Networking Overview - Optimizing your network

Optimizing your network to ensure that MYOB AccountEdge runs at peak performance

Networking with MYOB AccountEdge Overview > Putting it all together > Optimizing your network

Important networking information for Mac OS X users

Optimizing your network

Because AccountEdge relies heavily upon your network to accomplish its tasks, it's important that your network is set up to run as fast as it can. Even the slightest drag upon your network's resources might slow down the processing of the tasks you perform in AccountEdge. Use the topics in this section to give your computers and network a performance checkup before you begin using AccountEdge.

On your computers' hard disks

Be sure your computers all meet (or, better yet, exceed) the minimum system requirements for AccountEdge. The requirements are printed on your AccountEdge box, as well as in the Getting Started manual.

Consider upgrading the processors of the computers on your network, especially if you currently use computers that are equipped with slower processors. By doing this, your computers can send and retrieve messages across the network more rapidly.

Upgrade the System version on the computers so all computers are using the same System version. By doing this, you'll lessen the amount of work a computer must perform to receive information from other computers on the network.

If possible, try to keep a substantial amount (several megabytes) of free hard disk space on your computers. We recommend that at least five to 10 percent of the size of your hard disk should be unused. The more free hard disk space on a computer, the faster its performance. In addition, when a hard disk has very little free space, it's possible that files-including your AccountEdge company file-can become fragmented on the disk-a situation you usually want to avoid.

Note: What is file fragmentation?

Fragmentation is a frequent condition in a computer in which files are separated on a disk into small, separated fragments.
File fragmentation is a natural consequence of creating, deleting or modifying files on a disk over time. When a file is saved on a crowded disk that no longer contains contiguous blocks of free space large enough to hold it, the file is automatically split into two or more chunks, or fragments, and placed on separate parts of the disk. If left untreated, file fragmentation can slow down a disk's access speed.

Even if you have plenty of hard disk space on your computers, you can still experience file fragmentation. To avoid this condition, optimize your hard disks from time to time. Several programs are available to help you optimize your hard disks.

On the computer that will be used to store your AccountEdge company file, check to see whether additional shared files or databases on that computer are accessed by the computers on the network. If such files do exist, keep in mind that the increased activity on the hard disk may slow the performance of the disk. You might want to consider moving the files to other computers on the network.

In your computers' memory

Although AccountEdge can run on computers with 16 megabytes (MB) of RAM, you'll find that increased amounts of memory will improve your system's performance. If possible, upgrade your computers to 32MB of RAM.

If you're planning on running additional programs while AccountEdge is running, we strongly recommend that you purchase additional RAM.

On your network

Simply put, the faster your network, the faster AccountEdge will send and receive messages across the network. If you currently use an Ethernet network that runs at 10MBps and you're not satisfied with the speed of your network, you may wish to upgrade to a 100MBps Fast Ethernet network.

Be sure your network uses high-quality twisted pair cable.

Keep your network components as clean and dust-free as possible.

If possible, we recommend that you keep your network as free of traffic as possible when AccountEdge is in use. AccountEdge requires a significant amount of attention from the network when it's recording and processing your company's financial data; if other programs are requesting network resources at the same time, you'll probably experience slower performance in AccountEdge.

Networking Overview - Optimizing your network