Infrastructure Requirements - Database Server

Infrastructure Requirements - Database Server

This is a SQL server that holds the main K2 database(s) and requires connectivity from all K2 systems (Portals, Central Station, EDC and Athena Clients).

Technical Specifications

  • OS: Windows Server 2016 or higher. 
  • RAM: 8 GB or higher. 
  • OS Storage: 60 GB. 
  • Data Storage:  
    • For Guardian & Athena – A minimum of 80 GB storage for the live database. It is recommended that database log files are stored on a separate drive.
    • For the Full Maternity Notes system – A minimum of 140 GB for the live database. It is recommended that database log files are stored on a separate drive.
    • K2MS recommends that log files are stored on a separate physical drive to the database for performance and recovery reasons.
  • Processor: Dual 2.0 GHz CPU or higher. 
  • Dedicated database server preferred (not shared with other services). 
  • If an existing managed SQL instance exists within the organisation, K2MS recommends this is used if possible. 
  • Can be virtualised. 
  • SQL Cluster or AAG supported.

Software to be Installed on Server

  • MS SQL Server 2008 R2 or higher.
  • .Net Framework 4.6.1 or latest version.

SQL Server Configuration Requirements

  • Mixed mode authentication: Enabled. 
  • SQL network configuration: Named Pipes and TCP / IP. 
  • Default instance (where a dedicated server is used). 
  • Recommended to use an SQL alias to allow for future server changes.
  • Ports used by SQL server: TCP 1433, UDP 1434 & instance ports – see link, http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc646023.aspx 
  • Preferred database recovery model: Full.

Recommended Databases (Installed / Restored by K2MS)

  • K2MS_Live
  • K2MS_Test
  • K2MS_Training

20 GB of disk space is recommended for the test and training databases (this covers both databases including log files). It is recommended that the test and training databases are not stored on the live server.

Backup Requirements

  • The live database contains patient data, backups are the responsibility of the organisation in line with organisation policy.  
  • As a minimum, K2MS recommends the following:
    • Database and log files to be stored on separate physical hard disk spindles. 
    • Database set to Full Recovery Mode. 
    • Daily Full database backups. 
    • Hourly Log File backups.

Other Information

  • Local database users created (used by the Guardian application): 
    • K2AppUser
    • K2AthenaUser
  • Recommended separate test database server running a minimum of SQL Server Express, 4 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD storage (shared OS and data) to hold the Test and Training databases. 
  • Expected database growth approximately 10 GB per 5000 births based on standard Guardian and Athena system.
  • Each Portal writes approximately 200KB/minute to the database.

Access to Server for K2MS

  • Remote Desktop via VPN access for support purposes.


NOTES ON DISASTER RECOVERY
K2MS do not provide specific recommendations for disaster recovery/ prevention. Without an intricate understanding of the customer’s existing infrastructure / hardware configuration / service management or existing DR strategies, K2MS are unable to do any more than suggest some general points (that are most likely already in place for existing customer managed systems). These are:
  • storing Log files on a separate physical disk;
  • having a full recovery set on the database;
  • a regular backup strategy that truncates log files; plus,
  • ideally some type of fail over solution, either at the SQL level (clustering – although this still relies on a single shared DB) or at the virtual VMWare / Hyper-V level (which is the best solution where virtual servers are concerned).
  • using virtual servers also opens up the possibility of taking periodic machine snap-shots at the VM level which is advisable.

Essentially the more options available for recovery the better.


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