When Accounting Software Meets Real Infrastructure
Sage MAS has been powering accounting and ERP for decades. Versions 50, 100, and 300 are still widely used in manufacturing, distribution, and service companies — often with hundreds of daily users. But while the application itself is stable, on-premise deployments can trip up IT teams, especially when running the MAS client over Remote Desktop Services (RDS).
At DSI, we’ve walked into more than one “mystery performance issue” that traced back to how Sage MAS was installed. Here are the common gotchas we see — and how to avoid them.
1. RDS Isn’t Optional for Most Sites
Sage MAS clients are chatty. They don’t handle latency well. If you try to run the MAS client across a WAN or VPN, users will feel it immediately — slow screens, random disconnects, or file corruption.
Reality: For most deployments beyond a small LAN, you need a dedicated RDS server (or farm) to deliver the MAS client reliably.
2. Licensing Surprises
MAS itself has user licensing, but don’t forget RDS CALs and Office licensing if Excel integration is in play. We’ve seen projects stall because someone budgeted for MAS licenses but skipped the underlying RDS stack.
3. Printer Redirection Headaches
Accounting means forms, invoices, and reports — and Sage MAS loves printers. But printer redirection through RDS can be flaky if not tuned. Wrong drivers, timeout issues, or misaligned page setups are common.
Pro tip: Standardize drivers, test every printer path, and budget time for printer mapping. It’s always more work than you think.
4. Database Placement Matters
Whether you’re running on Pervasive (legacy) or SQL Server (modern), the database server needs to be sized right and kept close to the RDS host. High I/O, proper disk design, and regular backups are non-negotiable.
5. Updates Can Break Things
Service packs, Windows updates, even printer driver changes can ripple through a MAS deployment. We recommend a staging environment or at least snapshots before updates. Too many sites update RDS and discover MAS won’t launch the next morning.
Lessons Learned
- Treat Sage MAS as a tiered app: Database → Application Server → RDS Client.
- Budget for RDS infrastructure upfront.
- Lock down printers, drivers, and updates before going live.
- Keep database and RDS hosts close for performance.
DSI’s Role
We’ve been helping Florida businesses deploy and support Sage MAS for years. Our team knows the traps, the workarounds, and how to design an environment where MAS runs smoothly day in and day out.
From on-premise RDS deployments to structured cabling, servers, and security, DSI ensures your financial backbone doesn’t become your bottleneck.
📞 Planning a Sage MAS deployment or dealing with performance issues? Call (321) 676-9074 or visit getdsi.com.
Q & A
- Q: Do I need a separate RDS server for Sage MAS 100?
A: Yes — for most environments, Sage MAS clients require RDS to perform reliably beyond a local LAN. - Q: Why is Sage MAS slow over VPN?
A: The MAS client is not optimized for high latency networks. An RDS deployment solves most of these performance issues. - Q: Who provides Sage MAS on-prem deployment support in Florida?
A: Digital Systems Integration offers design and support for Sage MAS environments, including RDS, database tuning, and infrastructure.