Are there any restrictions as to which database,hardware platform, network, or operating system environment the ERP software can run on?

Perhaps the single item that most significantly limit s the viability of an ERP system is the restriction on what operating environments the system is capable ofutilizing. The table below shows a reas onably complete listing of the different client, server, and network operating system s that are available on the market today. For simplicity, we have eliminated the concept of a single computing device providing application support th rough traditional ‘green screen’ character based system (this is30 year old technology which is [generally] no longer being invested in by application software suppliers). Database Server Operating Systems Windows (2000/2003/NT) Unix (AIX, Unix, Solaris, etc) Linux OS/400 (AS/400 standard Operating System) Client Operating Systems Windows (95/98/ME/2000/XP) Linux Network Operating Systems Windows (NT/2000/2003) Novell Client-Server Connectivity Methodologies Thick Client (PC running application on each person’s desk) Thin Client (Desktop ‘appli ance’ connects as ‘virtual’ PC) using Terminal Services or Citrix When selecting an ERP system, it is important to choose a system which maximizes the number of possible operating configuration options which are available to you. This insures that your future flexibility is similarly maximized through the entire life cycle of the ERP system. Any software package which you would consider should be capable of operating in any combination of environments. For example, if you have 100 users, you shou ld be able to have some using Windows95, some Windows 98, some Windows XP, some using ‘dumb’ terminals, and still others using th in clients with a combination of Citrix and Terminal Services. Without this capabi lity, your future ability to utilize technology to its fullest potentia l will be severely compromised.

I would say it is mostly about the restriction on what processing/operating environments the system is able of utilizing. To be clearer, when you select an ERP system, make sure you choose a system which give you the maximum possible number of operating configuration. This way you would know that you have an ERP system that would be flexible through its entire life-cycle. This way you can contain all kind of users from the ones using oldest OS available to newest one in addition to terminals.

So to sum it up, the customer requirements are ever-changing, they will keep changing on daily basis so a business needs to make sure it keeps not only up to date but up to future. 

a suggestion from me would be that keep in mind functionality and RDBMS are important keys to an ERP system. They are important for flexibility and reducing upgrades costs in the future.

good luck