System requirement guidelines

A server is not required if using MYOB IMS Payroll as a standalone (that is, where the software is used on one machine only and installed on the local hard drive). Please consult the workstation requirements for standalone recommendations.

As per Microsoft recommendations (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/hardware-requirements):

These recommendations apply to all server operating systems. For comprehensive advice, MYOB recommend consulting your certified MYOB IMS Payroll partner.

• Install enough processing power, RAM and hard disk space in your server to cater for ALL applications and services that are being run. These requirements may vary depending on the number of users on the system, applications running and level of usage.
• Ensure that you have adequate back-up and disaster recovery capability that is used and tested on a regular basis. Back-ups should be at least weekly, preferably daily. Back-ups (whether onsite or offsite) should be extended to include not just the database files but also supporting files such as executables, clarity report files and quick insert templates etc.
• Optimise your virus scanner.
• For recommendations on specific server operating systems, see Compatible Environment Roadmap.

Following are some suggestions relating to use of the Terminal Server solution. For comprehensive advice, MYOB recommend consulting your certified MYOB IMS Payroll partner.

• If you install a Terminal Server solution and all processes and applications that previously ran on the workstation run via the Terminal Server Client and on the Terminal Server, it is extremely important that the server is correctly configured, and hardware is sufficient for the number of users and applications.
• If you intend to have Terminal Server used only to access certain features of your MYOB application(s) and will still require the MYOB application(s) to run on a workstation, then the workstation must meet minimum specification at very least.
• Consideration must be given to other software also loaded and running on the system
• Avoid the use of applications that are CPU or memory intense via a Terminal Server session.
• Avoid loading server-based applications on the Terminal Server, e.g. Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server/SQL Express.
• Ensure that the appropriate operating system Service Packs and patches are applied, as recommended by MYOB.

Any client workstation running MYOB IMS Payrolls application modules should meet the following minimum requirements:

These recommendations apply to all workstation operating systems. For comprehensive advice, MYOB recommend consulting your certified MYOB IMS Payroll partner.

• Ensure that the latest operating system Service Packs and patches are applied.
• Optimise your virus scanner.
• For recommendations on specific workstation operating systems, see MYOB Certified Environment Roadmap.

The amount of Random Access Memory (RAM) in your workstations has a major impact on the speed of your software. The more RAM in your workstations, generally the better your software will perform - and the more productive you will be.

History has shown that every two years the memory requirements have doubled as applications become more complex. We also recommend that you invest in memory to meet your current and future needs.

How much memory you need to run effectively on a workstation depends on:

• The operating system you are using
• The software applications you are using concurrently, e.g. Microsoft® Outlook, Microsoft® Word and Microsoft® Excel, MYOB IMS Payroll and any other software. The more applications you are using, the more memory you will need
• The amount of MYOB data and the size and complexity of files in Microsoft® Word or Microsoft® Excel, etc

For comprehensive advice, MYOB recommend consulting your certified MYOB IMS Payroll partner.

Ensure that the latest operating system Service Packs and patches are applied. Compatibility Listing).

If other applications that are CPU intense or RAM 'hungry' are loaded on the workstation, ensure that workstation hardware is sufficient to handle these applications as well as the operating system and MYOB IMS Payroll requirements.
Ensure that there is sufficient free hard drive space available for any temporary files.

A laser quality printer is recommended. MYOB operates with most standard printers that are supported by your operating system. MYOB products are designed to work with true type fonts. Using post script fonts may produce unwanted results and accordingly is not supported by MYOB.

If operating on a network, the following areas will impact performance:

Cabling will impact significantly on the reliability and speed of your software. A minimum of UTP Category 5e cabling is required as it offers the best reliability and performance for your practice.

For local area networks, we recommend investing in 1GBps switches and 1GBps network cards.

We recommend that only necessary protocols are loaded on both the server and workstation.

For comprehensive advice, MYOB recommend consulting your certified MYOB IMS Payroll partner.

It is extremely important that your organisation is protected from virus infection. However, it is also important that your virus scanning software does not adversely impact the performance of your network and software.

Common settings in virus scanners that impact performance:

If a virus scanner is installed on both your server and workstation, and both are set to scan both incoming and outgoing files, you may be scanning each file twice (once at the server end and once at the workstation). Speak to your network engineer about getting one of these disabled.

If the option is available in your virus scanning software, disable heuristic scanning.

Exclude MYOB application executables from the scan list. This may improve performance.

In all cases, consult your certified MYOB IMS Payroll partner to determine the best virus scanning solution for your business that does not impact software.

MYOB aims to complete compatibility of appropriate emerging environments within six months of the manufacturers release of the product. We recommend that our clients do not operate MYOB IMS Payroll on new products until we have published a statement on the successful completion of the compatibility.

New Microsoft Software and Operating Systems

MYOB is a Microsoft® Certified Gold Partner, and we work closely with Microsoft® to ensure that our products are compatible with Microsoft® solutions. As information becomes available on the status of each individual product, we will update our Compatible Environments Roadmap. We expect products to be updated gradually over a number of months.

If you are intending to install or use any of the new Microsoft® products, please check the MYOB website prior to installing to check the status of them with your specific MYOB products.

As manufacturers release new environments, they usually discontinue support for older environments. As a general rule, MYOB can only certify products that are fully supported by their manufacturer.

In some cases, manufacturers may choose to discontinue their support of a product in stages. For example, the Microsoft® business product lifecycle has three support phases:

• Mainstream support
• Extended support
• Self-help online support

Microsoft® only provides full support services on operating systems during the Mainstream phase. After this, Microsoft® will not update the application to address any bugs or issues and only provides limited support. As a result of this, MYOB will only verify operating systems that are in Mainstream support, as Microsoft® will not address any required changes in the other phases.

MYOB does not undertake any testing or quality assurance of its software on environments that are not currently compatible. While MYOB has a history of its software working on environments that are no longer supported by the manufacturer, and of addressing issues where feasible, we cannot guarantee that we can resolve such issues every time. For that reason, we recommend that our clients operate in current compatible environments.

Dates when older technologies will no longer be compatible are published in the Compatible Environments Roadmap. We provide notice when any major technologies are due not to be tested, so that you have time to plan and make any necessary changes.

Compatible Environments continuously change based on the developments in software environments that are outside the control of MYOB. As such, MYOB reserves the right to change details published in the Compatible Environments Roadmap at any time.

The Compatible Environment Roadmap outlines specific versions of technologies. MYOB may choose to not address any issues that are discovered in MYOB IMS Payroll on environments that are not listed in Compatible Environment Roadmap.

Using 3rd party products, other than those in this listing, to retrieve and write information to MYOB may compromise data integrity and cause incorrect results when using MYOB IMS Payroll. MYOB does not support the use of applications that compromise MYOB data integrity.

The following table provides the environmental support status for MYOB IMS Payroll. As a general guideline, MYOB IMS Payroll will run on any version of Windows currently supported by Microsoft – see https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/windows-server-release-info for Windows Server, and https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/supported-versions-windows-client for Windows Client