Best Practices > A Firm Profile is the key to a successful installation

A Firm Profile is the key to a successful installation

Creating a Firm Profile will help anticipate issues that may arise in certain areas and allow for pro-active solutions to be implemented in advance. For example, usage patterns may affect Server recommendations.

Below are some key areas that this Profile should cover:

Firm size
Current server hardware/software
Current workstation hardware/software
Current network configuration
Target dates
Usage patterns
Third-party applications used by the Firm
Remote access requirements
SQL considerations
Identify one or more Firm Members who will be Amicus Administrators
If an Upgrade:
- Current version and database information
If NOT an Upgrade:
- Data import requirements
- Firm Settings common list values (File Types, etc.)
- Current Fiscal Year End
- Other Customization requests
- User Profiles, including Billing Rates
- Firm Member workgroups
- Document Template requirements
- Current document management

Firm size and usage patterns may affect server requirements and configuration

Server requirements are affected by a variety of factors, including the number of users and usage patterns. In Amicus Attorney, processes run by both the Amicus Application Server and SQL Server place demands on the Server. Increasing the number of CPUs on the Server will be necessary should performance appear to be an issue.

Configuring the installation as a "split" install, where the SQL Server resides on a different server than the Amicus Application Server, will also help distribute the load. In other words, SQL processing can be done without being affected by Amicus Application processing. As a general rule of thumb, if you already have other applications running under your SQL Server, install the Amicus Application Server on a separate server. The Install Guide includes instructions for split installations.

Large firm installations may also benefit from a more complex split Amicus Application installation. This will offload and distribute application processing. Amicus Attorney can assist you in configuring an installation of this type, and provide you with the additional files necessary for setup. Please contact Technical Support for more information.
Another factor is the number of users, not only for purposes of licensing, but also in determining what level of demand each user will be placing on the server. This will have a direct relationship to the server requirements, and even server configuration.

The Firm Profile should include the number of licensed users, as well usage patterns across core functions that require heavy Server processing (such as report generation, search queries, etc.) and third-party integrations (E-mail, Contacts & Calendar, etc.). Usage patterns should indicate how many Firm Members use each and how often.

Amicus Attorney can help you determine server requirement recommendations based on the Firm Profile. After obtaining the required information, contact Amicus Attorney Technical Support for assistance.

Profiling third-party product integrations will help ensure compatibility and assess usage patterns

Be sure you know all third-party products used by the Firm and determine whether those products are candidates for integration with Amicus Attorney. Check for version compatibility against the Amicus Attorney Hardware and Software Requirements.

Next determine how many Firm Members will use each integration and how often. This information is an important factor in determining usage patterns which in turn may affect hardware and/or software requirements on the Server and/or the Workstations. It will also identify workstations that may require additional installations of third-party products for purposes of integration with Amicus.

These may include:

Accounting application(s)
Word processors
Document assembly solutions
E-mail integration
Contacts and Calendar synchronization
Handheld devices
CompuLaw
Worldox
Report generation