Application Server Quantity

The application server count recommendation is driven by the total number of services that connect to the enterprise. It is recommended that the total number of application servers be equivalent to the total number of services divided by 2000.

The following services need to be counted when making this determination:

• Simphony Clients

• Check and Posting Service (CAPS)

• Kitchen Display System (KDS) Controller Services

Technically, the EMC and reporting user counts also impact server performance. Unless those counts are very high, there is no need to factor them into the equation. If there is concern over the impact that these items may have on the system, then they should be counted like the services when making the recommendation for application servers.

For example, if a system has 3000 Simphony clients, 1000 properties (with one CAPS and one KDS per property), and 12 EMC users, then the total number of items is 5012. Using the value of 2000 as the break point, the customer requires three application servers to handle the load. An additional application server – which brings the total to four servers – is recommended to provide resilience in the event a server fails.