Hi all,
I’m a newbie to oemr, and I am setting it up for a very small part time practice. Since money is tight, the machine running oemr is also going to be the main desktop computer (Windows XP Pro) The computer is fairly powerful, dual core processor 4 gig RAM etc.
I was wondering whether using the xampp Windows version or running the virtual appliance would be a better choice? I’m fairly proficient in Linux, so the appliance running Ubuntu server doesn’t worry me too much, but will the xampp version take less resources or would I be better off with an “encapsulated” version like the appliance?
I suppose I’m a bit biased, since I maintain the appliance. But it really mostly depends on your comfort level with windows vs linux.
The best thing about the appliance is that it uses linux, which is what OpenEMR currently works best on. Windows will catch up as we get more users and developers with the release of XAMPP-openemr, but it will likely take several release cycles.
Other nice things about the appliance are portability, encapsulation, and a built in poor man’s backup.
Portability: The appliance can be easily copied and used on other computers. It’s also straightforward to migrate out of the appliance to a native server (including windows) if want to in the future (check out the most recent upgrade manual at bradymd.com/appliance for details).
Encapsulation: Small chance that other unsophisticated users on your computer can "hurt" the underlying appliance (unlike the xampp which has many exposed moving parts).
Backup: Can always just turn off the appliance and back up the entire thing. Of course, probably better use of space by doing a directed backup, which is discussed in the manual.
Resources: Fairly minimal by the appliance, although it will obviously use more resources than the xampp-openemr install. On your windows system, you could probably actually run 3 or so of these appliances concurrently before you noticed slow downs.
If you go with the appliance I’d rec using the free “Vmware Server” over the free “Vmware Player”, since the “Vmware Server” allows you to run the servers like services (start at computer start up and hidden from the other unsophisticated users)
The Appliance is a great way to try out OpenEMR and Brady has been wizardly in his ability to help the developers use multiple different environments for OpenEMR.
The Appliance by its nature cuts your resources in half. On the Windows XP machine that you describe you will get better performance with the Xampp-OpenEMR package.
I you want to virtualize and have the server resources to do so, setting up your own VMware server is not that hard.
If you want pure performance, why not go with straight Linux?
If you set it up as a service, that will remain as a consumer of resources even when you are wanting to do other things. I prefer the Xampp-OpenEMR setup with the ability to stop and start Xampp at will, so as to free resources maximally.
In either case, if you intend to do billing and accounting, and/or have anyone else able to access the computer, I advise using the 3.0.1 version, as it is the only one to comply with the latest medicare billing regs for CMS 1500 (even though the button still says HCFA and includes all of the accounting and access controls within, allowing for the simplest possible install.
Wow! All guru responses :) Personally I would prefer to go 100% Linux, that’s what I’m doing here for the test box, but since there is only going to be 1 machine at the office they would probably feel more comfortable using Windows. Since it is also a desktop, spyware is a concern, and running virtual will help sandbox the oemr.
1 more newbie question…is there a howto or similar on how to set up faxing? And can the virtual machine access a fax modem?
Regarding the fax question in vmware. It’s my understanding that internal PCI modems (Win-modems) can’t be used by vmware, but modems thru USB or serial port can be used by vmware. This is what I’ve read from the internet forums, but have never tested it.
Thanks Brady. I went with the appliance (which I see you are rather familiar ) No discernible difference in the speed of the XP host with it running.
I’ll let you know how it turns out. I was able to capture com1 on the mobo through vmware server without incident and I have an RS-232 external modem ordered. Do I need to install Hylafax on the server or is it there as part of the oemr install?
Hey,
I didn’t install hylafax in the appliance, so you’ll need to install it. I’ve never configured openemr with hylafax, but others have. Hopefully somebody else can weigh in with specific instructions. If somebody post an instruction set, I’ll put it in the oemr.org wiki.
-brady
Glad to see the appliance is working well for you under WinXP.
I was going to recommend the appliance because with 4GB of RAM (you’ve got about 1 gig of RAM that XP can’t use) there is plenty of memory to spare. Processor-wise the VM is very lightweight. And for disk-space, well, that’s just inexpesive stuff.
Could you pls put a few lines to detail the way you set the VM serial port so that hylafax can see it? I am currently trying to install hylafax on a Debian 4.1 hosted on Xenserver 5.0, could not have hylafax recognize the modem, the modem is the same model as yours, Trendnet TFM-560X, on a serial port phyiscally (on main board).
Maybe that is not the same system as yours, but any input is appreciated.
) No discernible difference in the speed of the XP host with it running.