Hardware Recommendations by

Hardware Recommendations by

Forrestt Williams Tech Support Office IT Website Graphic Design Jeremiah Farmer support@landfx.com CEO Developer Support Head Honcho

Outline 1. Land F/X Technology Quick Explainer 2. Why Upgrade Hardware / Budget / How Often 3. Ideal Office Setup 4. Key Hardware Components 5. Operating Systems 6. Hardware Recommendations 7. Backup Concepts 8. Security Image provided by Falling Waters Project created using Land F/X

1. Land F/X Technology Quick Explainer In order to use Land F/X effectively, you ve got to understand it! Image provided by EDSA Project 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: Server: Land F/X Server installed containing Land F/X folder and Land F/X database. DWG file storage. CAD Workstations: AutoCAD / F/X CAD. Land F/X Workstation installed, which connects to Land F/X Server. Backup Drive Offsite Backup Drive

Optional Land F/X Cloud Setup: Cloud File Storage: Such as Dropbox. Contains Land F/X folder and DWG files Land F/X Cloud: Contains Land F/X database only 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. Backup Drive Server: Synced with cloud file storage for Land F/X folder and DWG files storage. 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. Offsite Backup Drive

2. Why Upgrade Hardware How to Budget How often Image provided by Falling Waters Project created using Land F/X

Business Budgeting 101 1. You are a Professional (act like it) 2. Software -- Land F/X, Adobe, Microsoft, Google, Dropbox, PDF. $700 - $2,000 3. Maintenance $150 - $400 4. Hardware a. Top Dell Workstation tops $20,000 b. 5 year old machine risks a lot c. Where to toss a 4 year old machine d. 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 Image provided by Falling Waters Project created using Land F/X

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 Technologies Project created using Land F/X

Key Hardware Components when looking at a computer (in this order): Video Card As good as you can get = ideal. Solid State Disk Storage (SSD) An absolute must these days. HDD = Slow. RAM The more, the merrier. Processor Most modern processors should suffice.

AutoCAD eats video cards for lunch.

Operating Systems Windows XP (RIP) Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows 8/8.1 We recommend Windows 10. Solid OS, robust, kinks seem to be worked out now stay updated! Windows 10

7. Hardware Recommendations Image provided by Landscape Technologies Project created using Land F/X

Servers WD My Cloud Business Series NAS Only works with Land F/X Cloud Data Pre-configured 4 Bays 8 Terabytes Cloud access options $699 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.

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 Alienware 15 Dell XPS 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. Mac Mini Server Intel Core Dual Core i5 2.8Ghz 16 GB RAM 2TB fusion drive Mac El Capitan $1,299 Additional Costs: Parallels : $89 Windows 10 Pro: $199 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 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

Peripherals iosafe Drive Bolts to the floor Fireproof Waterproof 4TB $399 Western Digital External 2TB USB 3.0 $89 PNG 128 GB USB 128 GB USB 3.0 $25 Land F/X USB 4GB Keep it on your keychain. Add a Read Me file with your contact information. FREE! (Contact us.)

Monitors LG 21.5 UltraFine 4K Monitor 4096 x 2304 resolution $524 Dell 27 Ultra HD 4K Monitor 3840 x 2160 resolution $999 Dell 27 Ultra HD 5K Monitor 5120x2880 Ultra HD resolution $1549

Peripherals Logitech Performance Mouse MX Programmable buttons for CAD work Logitech Daedalus Gaming Mouse Programmable buttons for CAD work Logitech Illuminated Keyboard Easy typing 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 Image provided by Landscape Technologies Project created using Land F/X

Remember: Computers will fail.

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.

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.

805-541-1003 support@landfx.com www.landfx.com