One big benefit of running Windows is that you continue to run 32bit apps, seemingly forever. I don’t know whether Microsoft has a sunset plan for 32bit, but it’s been very nice to not be forced into 64bit, given the massive dev/test effort required to bring 4D apps into the 64bit client future.
Looks like Apple may be doing it again with Apple Silicon. Tom Benedict > On Sep 11, 2020, at 15:16, Kirk Brooks via 4D_Tech <[email protected]> > wrote: > > David, > I invite you to check out the new 4D forum at https://discuss.4d.com/ > It's a huge improvement over the old forum and this list. Plus a lot more > people are active there. > > But to your point Tom and Randy are both giving you solid advice. I will > add that my experience with 4D server is the one place I recommend a > Windows machine over Mac hands down. They are seriously faster. Just are. > And much more bang for the buck. You don't need an expensive Windows Server > license if it is only running 4D. Win 10 Pro will give you everything you > need. > > It sounds like this is installed in an office and the Mac Mini is only > running 4D (8 gigs of RAM is not very much). You didn't say which version > of 4D which is important. Also whether you are using the web server which > increases the RAM you want. > > 64 bit requires roughly twice as much RAM as 32 bit on the machines and > within 4D. If your code has been updated and kept up all the calls to start > new processes are probably using 0 as the default stack size - which let's > 4D set the stack size and adjusts for the operating environment. If not > it's using some number that was probably set before 64 bit was a thing and > it's way too small. > > If you buy a new Mac you will get Catalina which means you WILL run 64 bit. > Apple is announcing something next week. Speaking as someone who bought one > of the new-cool touch bar MBPs in 2016 (and it's been a truly crappy > machine) you don't want to be one of the first to get a Mac Mini with the > new hardware for a business critical application like this. Plus, if you > need to continue to run 32 bit > > Finally I see you have an SSD RAID. I'm curious about that. Typically I'll > use a mirrored SSD for the primary drive and have some large mirrored hard > disk to use for things like backups. I'm curious how you all decided to use > that much of a RAID on a Mac Mini? > > On Fri, Sep 11, 2020 at 2:22 PM Tom Benedict via 4D_Tech < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Hi David, >> >> I think the answer really depends on number of things: >> >> - How much growth you expect, in terms of concurrent users/processes and >> data file size, over the next 3-5 years. >> >> - How is your application expected to change over then next 3 - 5 years. >> >> - What kind of IT support you have. >> >> - What does your application do? Is it all internal facing using 4D >> Client? Does it have Web Clients? Does it connect to other internal and >> external systems? >> >> If you have mostly MacOS IT support and experience, and you expect modest >> growth in your user base and application in the future, and your app is >> currently performing well, it’s an easy decision to get another Mac Mini >> (maybe with more RAM). >> >> If you expect to double (or more) your users and data and expand your >> applications capabilities, and your current system performance is mediocre, >> and you have some Windows IT support, you could consider getting a Windows >> server. >> >> I’m assuming your existing system has sufficient redundancy to meet the >> requirements of your corporate Disaster Recovery Plan. >> >> And one more thing. If you buy a new MacOS machine today you will likely >> have to run 64bit, which means your app needs to be 64bit compatible. If >> it’s not already 64bit compatible, that may be considerable work, depending >> on the nature of your app. >> >> HTH, >> >> Tom Benedict >> >> >>> On Sep 11, 2020, at 13:08, David Loeppky via 4D_Tech < >> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> I'm ready to upgrade our 4D server machine and would welcome any insights >>> and recommendations. >>> >>> Some details: >>> - 40 Users (Mac and Windows) >>> - 4GB data file >>> - 120 tables >>> - The current server is a 2011 Mac Mini with 8GB and raid 4XSSD HD >>> >>> Questions about the new server: >>> - Windows or Mac? >>> - Recommended features. >>> >>> Many thanks for the input. >>> >>> -- >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> David Loeppky >>> >> >> ********************************************************************** >> 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) >> New Forum: https://discuss.4D.com >> Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html >> Options: https://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech >> Unsub: mailto:[email protected] >> ********************************************************************** > > > > -- > Kirk Brooks > San Francisco, CA > ====================== > ********************************************************************** > 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) > New Forum: https://discuss.4D.com > Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html > Options: https://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech > Unsub: mailto:[email protected] > ********************************************************************** ********************************************************************** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) New Forum: https://discuss.4D.com Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: https://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:[email protected] **********************************************************************
