Optimizing your network to ensure that Accounting Plus runs at peak performance

Because Accounting Plus 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 Accounting Plus. Use the topics in this section to give your computers and network a performance checkup before you begin using Accounting Plus.

On your computers’ hard disks

  • Be sure your computers all meet (or, better yet, exceed) the minimum system requirements for Accounting Plus. The requirements are printed on your Accounting Plus 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 your computers' operating systems so all computers are using the same operating system. 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. Windows operating systems will use free hard disk space for random access memory (RAM). 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 Accounting Plus data 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, such as Disk Defragmenter, are available to help you optimize your hard disks.
  • On the computer that will be used to store your Accounting Plus data 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.
Note: Windows NT hard disk performance tips

If the computer on which your Accounting Plus data file is stored uses the Windows NT operating system, there are a few extra items on your hard disk that you might want to check. A Windows NT computer will run faster if:

Its hard disk uses the SCSI parallel interface. SCSI (Small Computer System Interface; pronounced “scuzzy”) is a parallel interface for attaching peripheral devices to computers. Another type of disk, IDE, isn't as fast as a SCSI disk.

Its hard disk is partitioned. Windows NT takes less time to work on a computer with a large hard disk when the hard disk is partitioned into a number of smaller drives. There is an entire sector of the software industry devoted to utilities that help you partition your hard disk.

The partition on which the data file is located uses the NTFS file system. The NTFS (New Technology File System) is the standard Windows NT file system. Other types of file systems such as FAT and HPFS aren't as efficient as NTFS on Windows NT.

In your computers’ memory

  • Although Accounting Plus 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 Accounting Plus is running, we strongly recommend that you purchase additional RAM.
Note: Windows NT memory performance tips
If the computer on which your Accounting Plus data file is stored uses the Windows NT operating system, there are a couple extra memory items that you might want to check. A Windows NT computer will run faster if:
EDO memory chips (SIMMs) are used instead of “regular” RAM SIMMs. EDO (Extended Data Out) SIMMs are newer and faster than other SIMMs. (Note: Be sure your computers are compatible with EDO SIMMs before you attempt to switch to EDO RAM.)
The RAM cache size is set at 512K or higher. A RAM cache is a reserved section of the computer's main memory that's used to store frequently used data for quick access. Refer to your Windows NT documentation to learn how to increase your RAM cache.

On your network

  • Simply put, the faster your network, the faster Accounting Plus 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 Accounting Plus is in use. Accounting Plus 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 Accounting Plus.

Optimizing your network to ensure that Accounting Plus runs at peak performance