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| Number of Users | CPU Needed | Required RAM |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 3,000 | 486DX/33 MHz | 16 MB |
| 7,500 | 486DX/66 MHz | 32 MB |
| 10,000 | 586, MIPS, ALPHA | 48 MB |
| 15,000 | 586, MIPS, ALPHA | 64 MB |
For the Primary Domain Controller(PDC), conservatively, we would recommend a P5/90 or greater with 64MB of RAM for upto 5000 users, and 128MB of RAM for more than 5000 users. The Backup Domain Controllers(BDC) should have the same amount of RAM but could have less processor power. The more of the SAM database that is cached in memory, the quicker your users will get a sign-on to the network. This improves the performance of administrative tasks as well.
A redundant BDC should be present reasonably near other locations with BDCs for fault tolerance. Additionally, a BDC with similar configuration as the PDC should exist so it may be promoted in contingencies such as disaster or maintenance.
WINS
In sizing Windows Internet Naming Service infrastructure servers it is important to be aware of the magnitude of the WINS databases. These databases can get quite large (on the order of 40-MB to 100-MB) in an enterprise environment. Since RAM is measured in nanoseconds and hard disk access is measured in milliseconds, building the WINS servers so that the entire database resides in RAM should provide for optimum performance.
DHCP
With DHCP, the speed of the network and location of the server is more important than the amount of memory. A 486/66 with 32MB will adequately service one subnet, remembering that the network interface card is the weak link in the system.
File/Print Services, Application Services
The minimum system memory configuration for an NT server is 16-MB of RAM, however we recommend a starting point of 32-MB. Application servers such as SQL, Lotus Notes, or Oracle servers running on an NT platform each have their own additional memory requirements. A formula for the additional RAM necessary for an SQL server is:
System Memory + 5-MB of database kernel + 2% of data + 50kB * number of users = Total Memory
These formula amounts will change with each application server and version release and the software manufacturer should be consulted for the current configurations.
Updated August 15, 1996
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