Microsoft Dynamics GP "12" Architecture Series

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David Meego - Click for blog homepageNow that Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2 has been released, the pundits and speculators are starting to focus on the next version of Microsoft Dynamics GP, codenamed GP "12". 

There have already been mention of some of the cool architecture changes coming with the mention of the GP "12" Web Client (Microsoft Dynamics GP Technical Conference 2011 - Day 1 Morning) and with screenshots from the live demonstration of the early web client code (Microsoft Convergence 2011 Atlanta - Day 2).

My good friend, Mariano Gomez (MVP and The Dynamics GP Blogster) has been working with the Product Management team to bring together a summary of some of the architecture changes coming in this next release.

Starting with the GP "12" Web Client, which will allow existing Dexterity based windows to be displayed in a browser client using Silverlight. Mariano's articles explains how the development team are separating the visual aspect of the windows from the rest of the runtime to allow the client to be rendered in a web client.  Please have a read of his posts to get a better understanding.

Mariano has also highlighted another one of the features coming with GP "12". The removal of the hardcoded reliance on the DYNAMICS SQL database.  We will still have a system database, but it will not have to be called DYNAMICS.  This would then allow multiple Microsoft Dynamics GP installations on a single SQL Server instance. Currently, to install more than one installation on a single machine requires a new SQL instance for each installation.  Please read his post for more information on the Named System Database architecture.

This architecture change will make working with multiple installations much simpler. Companies can have test and live systems on one SQL Server, consultants can have multiple versions of Dynamics GP on their machines without needing multiple instances of SQL Server slowing their systems, hosting partners can run multiple customers on a single SQL Server instance.

Note: Support for the Named System Database Architecture will need some small changes to code for software developers, we will provide more information on these changes once the details are finalised. 

Thanks to Mariano for publishing this great information.

David

17-Jun-2011: Changed references to Multi-tenant Architecture to Named System Database Architecture.