| What does the Network Edition consist of and how is it different than the standalone product?KODAK Capture Pro Software Network Edition is a client/server implementation of Capture Pro Software, which enables multiple capture, indexing, and Auto Import stations to be connected and managed as part of a network. It consists of 3 separate products. KODAK Capture Pro Server software provides remote administration, centralized licensing, and remote batch monitoring. KODAK Capture Pro Software Output Server Module (optional) provides remote batch output; it enables a batch to be transferred to another server for output processing, thereby enabling the scanning workstation to continue scanning at full speed. KODAK Capture Pro Client Software is the same as the standalone Capture Pro product except it also enables connectivity to the server. |
| What version of Capture Pro Software is the client license?To expedite product availability, it was decided that for the initial release of the Network Edition, the client license will be Capture Pro v2.7, which means that it has all the functionality of Capture Pro v2.5 plus server connectivity. It does not yet offer various new features that are included in Capture Pro v3.0. A new release, v3.1 will be release soon, which will deliver the full v3.0 feature set along with server connectivity. |
| When would I choose Network Edition rather than the standalone Capture Pro Software?There are many situations in which the Network Edition may be the preferred option. For example: - Any distributed capture/indexing environment with a need to centrally monitor batch statuses, allowing bottlenecks to be easily detected
- A scanning environment where multiple scanning stations need to share complex job setups, especially if the scanning stations are geographically distributed
- In a distributed environment where there are many scanning stations that are not used full time, concurrent licensing may be more cost effective than dedicated standalone licenses
- In a multiple scanner environment where it is not desirable to have a hardware key (dongle) on each workstation
- In a multiple scanner environment where large batches of searchable PDF files are output, the Network Edition with an Output Server Module can transfer the CPU-intensive output processing to a different server and keep the scanning station running at top speed.
A Kodak Solution Sales Manager or a Kodak Certified Network Edition Reseller can help you determine the best capture solution for your needs. |
| What specific functions does the Dashboard perform?The Capture Pro Dashboard enables an administrator to have visibility to many important aspects of the scanning environment. Using the Dashboard, an administrator can: - Monitor license utilization (percentage of each license type this is in use at any given time)
- Monitor software Assurance expiration date
- Monitor license availability (how many of each license are owned versus how many are in use; and what users are using them)
- Monitor batch status and view detailed about each batch processed
- View a history of selected batches
- View details of an individual batch
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| How do I know how many client licenses I need?There are many factors that influence the number and type of licenses needed for any specific scanning environment, such as number and type of scanners, daily usage of each scanning station, types of documents scanned and types of files output, geographic distribution of the scanning stations, etc. A Kodak Solution Sales Manager or a Kodak Certified Network Edition Reseller can help the customer analyze their specific situation and design a solution configuration that will best meet that customer’s needs. |
| What does the Output Server Module do?The Output Server Module transfers batch output processing from the scanning station to a different server. This is may be useful where many large batches of searchable PDF files are output, as the processing of those batch types can be very CPU-intensive, and if done on the scanning station, may cause the scanning operation to slow down. By transferring this output processing to another server – especially for processing intensive jobs - it is possible to process more batches in a shorter time, resulting in increased throughput when compared to a standalone workstation. (Note that throughput speed can be affected by many factors; for example, running a non-Kodak scanner with many imaging processing features enabled can result in reduced scanning speed.) |
| How do I know how many Output Server Modules (OSMs) I need?Unfortunately, there is no magic formula for calculating this, as each situation is different, and depends on many factors, including the volumes and file types to be output, the CPU speed of the scanning stations and output server hardware, number of scanning stations on the network, etc. A Kodak Solution Sales Manager or a Kodak Certified Network Edition Reseller can help the customer analyze their specific situation and make a recommendation. In many cases, it is best to take a step-wise approach of adding an OSM, assessing the result, then adding another OSM if more performance improvement is still needed, and continuing until optimal performance is achieved. |
| How many client licenses can a Network Edition installation support?There really is no practical limit to the number of clients that can be supported by one Server Software license. The bigger limiting factor is output processing, which is addressed in the preceding question. |
| Do all the workstations have to be on the same network?Yes. The Server, Client, and OSM licenses all need to reside on the same intranet (LAN or WAN), which may not be open to the internet. A Network Edition customer may not “share” their scanning environment with another external user or enterprise. |
| What if I already have some standalone Capture Pro workstations. Can they still be used as part of a networked installation?Absolutely. When you order the Server Software, you also receive the client software, which can be installed on any existing (dongled) Capture Pro workstation that is under a valid Software Assurance agreement, as well as on “new” workstations that do not have Capture Pro software previously installed. Once installed, each time a user launches Capture Pro software, the software will check for a license. If there is a dongle, the software will get its license from the dongle; if no dongle is present, the software will request a client license from the server. Either way, the workstation will be treated as part of the network for sharing job setups, monitoring batches, etc. Therefore, it is possible to create a “hybrid” network that has some dongled workstations and some non-dongled, all participating as part of the same network. |
| How to I purchase the Network Edition?The Capture Pro Network Edition can be purchased through Certified Kodak Network Edition Resellers. Contact Kodak to find one near you. |
| How is the Network Edition delivered to the customer?The Network Edition is delivered in a kit with 2 DVDs containing the Server Software, Output Batch Module and Client Software, a hardware key (dongle) for the server, and Software Assurance. The kit may be delivered to the customer directly or to the Certified Kodak Network Edition Reseller, depending upon who will be doing the installation. In addition, a license file containing the actual license codes for the number of purchased clients and output server modules will be delivered by email to the customer or the Certified Reseller. |
| How does concurrent licensing work?Concurrent licensing allows for great flexibility in implementing a capture environment. Because licenses are requested by workstations as needed, it is possible to maintain a “pool” of various license levels which can be provided to the workstations on the network as needed, without requiring a dongle for a specific license level to be attached to each workstation. |
| If we have various license levels in our Network Edition installation, what happens if I request a license and there are no licenses available at that level?A Network Edition license may support a mix of license types (A-G, Auto Import, Indexing) as part of a “pool” based on the number and type of scanners on the network. When a user starts up the Client Software, a license is requested from the Server based on the scanner model attached to that workstation. The server will first grant a license that matches the request, if there is one available. If there is not a matching license available, the Server will grant a higher license level, if one is available. If no license is available, the user will have to wait to start Capture Pro Client Software until a license becomes available. If the workstation already has a hardware key and license code, the Client will access that license before attempting to obtain one from the Server. |
| Can I or our IT department install the Network Edition ourselves?Yes. An in-house administrator or IT department with experience installing network (client server) applications can perform the Capture Pro Network Edition installation. It is also helpful to have prior experience with Capture Pro Software job setups. If in-house staff is not proficient in both of these areas, it is recommended that a Kodak Certified Reseller or Kodak Professional Services perform the installation. |
| Will I need to register every client license?No. There is a single registration for the entire Network Edition installation. |
| Do I need to purchase Software Assurance with my Network Edition installation?Kodak’s Software Assurance enables a customer to get the maximum benefit from their software investment. Kodak Software Assurance provides technical support via email or telephone as well as free access to patch releases and version upgrades. A minimum of 12 months of Software Assurance is standard with the purchase of a Network Edition installation, although many customers prefer to purchase longer agreements. |
| What server operating systems are supported by Capture Pro Server Software?KODAK Capture Pro Server Software and KODAK Capture Pro Software Output Server Module are supported under: - MICROSOFT Server 2003 32 and 64 bit versions
- MICROSOFT Server 2008 64 bit
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| What operating systems are supported by the Capture Pro Client Software?KODAK Capture Pro Client Software is supported under: - MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP Professional (x32) - SP3
- MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP Professional (x64) - SP2
- MICROSOFT WINDOWS Vista (x32) - SP2
- MICROSOFT WINDOWS Vista (x64) - original
- MICROSOFT WINDOWS Windows 7 (x32)
- MICROSOFT WINDOWS Windows 7 (X64) XP Professional (x32) - SP3
- MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP Professional (x64)- SP2
- MICROSOFT WINDOWS Vista (x32) - SP2
- MICROSOFT WINDOWS Vista (x64) - original
- MICROSOFT WINDOWS Windows 7 (x32)
- MICROSOFT WINDOWS Windows 7 (X64)
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| What network considerations should I know about?You should consider the following in planning a Network Edition installation: - LAN or WAN needs to be supported
- Gigabit Ethernet connections are recommended between clients and servers for remote batch output
- 100MB connections are required for all web services (i.e., License Server, Remote Admin, Dashboard)
- Network Edition servers should not be open to the Internet
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| How are job setups shared?Job setups are shared via synchronization of the Server with the Clients. Following is a high level description of the synchronization process: - The very first Client install will have its job setups propagated to the Server, thereby seeding the Server with the setups that will be shared across the Network Edition installation
- Subsequent Client installs will synchronize with the setups on the Server upon first launch
- The Server maintains the “master copy” of the setups and each Client maintains its own local copy
- Synchronization occurs continuously about once per minute when changes are detected either on the Server or on a Client; synchronization will also occur each time a Client is started up
- Job setups can only be modified on a Client (not on the Server) and the system has built-in safeguards to prevent conflicts resulting from two Clients attempting to modify the same job setup at the same time
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| Can the Capture Pro Server Software and the Output Server Module be installed on the same server PC?Each of the Server products must be installed on a separate server PC. |