There are two parts to ASI SmartBooks.

• One is a client part that is installed on each user's PC (Personal Computer).
• The other is a database engine that is installed on just one PC.

The database engine is a separate piece of software that can reside on any PC. For small companies, both parts of ASI SmartBooks can exist on one PC. Larger companies may want to move the database engine to its own dedicated PC to improve performance and speed.

ASI SmartBooks uses Microsoft SQL Server as its database engine.

Microsoft has two flavors/licenses of Microsoft SQL Server:

• Microsoft SQL Server Express - a free version with limitations on how big it can be. This version is included with ASI SmartBooks.
• Microsoft SQL Server - a version Microsoft charges for, that needs a separate license from Microsoft. Large firms might need this, but most small firms will not.

ASI SmartBooks can use either Microsoft SQL Server Express or Microsoft SQL Server as its database engine.

Which to Use?

Microsoft's rules are that a firm can use Microsoft SQL Server Express (the one included with ASI SmartBooks) with the following limitations:

• Only one CPU (processor) can run the software. The PC can have more than one CPU, (sometimes called cores) but only one of them will work at a time. This means that large data sets will run slowly.
• Only 1 gigabyte of ram will be used to access the data. This means that large data sets will run slowly.
• The disk space the database uses cannot exceed 10 gigabytes

If any of these three are not enough, then Microsoft SQL Server is required, and Microsoft requires that a license be purchased. To be precise, Microsoft's rules are much more complicated than this. Details are available on their web site. You can find out more here.

Most distributors will find that the Microsoft SQL Server Express included with ASI SmartBooks is more than sufficient for their business needs. Larger distributors and suppliers can also rest reassured that as their business grows, ASI SmartBooks can scale up with them!