SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Processor (CPU)

3 GHz  or better Intel® or AMD® Processor.

3 GHz  dual-core or better suggested for optimal performance.

Operating System

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (32-bit, or 64-bit)

Microsoft Windows 8.1 Professional (32-bit, or 64-bit)

Microsoft Windows 10 Professional (32-bit, or 64-bit)

Important!  Gorilla does not function on Mac OS/Unix/Linux/OS2 or previous versions of Windows. Gorilla is not supported in Virtual Environments.

Web Browsers

Microsoft Internet Explorer 11.0  (or higher)  is recommended .

Mozilla Firefox  (Most Current version)

Google Chrome  (Most Current version)

Microsoft Word (required for messaging)

Microsoft Word 2016 Professional 32-bit  (recommended)

Microsoft Word 2013 Professional 32-bit  (recommended)

Microsoft Word 2010 Professional 32-bit  (recommended)

Note: If using Office 2010, 2013, or 2016, 32-bit  version is required.

Note: Student and other non-commercial  versions of Microsoft Office are not supported.

Email Software

Outlook® 2010, 2013, or 2016  (for emailing and synchronization)

Note: Student and other non-commercial  versions of Microsoft Office are not supported.

Note : Email software is required only where this feature will be used.

Fax Software

Windows Fax and Scan  utility

Note : Fax software is required only where this feature will be used.

Additional Software (usually free)

Adobe® Flash Player  (required for web-based content) - http://www.adobe.com/

Adobe Reader  - http://www.adobe.com/

Windows Media Player  (required for some web-based content)

Note : These programs are not required for basic use, but are suggested.

System Memory (RAM)

Note : 8 GB of RAM or better is recommended for optimal performance.

Hard Drive (free space required)

2.5 GB  of available space

Drive

CD-ROM  or  DVD-ROM  drive

Display

XGA  (1024 x 768) or higher-resolution monitor with Medium (16-bit) colors or better.

Other

Keyboard  and  Mouse  or compatible  human interface device.

OTHER DEVICES

Backup Device

You will need a device for backing up your data. This protects against computer crashes, natural disasters, and user error. Here are a few devices that can do the job.

CD-RW drive(also recommended for System use)   Flash Drive (recommend getting one with encryption)   External Hard Disk Drive (recommend encryption of drive)   NAS (Network Attached Storage, recommend encryption of storage)

Note : Because of the numerous types available, BGM does not provide support for these or any other backup devices. BGM does provide the  Gorilla Backup Utility  for creating backup files.

Sound Card

Each system should have  a sound card and speakers or headset . This enables the user to participate in our online and computer-based training, which make extensive use of audio instructions combined with user interaction.

Printer

Most Windows-compatible printers will work with Gorilla, but due to the sheer volume of letters that may be sent, a  business-grade printer  is suggested for speed, cost per page, and length of life.

Color printers are not required for general Gorilla use. However, they can be useful for special letters such as our Birthday letters or if you are including portraits in your letters.

Note : In general, you should look for a printer that can print at least 17 pages per minute (ppm) and at least  600  dots per inch (dpi).

Internet Connection

You will need  Internet  access to take advantage of many features of the BGM Gorilla Marketing System. These include System training, program updates and enhancements, The Letters Library, and other resources available on the www.billgoodmarketing.com website.

We strongly recommend a  high-speed  connection.

Scanner

A scanner is optional for the system, but you may find it necessary if you will be producing your own brochures, etc.

Network Interface Card (NIC)

All computers that participate on a Local Area Network (LAN) will need a NIC. It should be rated at least  100 megabits per second  (Mbps).  1 gigabit per second  network cards are recommended. See the "Networks" section for more details.

NETWORKS

Approved

LAN  (Local Area Network) Note: If access from home or other off-site location is needed, see the "Approved for Remote Access: Terminal Server" section.  Software : The Gorilla program, which is based on an MS Access Database, can be networked via one of the following configurations:

Windows 2008 Server (with latest Service Pack)   Windows 2012 Server (with latest Service Pack)   *Windows 2016 Server (with latest Service Pack) * Note : This server has not been fully tested for Gorilla CRM use at this time.

We do  not  recommend using Unix, Linux, Macintosh, Citrix, or any other type of NOS as a file server.

Hardware . Use a  100 Mbps  (megabits per second) or  10/1000 Mbps  (dual speed) switch. Each networked computer should have a  10/100/1000 Mbps  network adapter card. 1 Gbps (1000 Mbps) switch and network card is recommended. Cabling must be  category five, twisted pair,  or better. Category 5-E or better twisted pair wiring is recommended.

Installation . Any networking hardware or cabling installation, as well as any setting up and configuring of your network software, should be performed by a licensed network installation professional.

Special Note : We do  NOT  recommend peer-to-peer networks with three or more workstations running the program at any one time.

Approved

Wireless Networking (WLAN)

Networking devices using wireless standard  802.11g, 802.11n , and the emerging  802.11ac  are now approved, with reservations.

Security

All data sent wireless, from radio broadcasts to talk on a cellular phone, to your data over a network, is always accessible to anyone within range of the equipment, which can mean the parking lot and street beyond. So, you want to make it discouragingly difficult to interpret and/or interfere with your unavoidably accessible data. Doing that requires multiple layers and types of security features, whose details you and your licensed network installation professional should out beforehand.

At this writing, you should get at least:

256-bit encryption (the more bits, the harder to "crack");   The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 802.1x authentication standard, which checks user and computer credentials; and   WPA or WPA2, Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) Protected Access, or equivalent. WEP encrypted wireless networks are not encouraged as they are trivial to crack.

Moreover, routers (network connectors) can automatically transmit their SSIDs (Service Set IDs)--the network name--to allow users to roam between networks; you want that feature off on yours. You also want your router and/or other hardware to have good access control features.

Performance

In our tests, wireless performed 40% to 60% slower than a  100 MB  wired connection. For ordinary data look-ups, this speed difference is not an issue. But for the Computer Operator's database-intensive functions--running reports, printing campaign letters, moving people among campaigns, and importing or exporting data, etc.--a wireless connection is not only frustrating but can endanger data integrity. So, for  peer-to-peer  networks, we more strongly than ever require that the CO's machine be the Master machine, with the database on it. For  server-based  networks, hard-wire the CO's machine.

Good signal strength  must be maintained and  throughput speeds  must never drop below  24 Mbps  or so. (Theoretical maximum for 802.11g is 54 Mbps.) Signal quality constantly fluctuating between poor and good makes losing your database connection very likely, as do low throughput speeds--caused, for example, by signal interference. The vendor who installs your wireless network should be able to warrant its signal strength and effective performance speeds.

CAUTION!

The BGM Software Support team will not be able to support LAN or WLAN software. Nevertheless, we will gladly work with your own network technician and network administrator.

Approved for Remote Access

Terminal Server

Windows Terminal Server has proved satisfactory when access is required from off-site locations. It is somewhat like a mainframe computer that does all the work for client workstations. When you connect to Terminal Server, your machine received only "snapshots" of what the server is doing. Except for rendering images sent by the server, it does none of the work associated with the task. However, you can update records and view information exactly as if you were in the office.   Requirements: To successfully use Windows Terminal Server, you need:

• A standalone server (meaning that no one uses it as a workstation).
  
• A static IP address for Terminal Server, which can be purchased or leased from your ISP.
  
• A fast connection to the Internet--at least cable or DSL for Terminal Server, and reasonably fast for the user's workstation.
  
• A licensed network installation professional to do set-up and configuration--which includes adding any users later. Terminal Server is difficult to configure and requires special treatment when installing MS Office and other programs, so this requirement is even stronger than for LAN.
  

Drawbacks: Some tasks cannot be performed during a terminal session.

• Emailing through SMTP is not an option at this time
  
• Faxing is not available at this time.
  

Not Suggested or Supported

WAN  (Wide Area Network)

Why not? There are too many costs, monetary and otherwise.

• WAN speeds are significantly slower than LAN speeds. Slow network access can cause not only transmission errors but also invalid characters, etc. While your data is being repaired by our software technicians, your System is down.
  
• WAN's can be incredibly expensive to set up and maintain. For example, a T1 connection, which runs at 1.5 Mbps--approximately one-70th of the needed bandwidth--would cost bout $800 to $1,000 a month. Moreover, merely maintaining any WAN requires a true network professional, at no small cost to the user.
  
• A WAN is also considerably less secure, unless a direct cable connection is made from site A to site B--which is not feasible in the most cases and not even possible in many.
  

Note: A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a variety of WAN that is not hard-wired to the office. Like wired WANs, VPNs are slow, very difficult to set up and maintain for the non-specialist, and have their own security issues.