DWL SYSadmin

Dear needmoreupdate; I will keep this in mind, I think we will be updated workstations next year. Sure seems like a lot of iron to run a simple client/server app. Have not seen a resource hog like this since Windows Vista =)

Dear Medlin Accounting and kcjenkins: We will have to agree to disagree. Perhaps if you knew how UAC worked, and if implemented correctly it cannot be bypassed by user intervention, you would see the benefit in using it. Many modern OS's, including Mac OSX, Linux, and Windows-based operating systems limit the user environment to a lower permission level for normal tasks to protect users. It is not a matter of trust; it is a matter of protection and exercising due care. To simply not use it shows your willingness to sacrifice security for convenience, a practice that would be hard to defend in the case of a security breach....... but who in the financial services industry would be worried about that? Good luck to you both =)

Hello fellow ATX'ers, I am looking for some help with the new 2012 Tax Application. I won't lie, I do not know much about Tax Preparation, so for that much I apologize. I am a work as System Admin for my customer who does prepare taxes, and we are having quite a bit of trouble this year with speed. I have read many of your posts, and I have seen that many folks are having the same trouble. I wanted to see if anyone out there is running the same type of architecture as we are. I don't want to get too far down into the weeds with tech talk, but here is what we have in use: Server: Dell PowerEdge 710, Windows Server 2008 x64 Dual Quad-Core CPU's @2.26Ghz 32GB Ram 4x1TB 7200rpm SATA Hard drives, RAID 5 Array with HS Dual Teaming 1GB NIC's with TOE, setup in a aggregated link (2GB/s) -Server also supports a few virtual machines; maybe use 4GB of ram -System resources are at idle at all times, the ATX product presents no visible load when operating -Server does not host any other services, applications, or roles. Network: Full 1GB Switches, Cat6 wiring Workstations: Dell OptiPlex Workstations, Windows 7 x64 Pro, Intel i5 CPU's, 8GB Ram, less than 1 year old Dell Latitude Laptops, Windows 7 x64 Pro, Intel i5 CPU's, 16GB Ram - All workstations and laptops run a managed antimalware solution (Norman AV) - All workstations and laptops connect via a wired connection - Simple Office applications are the only other apps used by the preparers. -Workstations are REQUIRED to use UAC - NOTE: ATX recommends turning this off, and I am not sold on this idea. This is pretty irresponsible of an application vendor considering how big information security is now. UAC has been out for over 6 years now. Get on board, start programming with using UAC in mind. End rant -Users are NOT local administrators of their workstations. Again, a huge security flaw. Program is started via 2 runas batch scripts with /savecred and a service account. Here are the two batch scripts: Script called Start2012.bat, initial batch script for starting the program. Stored on the C:UsersPublicDesktop folder, users can find this on their desktop to start the program. This batch scripts calls the second script in another folder WITH ADMINISTRATOR CREDENTIALS which seems to work better. ECHO OFF runas /savecred /user:domainnameadministrator C:Windowssystem32TAX2102.BAT exit This script named TAX2012.bat maps a network drive and starts the ATX program. Stored in the C:WindowsSystem32 folder: ECHO OFF net use u: /delete net use u: TaxServerNameTAX2012 u: cd atx2012 ATX2012.EXE exit Complex, yes, but much more secure than making users local admins of their machines. Performance: -2-5 minutes to open the ATX application -5-10 minutes for a rollover if it does not error out. Impression: This product seems very immature and untested, and tax season is not the time for beta testing. This may not be ATX's fault per sey, considering the organized chaos that our government and current tax laws are. But, at a minimum, the product should work in a networked environment, in a more secure way, and offer much better performance than this. My questions are as follows: -Does anyone else have any ideas on how to push this application to run a little faster? -Should I be recommending my customers look for another tax application? Thanks for any assistance you can provide, have a great day!