Hardware Recommendations by

HardwareRecommendations

by

Forrestt Williams

● Tech Support● Office IT● Website● Graphic Design

Jeremiah Farmer

● CEO● Developer● Support● Head Honcho

[email protected]

Outline

1. Land F/X Technology Quick Explainer2. Why Upgrade Hardware / Budget / How

Often3. Ideal Office Setup4. Key Hardware Components5. Operating Systems6. Hardware Recommendations7. Backup Concepts8. Security

Image provided by Falling WatersProject created using Land F/X

In order to use Land F/X effectively, you’ve got to

understand it!

1.Land F/X

Technology Quick Explainer

Image provided by EDSAProject created using Land F/X

Land F/X Technology Quick Explainer

● Land F/X is a plugin for AutoCAD.● F/X CAD is AutoCAD.● F/X CAD requires a Land F/X license to operate.● Land F/X Projects and Project Managers are populated

from a database, not the DWG files.

+ =Awesome

Landscape and Irrigation Plans

Land F/X Technology Quick Explainer

Land F/X basically consists of three components:● Database● Folder● Cloud Libraries

Folder:Plant blocks, Irrigation blocks, Site blocks, Details, CTB files,

Software files

Database:Project list, Project managers, associating data with blocks to

make them “smart blocks”

Cloud Libraries:Plant database, Irrigation

Manufacturer database, Site Manufacturer database

Standard Land F/X Small Office Setup:

CAD Workstations:AutoCAD / F/X CAD.

Land F/X Workstation installed, which connects to Land F/X Server.

Server:Land F/X Server installed containing

Land F/X folder and Land F/X database.DWG file storage.

Backup Drive

Offsite Backup Drive

CAD laptop in field or at home:AutoCAD / F/X CAD.

Connects through Internet for cloud file storage (Land F/X folder and DWG files).

Land F/X cloud database.

Optional Land F/X Cloud Setup:

CAD Workstations in Office:AutoCAD / F/X CAD.

Land F/X Workstation installed, which connects to server for Land F/X Folder and DWG files.

Connects through Internet to Land F/X cloud database.

Server:Synced with cloud file storage for

Land F/X folder and DWG files storage.

Backup Drive

Offsite Backup Drive

Land F/X Cloud:Contains Land F/X

database only

Cloud File Storage:Such as Dropbox. Contains Land F/X folder and DWG files

2.Why Upgrade

HardwareHow to Budget

How often


Business Budgeting 101

1. You are a Professional (act like it)2. Software -- Land F/X, Adobe, Microsoft,

Google, Dropbox, PDF…. $700 - $2,0003. Maintenance $150 - $4004. Hardware

a. Top Dell Workstation tops $20,000b. 5 year old machine risks a lotc. Where to toss a 4 year old machined. Sure would be nice to freshen each

machine every 2-3 years, right?Image provided by Falling Waters

Project created using Land F/X

Lease!

Dell Business Lease● $1,500 Workstation, $65/month (2 year Fair Market Value lease)● Mix and match -- 3 or 4 year term, $1 buyout● Software ($700) + Maintenance ($150) + Hardware ($750)

Other Options● Online bank like Ally, put away $20/week● 0% financing credit card● Find a very cheap computer somewhere and ask Land F/X if that will

work

3.Typical Office Setup

Our Office


Typical Land F/X Small Office Equipment:

● Server○ Store DWG files, Land F/X database, &

other Enterprise software

● Desktops○ Powerful enough for AutoCAD

● Laptops○ Powerful enough for AutoCAD

● Fireproof & theft-proof backup drive

Our Office Equipment:

● Server○ Mac Mini Server○ File storage, Land F/X

● Desktops○ iMac 5K & Thunderbolt 27” monitor○ Running Parallels & Windows 10

● Laptops○ MacBook Pro & 2 Thunderbolt 27” monitors○ Running Parallels & Windows 10

● Fireproof & theft-proof backup drive○ ioSafe SOLO G3 unit bolts to floor, fireproof○ 3 terabytes!

Our office needs differ from those of a typical landscape design office: Software development, graphic design, Web development, content creation, video editing & more.

4.Key Hardware Components

Image provided by Landscape TechnologiesProject created using Land F/X

Key Hardware Components when looking at a computer (in this order):

Video CardAs good as you can get = ideal.

Solid State Disk Storage (SSD)An absolute must these days. HDD = Slow.

RAMThe more, the merrier.

ProcessorMost modern processors should suffice.

AutoCAD eats video cards for

lunch.

Operating Systems

● We recommend Windows 10. Solid OS, robust, kinks seem to be worked out now – stay updated!

Windows XP(RIP)

WindowsVista

Windows 7 Windows 8/8.1

Windows10

7.Hardware

Recommendations


Servers

● Dell PowerEdge Series○ Windows Server 2012 R2○ Windows networking made easy○ Automated backups○ $1,278.99

● Mac Mini Server○ Mac OS○ Setup takes longer○ Automated backups○ Ideal only for a Mac-centric office○ $999.99

● Cloud?○ Even with cloud file solutions, we still recommend having a server.○ Central file storage makes life easier.○ Enterprise software needs.

● WD My Cloud Business Series○ NAS Only works with

Land F/X Cloud Data○ Pre-configured○ 4 Bays○ 8 Terabytes○ Cloud access options○ $699

Laptops

● Alienware 15○ I5 Quad Core 3.2ghz○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (2x8GB) RAM○ 256GB SSD + 1TB Storage HDD○ NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GPU○ $1499

● Dell XPS 15○ i7 Quad Core 2.6 – 3.5ghz Turbo○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (1x16GB) RAM○ 512GB SSD○ NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M 2GB GPU○ $1699

● Dell Precision 15 3000 Series○ i7 Quad Core 2.6 – 3.5ghz Turbo○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (2x8GB) RAM○ 512GB M.2 Sata SSD○ AMD FirePro W5130M 2GB GPU○ $1999

● Dell Precision 15 5000 Series○ i7 Quad Core 2.6 – 3.5ghz Turbo○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (2x8GB) RAM○ 500GB SSD○ Nvidia Quadro M1000M 2GB GPU○ $2219

Dell XPS 15

Alienware 15

Desktops

● Dell Optiplex 3046 Small Form Factor○ i5 Quad Core 3.2 – 3.6ghz turbo○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (2x8gb) RAM○ 256GB SSD○ AMD R7 M445 4GB GPU○ $973

● Dell Precision 3620 Mini Tower○ i5 Quad Core 3.3 – 3.9ghz turbo○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (2x8GB) 2133mhz memory○ 256GB SSD○ Nvidia Quadro K1200 4GB GPU○ $1427

● Dell Precision 3620 Mini Tower○ i7 Quad Core 2.6 - 3.5ghz Turbo○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (2x8GB) 2133mhz memory○ 512GB M.2 Sata SSD○ Nvidia Quadro K1200 4GB GPU○ $1768

● Dell Precision 5000 Series Tower○ i7 Quad Core 2.6 - 3.5ghz Turbo○ Win 10 Pro○ 16GB (4x4GB) RAM○ 512GB SSD○ Nvidia Quadro M2000 4GB GPU○ $2260

Dell Precision 3620 Mini Tower:

Apple

Keep in mind that Land F/X is Windows-only software and is not compatible with AutoCAD for Mac. However, you can definitely run Land F/X on Windows-based CAD installed on a Mac computer, with the help of a program called Parallels.

● Apple iMac 27"○ Intel Core i5 3.1 Ghz○ 16 GB GB RAM○ 2 GB GPU○ 1 TB SSD hard drive○ Mac El Capitan○ $1,799

● Macbook Pro 15"○ Intel Core i7 2.6 Quad Core Ghz○ 16 GB RAM○ 2 GB GPU○ 256 GB SSD hard drive○ Mac El Capitan○ $2,499

● Mac Mini Server○ Intel Core Dual Core i5 2.8Ghz○ 16 GB RAM○ 2TB fusion drive○ Mac El Capitan○ $1,299

Additional Costs: Parallels : $89Windows 10 Pro: $199

● ioSafe Drive○ Bolts to the floor○ Fireproof○ Waterproof○ 4TB○ $399

Peripherals

● Western Digital External○ 2TB○ USB 3.0○ $89

● Land F/X USB○ 4GB○ Keep it on your keychain.○ Add a “Read Me” file with your

contact information.○ FREE! (Contact us.)

● PNG 128 GB USB○ 128 GB○ USB 3.0○ $25

Monitors

● Dell 27” Ultra HD 4K Monitor○ 3840 x 2160 resolution○ $999

● Dell 27” Ultra HD 5K Monitor○ 5120x2880 Ultra HD resolution○ $1549

● LG 21.5” UltraFine 4K Monitor○ 4096 x 2304 resolution○ $524

Logitech Illuminated Keyboard

- Easy typing

Peripherals

Logitech Performance Mouse MX

- Programmable buttons for CAD work

Logitech Daedalus Gaming Mouse

- Programmable buttons for CAD work

Microsoft Sculpt- Ergonomic curve- Separate 10-key- Ergonomic

“Sideways” mouse

Traveling much?

Why maintain a desktop and a laptop? You’ll just end up with two cruddy computers!

8.Backup Concepts


Remember:Computers

willfail.

Backup Concept

3-2-1 Backup Concept

3 Copies of your data- 1 copy on external drive- 1 copy in cloud backup- 1 copy on off-site drive

2 Different formats- Backup drive- Cloud

1 Off-site- Monthly off-site in safe

Test!- Test your backups at least once a year to verify that your backup

procedures are functional and your data is intact.

Our Backup Configuration

● Mac Mini Server runs daily backups via Time Machine to our ioSafe Backup Drive.● Our hosting company does daily backups of www.landfx.com.● Google Drive has additional backup of our server data synced.● Monthly Backup Procedure:

○ Manual backup of www.landfx.com○ Manual backup of Mac Mini Server○ Saved to off-site secure hard drive

------

Hard drives are cheap – WD 2TB for under $100?!No excuse not to have robust backup procedures in place.Use brandname external hard drives.ioSafe fireproof & theft-proof drives are fantastic.

http://www.landfx.com

http://www.landfx.com

Security!

Security is a major concern now. Just look at the news lately!

● Change your passwords yearly○ World Password Day – May 5

■ Use strong passwords.■ Different password for every account.■ Use a password manager.■ Use multi-factor authentication wherever possible.

● Security software○ Anti-virus software – We’ve had good experience with:

■ Kaspersky○ Anti-Malware – We’ve had good experience with:

■ MalwareBytes

Security!

● Don’t open email attachments from strangers!!!○ Remember the Locky virus?

● Don’t download software from the following websites:○ Sourceforge.com○ CNET.com○ Softpedia.com○ Download.com

● Drawing corruption is still a major issue.○ Drawing corruption will spread like a virus.○ Slows down your computer.○ Can be prevented!

■ NUKE tool■ Manual drawing cleanup steps

Be smart with your money, be smart with your company.

Save time, save frustration.

[email protected]

www.landfx.com

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