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BigTime System Requirements
For our SaaS/hosted customers, the minimal system requirements are as follows:
BigTime users need access to a machine with a current version of Firefox, Safari, IE Explorer, or a Google browser. If you're integrating BigTime with QuickBooks, in addition to access to one of the four listed browsers, the QuickBooks administrator will need a current version of QuickBooks for PC's or online. Questions about BigTime system requirements, call us at: 312-346-4646The Minimum system requirements are as follows:
1.4 ghz Intel or AMD 64 bit or 32-bit processor2 GB free disk space on the C:\ drive *
1GB RAM **
Windows XP Pro, Vista Business or higher, windows 7 Professional or higher, Server 2003 (any edition), Or Server 2008 (any edition except for Small Business Server (SBS) edition)
*BigTime does not require 2 GB of disk space for the program, BigTime only takes about 300 MB, however, when BigTime installs or does a backup temporary files are created on the C:\temp directory, regardless of what drive you install on. To insure we can install or back up, we need some free disk space, and 2 GB is the recommended amount.
** Note that other applications may be using part of your system's RAM memory, so you want to make sure that you have enough "free" RAM to allow BigTime and your database to run smoothly.
Having web-based applications like BigTime loaded next to Sharepoint, Microsoft Exchange or other enterprise applications that are designed to run on their own dedicated server is not recommended, but BigTime does not require a "dedicated" server to run. Our support reps can't assist you with configuring the other web applications on your server as we don't have expertise on Sharepoint, Exchange, Anti-Virus, etc. in-house.
System Requirement notes:
Windows Server installations will also require the Workgroup or Enterprise versions of BigTime.WE CANNOT INSTALL BIGTIME ON SMALL BUSINESS SERVER 2008 X64
Other Networking requirements:
1. BigTime runs as either an application (basic edition), or a service (Workgroup and enterprise editions ONLY). If you are using the basic edition, you will need to have a user session open with the BigTime agent running, or you will be unable to submit time/expenses, create invoices, or print many reports.
2. By default BigTime sets up the website on the server under the Default Web Page in IIS. By default, it will only be able to be viewed from inside the server's network. If you are using a 3rd party to host your server, the hosting company will need to set up a web domain and configure their firewall/router and DNS to allow access to BigTime through the web. If you are hosting BigTime yourself but want it to be available through the web, you will need to set your server up in the same way.
3. Windows XP (Professional) is limited to 5 users logged in at once. Vista has a limitation of 10 users, and Windows 7 has a limitation of 20. This is an operating system limitation in Windows. If you will have more users than your system limitation logged in at once, you should use Server 2008 or 2003 instead. Please note that shared files and folders count as a connection when in use, so if you're using a desktop operating system as your file server as well, please keep this in mind when installing BigTime
SQL Requirements:
BigTime comes with SQLExpress 2005 which can support up to 4 Gigabytes of data. While the database rarely gets larger than 500MB (usually around 100) it is possible to reach this limit if you are making heavy use of expense report PDFs and/or are emailing invoices out of BigTime, as the .pdf files are added to the database. If you approach this limit you will notice performance issues within BigTime, and will need to purchase a SQL standard or enterprise license and install from Microsoft.
We do not install on MySQL
SQL Licensing:
Only the Workgroup and Enterprise versions of BigTime are licensed for use with an existing SQL Server installation. If you will be installing BigTime on your own copy of SQL Server, you will need to purchase the workgroup edition of BigTime in order to use it.
QuickBooks Integration Methods:
There are two ways we can integrate with QB
1. Server-Based Integration (our default). The best way to integrate BT and QB is to have the QB client installed on the same server as BigTime. This allows BigTime to pull in data from QB without any additional user input.
2. Client-Based Integration ("Remote" Integration): If it is not possible to install the QB client on the server, we can use an additional program called the Remote Monitor to connect BigTime and QB. The Remote Monitor turns one of your user's machines into a "conduit" between BigTime and QuickBooks. All transactions going to QB will go through this person's desktop (which means their system will need to be on, and the conduit to BigTime will need to be loaded).
QuickBooks Integration Notes:
1. QB will need to be in multi-user mode in order to integrate. Having QB in single-user mode and trying to sync BigTime will result in an error message and a failed sync.
2. You will need to give BigTime its own login will full access to QuickBooks.
3. When BigTime is connected to QB it uses a license whenever it is syncing. If you have a limited number of licenses, you may need to wait for BigTime to finish its syncing before additional users can log in.
For more details on the system requirements, take a look at the Installation chapter of the user's guide.
