System Requirements

Workstations and Server

Primafact Enterprise Edition is a client-server application that requires software to be installed on four different types of computers in your network:  Server, Scanstation PC, Desktop PCs, and Notebook PCs.  (Note:  The Scanstation is a desktop PC designated to perform the OCR and Indexing process.)

The following table is for high level purposes and exceptions may apply depending upon your current environment.  Please contact Sandcat Software or your authorized Primafact reseller to confirm system requirements.

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· in the office

· on the road

· in discovery

· at trial

Scanner Hardware

Primafact will work with any TWAIN compliant scanner or multi-function copier.  For larger firms we highly recommend the use of a dedicated scanner as the primary means of scanning.  Based on the feedback of our customers, Fujitsu models are excellent choices.  We’ve also heard praises for Canon models

Scanner Hardware

Primafact will work with any TWAIN compliant scanner or multi-function copier.  For larger firms we highly recommend the use of a dedicated scanner as the primary means of scanning.  Based on the feedback of our customers, Fujitsu models are excellent choices.  We’ve also heard praises for Canon models.

Database and Image Storage

There are two options for database storage based on the number of pages from active files anticipated.  Remember, this is for active files.  Closed matters can be archived to CD-ROM / DVD freeing storage resources.  The options are:

· Microsoft SQL Express:  This option supports up to 300,000 pages, or approximately 150-200 typical banker’s boxes worth of legal documents

· Microsoft SQL Server:  This option supports an unlimited number of pages but requires the necessary Microsoft licenses

There are four major types of documents that will be stored in Primafact:

1. Black and White scans (typically TIFFs or image-only PDFs)

2. Grayscale photographs (converted automatically to JPEGs)

3. Colour photographs (also converted automatically to JPEGs)

4. Rendered PDFs (e.g. a word processor document saved as a PDF)

Black and white scans are the smallest of documents originating as paper - sometimes as little as 25 KB per page.  Colour photographs are the largest, averaging over 1 MB after compression.  Each firm will have a different mix of the types of documents, and each case is different.  However, based on the experiences of our clients, a very conservative rule of thumb for estimating the disc storage required is one (1) GB per 6,000 pages, for both the images and database “overhead”.  A more general estimate is 10,000 pages per GB.

This means that for Option (a), the firm will need between 30 and 50 GB or disc storage to house up to 300,000 pages of active case materials.

Backup Systems

 

As with any other mission critical software, your firm will also need the appropriate RAID systems to protect against business interruptions and your firm will need to modify its current off-site backup procedures for potential disaster recovery.

We strongly recommend that you refer to the Lawyers' Professional Indemnity Company’s guidelines at:  http://www.practicepro.ca/practice/Practice_Interruptions.asp