Hardware requirements for the Merrimac Publishing Manager

May 2006

The server should be a reasonably fast Pentium 4 or higher (no alternative processors, please) with a minimum of 512 MB of RAM (1 Gb is recommended) and at least a 30GB hard drive running NT, 2000, 2003, or XP Professional server software.

The client stations can be Pentium 3 or better, with a minimum of 256 MB of RAM (512 Mb is recommended) and a small hard drive.  Supported operating systems: Windows NT, 2000, or XP Professional (no XP Home Edition or Media Center edition).

Optional credit card processing features require a broadband internet connection at the server (for realtime processing) or a modem (for batch only processing), as well as operating-system-specific updates (call for current requirements). 

Merrimac Support needs to be able to connect to your network via a TCP/IP internet connection running a PCAnywhere host. If the credit card processing option is installed, this connection must be on the server.

If you have a remote office that wants to connect into the system in the main office, we recommend a dedicated PCAnywhere host machine.

Merrimac does link with Macs in production and can also be run with Virtual PC for inquiry purposes. We do not support order/data entry using Virtual PC on a Mac.

Network setup, firewall security, and system backup procedures are not Merrimac responsibilities. You should have a local technician design and set up these capabilities. To avoid routing conflict and packet collisions, we do recommend using routers and switches, rather than simple hubs. Data backup is essential to protect your data.

Recommended Laser Printer for Billing

We recommend the HP 1320 LaserJet printer for billing and renewals. 

Many other laser printers can be used, provided that they support Printer Control Language (PCL) or Epson's ESC P2 language for laser printers. Most (but not all) HP printers support PCL.

Recommended Dot Matrix Printer for Labels

There are a number of good dot-matrix printers that would do the job with varying degrees of speed.  If you print four-across, you'll need something with a wide carriage.

We recommend the Epson DFX-5000+ and the Okidata Pacemark 3410, both of which sell for around $1,500, for high-volume requirements.  If you don't need high speed, there are smaller and slower models available.

Stick with a 9-pin print head rather than 24.  The 9-pins are much more durable and the quality is fine for mailing labels. Epson, Okidata and Panasonic are acceptable brands.  Lexmark is not.  You should expect to pay at least $350-400. Anything less expensive is a waste of money because it will malfunction in a matter of months.

Parallel or Network Interface

Any printer, whether laser or dot-matrix, must either have a parallel port (for connection directly to a workstation) or a network interface card (for connecting directly to the network). Merrimac does not support USB connection.