Optimizing client-server software operation

Do you find Office Maker or BiblioMaker response times mediocre and use slow? Here are a few things you can do to improve the situation:

Network speed

Is your network working optimally? If your server hosting the data is located on your local area network (LAN), the connection speed to the server should be at least several hundred Mbits/second, more likely 1 Gbit/second. Note that while a Wi-Fi (wireless) network is convenient because it eliminates the need to run cables between computers, it is much less reliable than a wired network: its performance can vary greatly during the day, depending on radio wave disturbances caused by other Wi-Fi networks in the vicinity. For this reason, we strongly recommend the use of a wired network.

If your server is hosted in a remote data center, your Internet connection could be the weak point: how fast is your connection, and is it reliable? Here too, your connection may be wired (ideally via fiber optics) or via the 4G or 5G mobile network. Connection speed via the mobile network can fluctuate greatly during the day, depending on how busy the antenna you're connected to is. A wired connection is preferable.

Ideally, your connection should be at least 50 Mbps.

To test your Internet connection, use a website such as www.speedtest.net.
Warning: if your local connection is Wi-Fi, the test result may be distorted, as you may obtain low figures due to a poor Wi-Fi connection. We therefore recommend you perform the test from a computer connected to your router in wired mode. Repeat the test in Wi-Fi mode if necessary, and if the figures are noticeably different, the difference can be attributed to your Wi-Fi network.

Memory optimization

Your server is equipped with random access memory (RAM), where software and data in use are stored. Access to RAM is much faster than to a hard disk (even an SSD), so it's essential that your server has sufficient memory to operate at its full potential. A minimum of 8 GB RAM is required, but 16 GB or even 32 GB is preferable, depending on the number of programs running in parallel and the size of the data files hosted.

Sufficient memory is a prerequisite, but correct memory allocation is just as important. If you allocate too little memory to software, it will not run optimally and performance will be degraded.

On the server, display the Office Maker/BiblioMaker Server application (if your server is a PC and the application runs as a service, stop the service and start the application via File Explorer). In the File (Mac) or Edit (Windows) menu, select Settings > User setting for data file. In the window that appears, select the Database tab. Ensure that the Calculation of adaptive cache box is checked, and set the Maximum cache size.
To calculate the optimum cache size, add the disk size of the data file (made up of files with the .4DD and .4DIndx extensions). Ideally, the two values added together should constitute the cache size. Note that if these two values don't reach the set value, you can leave it there, as the application will only really use what it needs. It is therefore preferable to allocate more than necessary.
In the event of a change in value, you'll need to restart the application to take it into account. The change will not be immediately perceptible on the workstations, as the application loads data into cache memory as and when it is requested by the workstations. So it's not until the second time the data is used that it's delivered more quickly.

Other possible reasons

If the space available on the disk hosting the program or data is too limited, the computer will spend a considerable amount of time looking for free slots, which will inevitably have an impact on its operation. What's more, it will no longer be able to use the disk as an extension of RAM, which will also limit the number of applications in memory. So make sure you always have at least 10% free disk space.

Poorly configured antivirus software can also slow down program operation. If the antivirus software checks the program every time it starts up, you lose several tens of seconds each time. You can add the program to a “white” list, exempt from checks.

Also check your computer's network configuration, especially the DNS settings. The Domain Name System is used to assign a name to devices connected to the Internet, which hides the IP numbers that are essential for the network to function properly (this is what allows you, for example, to type www.google.ch into your browser rather than an IP number such as 175.765.87.43).
Your computer must be set up with a DNS server address, but it's best to have several “backup” addresses (if the main DNS server is down, the computer queries the other DNS servers).

If slowness occurs at regular intervals (e.g. at the same time every day), it's likely that a task being carried out by a third-party program (e.g. a backup) is running at that time. Ask your IT manager about any scheduled tasks that might be interfering.