Server Components System Requirements

Once you have determined the number of required servers, you must ensure that your environment meets the hardware and software requirements for installation. This section describes the hardware, software, and database requirements as well as other pre-requisites for the Uniprint Suite components.

Pharos Server Components Requirements

The following sections list the hardware and software requirements for the Pharos server (Pharos Database, Principal Services, Print Services, SignUp Services, EDI Service, and Web Services) components.

Hardware Specifications

The system requirements vary for each installation. The requirements depend on a number of factors, such as the number of servers, the number of Pharos services installed on each server, and the number of resources managed by each server. This section provides the minimum hardware requirements based on typical server configurations.

Single Server running all Pharos Services

The following table shows the minimum and recommended hardware requirements for a single server running all Pharos Services.

Component

Minimum

Recommended

CPU

2 or more processors

4  or more processors

Memory

4 GB RAM (Microsoft® SQL Server is on the same server).

If running newer versions of operating systems, Pharos recommends 8 GB of RAM or more.

Although Uniprint is a 32-bit application, because Uniprint is made up of many services running at the same time, generally it can benefit from more RAM.

8 to 16 GB RAM if SQL Server is on the same server.

4 to 8 GB RAM if SQL Server is on a separate server.

 

Disk space

Program Files(x86)  – 393 MB

Database – For a site with 10,000 students generating 5,000 transactions per day (keeping 12 months’ worth of data), the Database requires approximately 4GB of disk space.

Application Data – For a site generating 5,000 transactions per day and running Secure Release Here® only, the Application Data folder needs approximately 3 GB of disk space. Refer to the examples below.

Program Files(x86) – 1 GB for application

Database – 5 to 10 GB

Application Data – 10 to 30 GB or more, depending on usage and print volume.

Uniprint requires sufficient disk space to run efficiently. A full or low disk space may cause some Uniprint services to crash or fail to start.

The disk space requirements are broken down into three key parts:

  • Program Files – The Pharos Uniprint® software (with all the components installed) is about 393 MB. Therefore allowing 400 MB for software disk space will suffice.
  • Database – The Pharos Database is used to store configuration, user, transaction, billing, etc.  For information about how to determine the Database size for a site, refer to the “Database Sizing” section.
  • Application Data – The Application Data directory(on every Uniprint Print Server) stores the following information:
    • Secure Release SQLite Database
    • Plug-ins (e.g. MobilePrint Plugin files)
    • Spool Files, including spool files when Page Counter fails
    • Asset Management rules file
    • Updater Service packages

Secure print jobs are temporarily stored in the Application Data directory (location depends on the path defined during Print Service install) before being released or before expiry. Therefore, the Print Server needs to have sufficient disk space to hold these jobs. The amount of disk space required for the spool files depends on a number of factors:

  • The print volume
  • The size of each print job (e.g. graphics or text, PCL or Postscript)
  • The length of time the jobs are held in the Application Data before being printed or expired. Print jobs that are immediately released are only held in the Application Data directory for a short period of time. Uniprint performs a maintenance task every hour to delete expired print jobs.
  • The type(s) of application running (e.g. Secure Release Here®, SignUp) also affects the space required. For example, Secure Release Here will require more spooling space than direct printing or SignUp.

EXAMPLE

If a site generates 5,000 print jobs per day, and is running Secure Release Here, how much disk space will they need? The following example assumes that the size per job is 5KB.  PCL graphics jobs may range from 20KB to 100KB.

Spool File = (5,000 x 5KB) = 25 MB of spool space (jobs are deleted as soon as they are released)

SQLite Database = 1 GB

A conservative recommendation for this site, i.e. one that allows for peaky volumes, is to allocate 3 GB for the Application Data.

EXAMPLE

If a site generates 5000 print jobs per day, and is running Secure Release Here, how much disk space will they need? The following example assumes that the size per job is 100KB. 

Spool File = (5,000 x 100KB) = approximately 500 MB of spool space (jobs are deleted as soon as they are released)

SQLite Database = 2 GB

Allocate 4 to 5 GB for the Application Data for this site.

Principal Server (with SQL) and Separate Print Servers

The following table shows the minimum and recommended hardware requirements for sites running a Principal server (with SQL Server) and multiple print servers (or other application component servers).

Component

Principal Server (with SQL Server)

Print server (or other application component server)

 

Minimum

Recommended

Minimum

Recommended

CPU

4 processors

4 or more processors

4 processors

4 or more processors

 

Memory

4 GB RAM (Microsoft® SQL Server is on the same server).

If running newer versions of operating systems, Pharos recommends 8 GB of RAM or more

 

8 to 16 GB RAM if SQL Server is on the same server.



4 to 8 GB RAM if SQL Server is on a separate server.

4 GB RAM

8 to 16 GB RAM

Disk Space

Program Files – Allow 200MB for software disk space

Database – Refer to the “Database Sizing” section.

Program Files(x86) – 1 GB for application

Database – 5 to 15 GB

Program Files(x86) – 1 GB for application

Application Data – 30 to 50 GB

Program Files(x86) – 1 GB for application

Database – 50 to 100 GB

General Recommendations when planning for disk space

Consider the following recommendations when planning for disk space

  • On a single server configuration, keep all the Pharos software and components on the C:\ drive if possible and then set up a  separate disk (e.g. D:\ drive)  for the following:
    • Database
    • Application Data (including Updater Service packages)
    • Log files (including IIS)
  • For optimum server performance, Pharos highly recommends using two separate physical hard disks – one for the Windows spooler and the other for the Application Data folder (Secure Release Job Store).

Database Requirements

The Pharos Database requires a database engine. The following database engines are supported:

Requirements

SQL Server

  • Microsoft® SQL Server 2019
  • Microsoft® SQL Server 2017
  • Microsoft® SQL Server 2016
  • Microsoft® SQL Server 2014
  • Microsoft® SQL Server 2012

All editions are supported including SQL Express, but Express is recommended only for demo installations and limited pilots.

Pharos recommends using the most recent version of SQL Server supported by the host OS, with the latest service pack applied.

Operating Systems Requirements

The following table lists the software requirements for the Pharos server components installed on a standard server (i.e. not clustered). For clustering requirements, “Installing Server Components on a Cluster” section.

Operating System

Edition

32-bit support

64-bit support

Windows Server 2022

Standard

NA

Yes

Windows Server 2019

Standard

NA

Yes

Windows Server 2016

Standard, Enterprise

NA

Yes

Windows Server 2012 R2

Standard, Enterprise

NA

Yes

Windows 7

Enterprise, Professional, Ultimate

Yes

Yes

Windows 8

Windows 8 (Basic), Pro, Enterprise

Yes

Yes

Windows 8.1

Enterprise

Yes

No

Windows 10

Enterprise

Yes

Yes

Windows 11

Pro

No

Yes

Uniprint does not support any Core Server versions.

Prerequisites

Install the following before installing the Uniprint Suite server components.

Pre-requisites

Description

Microsoft® .NET Framework 4.6.1

 

All Pharos Server components require Microsoft® .NET Framework 4.6.1.

Notes:

  • Installer for the .NET Framework is available on the Pharos disk image at common\win32\DotNETFramework.
  • Any computer running Pharos Print Center or EDI Server also requires ASP.NET 4.5 or ASP .NET 4.6 (depending on your Windows operating system)
  • ASP.NET is not installed by default. It can be installed through the “Add Roles and Features” wizard of the Server Manager interface.
  • Pharos Remote requires .NET 4.6 or higher
  • Pharos Station requires .NET 4.0 or higher

DotNET Core 3.1.3 Windows Server Hosting

Pharos API requires DotNET Core 3.1.3 Windows Server Hosting. You can find the DotNet installer in the Pharos CD image common\win32\DotNETFramework.

Install IIS before DotNET Core Hosting bundle. Pharos recommends installing the IIS before the DotNET core hosting bundle. The DotNET Core hosting bundled on the CD image includes ASP.NET Core. If the bundle is installed without installing the IIS first, the ASP.NET Core doesn’t get configured resulting in some services not running correctly.

If you see the warning message "The ASP.NET Core IIS module was not found. Some web services will not run correctly." during installation, you will need to run the DotNet Core hosting installed in repair mode after installation. You can find the installer in the Pharos CD image common\win32\DotNETFramework.

Additional Prerequisite for Pharos EDI Services, Pharos Print Center, and Pharos Web Components

Pre-requisites

Description

Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0 or later

The following Pharos components require Microsoft Internet Information Services.

  • Pharos EDI service
  • Pharos Web Components
  • Pharos Print  Center Web
  • Pharos Print Center Services (Pharos API)

Additional Prerequisites

If you are installing Pharos Uniprint on Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2022, you also need to install the following pre-requisites in addition to the standard prerequisites.

  • Install the IIS 7.0 Manager or later (if it is not already installed), by adding "Web Server (IIS)" Role from the Server Manager.

  • After adding the "Web Server (IIS) Role, you must add the following "Role Services" for Uniprint to work with IIS 7.0 or later.

Operating System

Role Services

Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2022
  • Web Server (IIS)
    • Common HTTP Features
      • Static Content (not required for EDI server)
      • Default Document
    • Application Development
      • Web Services and Print Center Web require ASP
      • EDI Service requires ASP .NET 4.5 or ASP .NET 4.6 (depending on your Windows operating system)
      • Print Center Web requires ASP .NET 4.5/4.6 and .NET Extensibility 4.5/4.6 (depending on your Windows OS).
      • ISAPI Extensions (Must be included for ASP and ASP.NET 4.5/4.6)
      • ISAPI Filters (Must be included for ASP.NET 4.5/4.6)
      • Application Initialization (new requirement for Uniprint 9.2)
  •  Management Tools
    • IIS Management Console
    • IIS 6 Management Compatibility (required for IIS 6 Scripting Tools)
    • IIS 6 Scripting Tools (required for IIS 6 Scripting Tools)
    •  

Administrative Components Requirements

The following table lists the hardware and software requirements for the Uniprint Suite administrative components (Pharos Administrator, Pharos Remote, Pharos Station, and Pharos Reports).

Hardware Specifications

Hardware Requirements

CPU

As required by the operating system.

Memory

RAM and disk space as required by the operating system

Disk Space

RAM and disk space as required by the operating system

Operating Systems Requirements

Operating System

Edition

32-bit support

64-bit support

Windows Server 2022

Standard

NA

Yes

Windows Server 2019

Standard

NA

Yes

Windows Server 2016

Standard, Enterprise

NA

Yes

Windows Server 2012 R2

Standard, Enterprise

NA

Yes

Windows 7

Enterprise, Professional, Ultimate

Yes

Yes

Windows 8

Windows 8 (Basic), Pro, Enterprise

Yes

Yes

Windows 8.1

Basic or higher

Yes

Yes

Windows 10

Enterprise

Yes

Yes

Windows 11

Pro

No

Yes

Prerequisites

  • Pharos Administrator and Pharos Reports require .NET 4.6.1
  • Pharos Remote requires .NET 4.6 or higher
  • Pharos Station requires .NET 4.0 or higher