Kriki’s Dynamics NAV blog

To check

• #users /#transactions
• Multiple countries in 1 DB
• #users>200 : attention

 

Large opportunities

• Amount $
• # transactions
• # users

 

Competitors say: NAV is not scalable and for small customers

How to address challenges

• 1 or more instances (scale out)
• Check #users/transactions
• Check user profiles (light/medium/heavy users and which modules do they use)
• Check (add-on) version : FIND(’+-’),…
• Check partner maturity (ISV) (focus on something (like only developing for SQL) is better)
• Load-test

 

How to adress scalability questions

• Standard way:
  • Reference cases / sizing guide

• Alternative because above is no prove : load testing
  • Take hardware guideline and create profiles of users and test.
    • Partner creates storyboard (roles and activities)
    • Partner creates scripts (using application benchmark toolkit (on partnersource)
    • Partner prepares (large) DB
    • Eliminate FIND(’+-’) on heavy processes
  • Involve SQL experts or MCS (1 or 2 days onsite review of procedure/scripts ; 4-5 days load test support ; 1-3 days for end report)
  • Involve MTC [=Microsoft Technology Centre] (1 day setup ; 4-5 days load test)
  • Hardware:
    • Laptop for measurement
    • N terminal servers (simulates some users) (1 CPU per 20-25 users; 50 MB per user) [IMHO:I think it is better 100MB per user for NAV]
    • DB server (1 CPU per 100 users ; 8-32 GB internal memory)
    • SAN (remember : not just 20 users, but several 100 users)

• What did we learn
  • These tests will help in large sales cases
  • Difficult to setup (especially the first time)
  • Prepare, Prepare, Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
  • Costly but,
    • Payback in sales
    • Confidence

• Costs
  • Partner preparations
  • MCS costs (6-10 days) (9-15K EUR) excl T&E
  • MTC costs: in both cases sponsored by MS

• How to leverage the MTC’s
  • Word wide availability (http://www.microsoft.com/mtc/default.mspx)
  • Go and ask your PAM,PTS,SSP
  • Engagement criteria : strategic deal ($ or competition), Some require MCS involvement (Munich)
  • Can also be run in remote desktop

• Other resources
  • TPAG
  • Large projects landing page (or partnersource)
  • Standard benchmark reports

• Key takeaways
  • Make a choice (native or SQL)
  • Prepare your add on
  • Test & improve
  • Go & close business in the tier-2 market

Filed under: DirectionsEMEA2009, NAVISION, PERFORMANCE, SQL