Merlinia OutBack is a client/server system with minimal resource requirements. The server part connects to all clients in the company, manages all updates from the clients, and makes sure everyone sees the same data.

Please note the current version of Merlinia OutBack supports Microsoft Windows only. There are currently no plans for other platforms.

OutBack Server

The server part of OutBack runs as a service. It may run on the same computer where the data store is located, but this is not a requirement.

System requirements for OutBack Server:

• Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, 2003 or Vista. The machine on which you install the OutBack Server can be either a Workstation or a Server. It is important, however, that the machine where you have installed OutBack Server is a member of a domain.
• 10 MB space on the hard disk.
• Memory usage is approximately 5 MB for 10 users, 10 MB for 50 users, 15 MB for 100 users, etc. Note that this is highly dependant on the amount of information OutBack Server receives from the data store.
• CPU usage is quite low. The OutBack Server service should only use a few minutes of CPU time per day on a server with appropriate hardware for the number of users. Only during start-up is the service likely to consume a significant amount of CPU power.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 SP1. Or later version.

Data stores:

OutBack Server must work together with a data store containing information about the employees and resources. The data store is used as a read-only source, unless the self-contained text database is used. For internal data, for example the in/out away status, OutBack Server makes use of a separate proprietary storage system.

Data stores supported by OutBack Server:

• Microsoft Exchange 2000 or 2003.
• Lotus Domino 5.0. It must have at least service update 5.0.2b installed.
• Microsoft Active Directory.
• Any other DAPI or LDAP compliant data store.
• An ODBC compliant database.
• OutBack's own self-contained text database. The data may be exported from an existing data store such as Microsoft Exchange 5.x and then adapted for use with OutBack Server. Merlinia OutBack comes with tools for creating and maintaining the text database.

OutBack Client:

The Merlinia OutBack Client program is a standard Windows application.

System requirements for OutBack Client:

• Microsoft Windows 2000, XP or Vista.
• 5 MB space on the hard disk.
• Memory usage is approximately 3-7 MB. Of course, this depends on how intensively the program is used.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 SP1, or later version.

Calendar programs

Merlinia OutBack Client may connect to a calendar program in order to derive status messages from it. However, OutBack Client does not require the presence of one.

Calendar programs supported by OutBack Client:

• Microsoft Outlook 2000, 2003 or 2007.
• Lotus Notes 5.0. It must have at least service update 5.0.2b installed.

OutBack can run on all modern Windows-based network systems.

For more information about Microsoft products you can visit Microsoft's web site.

OutBack can be connected to various telephone systems, becoming the ultimate tool for the telephone receptionist.
Click here for more information.

Integration with a telephone system may imply additional system requirements. See the web pages about the telephone system in question.