscentral.com/how-remove-windows-10-background-picture-sign-screen|removing the background picture on the Windows 10 sign-in screen]]. 
  
-  * Go to **Settings** (keyboard shortcut: Windows + I) > **Personalization** > **Lock screen**. +=== Region / Language ===
-  * Scroll down and turn <wrap em>off</wrap> the option, **Show Windows background picture on the sign-in screen**.+
  
-----+After installation, if mSupply fails to start, then it's quite possible that the Language setting needs to be changed.  Not all Windows OS languages are supported by the 4D database that mSupply is built on.  Unfortunately, 4D does not maintain a list of unsupported languages.
  
-=== Improve Windows Explorer file visibility ===+For example with regional format setting of English (Nigeria) it is known that mSupply will not start.  
 +{{ :setting_up_msupply:nigeria-english.png?650 |}} 
  
-To carry out some of the server configuration tasks, file visibility in the Windows OS needs to be improved from the default. +The solution is to change the regional format setting to something more common like English (United Kingdom) or English (US): 
- +{{ :setting_up_msupply:english_uk.png?650 |}}
-Follow these instructions to [[https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4028316/windows-view-hidden-files-and-folders-in-windows-10|View hidden files and folders in Windows 10]] +
- +
-While doing this, make the following changes: +
-  * Always show menus +
-  * Display the full path in the title bar +
-  * Show hidden files, folders and drives +
-  * **Don't** hide empty drives +
-  * **Don't** hide extensions for known file types +
-  * **Don't** hide protected operating system files (Recommended) +
-  * Use check boxes to select items+
  
 +For language tab, Drag and drop "English (United States)" at the top of the preferred list:
  
 +{{ :setting_up_msupply:windows10languagepref.png?650 |}}
 ---- ----
-===== Trouble Shooting =====+<color #ed1c24> **Known __unsupported__ languages include:** </color> 
 +  * <color #ed1c24> English (Nigeria) (2019-08-28) </color> 
 +  * <color #ed1c24> English (Papua New Guinea) (Win10 1903) </color> 
 +  * <color #ed1c24> English (Cook Islands) (2020/10/1) </color>
  
-=== Turn off UAC (User Account Control) === 
  
-If mSupply Client requires user permission every time to run then you may need to do the following to avoid the UAC popup: +<WRAP center round tip 60%> 
- +If you discover other unsupported languages, please let us know, and we'll update this list! 
-[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_Account_Control|User Account Control]] (UAC) can interfere with 4D - refer [[https://kb.4d.com/assetid=75192|4D Knowledgebase:  Tech Tip: Windows UAC and the "Program Files" directory]], so, we need to turn it off - refer [[https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/13953.windows-server-2012-deactivating-uac.aspx]] +</WRAP> 
- +\\
-  * You have the option to turn off UAC via registry by changing the DWORD **EnableLUA** from ''1'' to ''0'' in **HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system** +
-  * You **//may//** get a notification that a reboot is required.  <wrap em>Reboot anyway</wrap>. +
-  * After the reboot, UAC is disabled.+
  
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  • Last modified: 2022/04/25 09:35
  • by Nick Pendergrast