Console Software and Hardware Recommendations
Recommended Operating Systems
We recommend using one of the more current Windows Server operating systems.
- Windows Server 2019 Family, excluding Server Core and Nano Server
- Windows Server 2016 Family, excluding Server Core and Nano Server
Prerequisites
- Recommend Microsoft SQL Server 2016 SP1 or later
- Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2 or later
- Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2017
- Windows Management Framework 5.1 (contains the Windows PowerShell component, which is required for the ITScripts feature): This prerequisite does not apply to Windows 8.1 or later and Windows Server 2012 R2 or later, as the PowerShell component is already included with these operating systems.
If you are missing any prerequisites, plan on 30 - 60 minutes of installation time depending on the number of missing prerequisites and on your internet speed.
Physical Machine vs. Virtual Machine Considerations
The requirements for installing Security Controls on a virtual machine are the same as for a physical machine. You should have a minimum of 4GB hard disk space for the patch repository and an additional 2GB for each operating system you support. For each additional language you support, add 4GB. If you use the Predictive Patch feature, which downloads patches in advance of their anticipated deployment, you should have at least 10GB of available space.
Recommended Console Machine Resources
1 - 250 Seats
- Processor: 2 processor cores 2 GHZ or faster
- Memory: Minimum 2 GB RAM (recommended 3+ GB RAM if SQL is local)
- Database: Microsoft SQL Server 2016 or later
251 - 1000 Seats
- Processor: 4 processor cores 2 GHZ or faster
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Database: Microsoft SQL Server 2016 or later
1001+ Seats
- Processor: 8 processor cores 2 GHZ or faster
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Database: Microsoft SQL Server 2016 or later
To determine an approximate size for your SQL Server database, use this formula:
30KB * machine count * patch operations/month * number of months to retain data * 2 (for index and logging)
Using this formula, if you have 5,000 machines, perform 12 patch operations per month and you retain data for 3 months, your estimated SQL Server database size is:
30 * 5000 * 12 * 3 * 2 = 10.8 GB
To increase performance on any of the configurations, increase the number of processors, the amount of installed memory and the database size.
Related Topics
- Port Requirements and Firewall Configuration
- Distributed Environment Management
- Agentless Patch Management
- Best Approach for Applying Patches in an Agentless Environment
- Automating Patch Management in an Agentless Environment
- Agent-Based Patch Management
- Agent Rollout Options
- Installing and Supporting Agents on Internet-Based Machines
- Agent-Based Product Level and Patch Deployment Process
- Guide to Surviving Patch Tuesday
- Microsoft SQL Server Database Maintenance
- Performing Patching in a Disconnected Environment