Crystal Server vs. BO Enterprise XI 2

[AlMckee]

We plan on using Crystal Reports as the reporting solution for a canned application for operational reporting. The vendor is stating that we need to purchase and install BO Enterprise to use crystal reports, if we intend to centralize access to the database.

My question, wouldn't Crystal Server serve the same purpose? Has BO Enterprise XI replaced Crystal Server?

I'm worried that we're being sold a solution that goes well over our need. We are a MicroStrategy shop do not wish to have another OLAP/BI tool to manage and administrate.

Thanks,

Al Mckee

 

[MJRBIM]

Crystal Report Server XI is limited to 20 concurrent users and a single-server install, that might be why your vendor is suggesting the full BOE-XI product.

 

[groggle]

Since your application will be passing reports to CRS for processing, you can control how many concurrent access licenses are required. You could programatically use the same CAL user account to process all reports from your application and hence get away with the minimum of 5 CALs of CRS

 

[AndrewBaines]

With a little effort, you can easily get 30-40 concurrent users on just 5 CALs with some custom code. Check my web site for details of a Windows app that does just that. Have done it in web app too.

Andrew Baines

http://www.pursuittechnology.co.uk

 

[AlMckee]

Thanks to all for your input.

Even with 20 concurrent users, the number of users we're planning should be manageable.

If standard columnar reporting is all that is planned for this implementation (no OLAP, Desktop, BO style presentation), can anyone provide any shortcoming (other than licensing) for using Crystal Server over BO Enterprise XI?

The comment the vendor made was that BO Enterprise has replaced Crystal Enterprise. In other words, pay for BO Enterprise and only use the Crystal Reporting components...

It sounds like a more economical route would be Crystal Server for our needs.

Thanks,

Al Mckee

 

[AndrewBaines]

For your needs, the only difference is the licensing.
If you wanted to extend CRS and use dashboards etc, you could look at Crystal Vision server,

Andrew Baines

http://www.pursuittechnology.co.uk

 

[groggle]

Crystal Vision Server is a discontinued product and has been replaced by a mid market offering called Business Objects Crystal Decisions. BOCD supports Crystal Reports, Web Intelligence and Crystal Xcelsius reports.

BOE XI R2 has indeed replaced Crystal Enterprise 10. However Crystal Reports Server XI R2 replaces Crystal Enterprise 10 Express Edition. CRS XI R2 comes with a full SDK and only supports Crystal Reports. If all you wish your app to do is process reports centrally, then CRS XI R2 can do the job for a fraction of the cost of BOE XI R2.

 

[AlMckee]

Thanks Groggle.

This makes sense from my knowledge of BO and Crystal and the marriage of the two.

It's been a while since I've worked with this architecture (BO/Crystal). We're a MicroStrategy shop and I'm not real interested in bringing in a new OLAP tool, unless there's a clear business need for two high-end tools.

Regards,

Al Mckee

 

[AndrewBaines]

Hmm, I'd not realised that Crystal Vision Server had been dropped, just leaving Crystal Vision.
Seems a strange way to go about licensing, all this chopping and changing. Looks like they've changed their mind about not being able to upgrade from CRS too.

The price hike from CRS to BOCD is extreme! Over 3 times the price. I can see a lot of people embedding third party dashboarding tools rather than upgrade.

Andrew Baines

http://www.pursuittechnology.co.uk