WAL Sys Compares
Below are two matched proposals written in Markdown: one from the peer-to-peer system supplier, and the other from the dedicated server + Proxmox solution provider. Each reflects realistic justifications, acknowledges trade-offs, and is suitable for sharing with stakeholders.
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- Peer-to-Peer Supplier Proposal (Markdown)
Proposal: Peer-to-Peer Setup for Sage 50 & Inventory Software (5 Users)
Dear Client,
We propose a cost-effective, easy-to-maintain solution to support your Sage 50 Pro and Inventory Management requirements across 5–6 user workstations — all using Windows 11 Professional.
This design avoids the complexity and cost of a dedicated server while fully supporting Sage’s multi-user features in a small-office setup.
🧾 What’s Included
- Installation of Sage 50 Accounts Pro (5-user licence)
- Installation of Inventory & Sales software (5-user licence)
- Configuration of one PC as a central shared data host
- Setup of file sharing and multi-user data access
- Local backup scheduling (to USB/OneDrive/SharePoint)
- Ongoing support and patch guidance for each workstation
✅ Benefits of Peer-to-Peer for Small Teams
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Simple architecture | No server required — all PCs are equal peers |
| Familiar environment | Each user works within Windows 11 |
| Low upfront cost | No server licensing or RDS CALs needed |
| Easy to scale to 3–5 users | Efficient for small teams working on-site |
| Flexible data storage options | Shared folder hosted on central PC, accessible via local network |
⚠️ Considerations
| Limitation | Workaround / Impact |
|---|---|
| No central snapshot system | Manual file backups on schedule |
| No remote desktop access | Only local usage supported |
| Less ransomware protection | Use endpoint antivirus + cloud sync for resilience |
| Harder recovery in outage | Each PC must be restored individually if affected |
| Requires local discipline | Users must not modify or move shared Sage data folders |
💡 Summary
Peer-to-peer is an ideal solution for:
- Small offices with 5 or fewer users
- No need for concurrent remote access
- Teams seeking simple maintenance
- Cost-conscious deployments
If in the future you grow or wish to support remote working, we can migrate this setup into a full server environment without starting over.
Sincerely,
[Your Company Name]
Simple IT. Efficient Delivery.
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- Server + Proxmox Supplier Proposal (Markdown)
Proposal: Dedicated Server System (Proxmox + Windows Server 2025)
Dear Client,
We propose a robust, secure, and future-proof centralised server environment to support Sage 50 Pro, Inventory Management Software, and up to 6 concurrent users — fully scalable and backed by modern snapshot-based disaster recovery.
This is the professional approach used by accountants, service businesses, and SMEs seeking reliability, speed, and protection from data loss or ransomware.
🧾 What’s Included
- Provision and setup of a mini-server running Proxmox VE
- Installation of Windows Server 2025 Standard (with Desktop Experience)
- Configuration of Remote Desktop Services (RDS) for 5 concurrent users
- Installation of Sage 50 Pro and Inventory software in the server VM
- Creation of 5 user accounts with secure login over RDP
- Setup of ZFS with snapshots for fast rollback and protection
- Optional S3/offsite backup + ransomware shielding
- Local admin training and full support documentation
✅ Benefits of Central Server Approach
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Centralised data & control | One place to manage Sage, backups, updates, and user access |
| Multi-user RDP access | All users log in securely with isolated sessions |
| Hardware redundancy & ZFS | Self-healing filesystem + snapshots = fast disaster recovery |
| Simplified backups | Daily snapshots + optional external sync |
| Remote access | Works perfectly with Jump Desktop or ZeroTier |
| Expandable | Add more VMs, services, or storage in future |
⚠️ Considerations
| Requirement | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Server licence and CALs | Windows Server + 5 RDS CALs required (one-off cost) |
| Slightly higher initial cost | Hardware and setup are an investment — mitigated by lower downtime |
| Some IT knowledge helpful | Fully managed or partly self-managed options available |
🛡️ Resilience and Security
| Protection Layer | Included? |
|---|---|
| Snapshots (ZFS) | ✅ Yes |
| Immutable backup options | ✅ Yes |
| Proxmox VM isolation | ✅ Yes |
| Centralised access logs | ✅ Yes |
| Ransomware rollback | ✅ Yes |
💡 Summary
This solution is ideal for:
- Teams of 5 or more using Sage 50 daily
- Businesses that want real-time multi-user access
- Those requiring backup, security, and future expandability
- Clients seeking reduced support overhead across devices
Sincerely,
[Your Company Name]
Resilient IT. Business Ready.
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