Below are two matched proposals written in Markdown: one from the peer-to-peer system supplier, and the other from the dedicated server + Proxmox solution provider. Each reflects realistic justifications, acknowledges trade-offs, and is suitable for sharing with stakeholders.

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1. Peer-to-Peer Supplier Proposal (Markdown)
   

Proposal: Peer-to-Peer Setup for Sage 50 & Inventory Software (5 Users)

Dear Client,

We propose a cost-effective, easy-to-maintain solution to support your Sage 50 Pro and Inventory Management requirements across 5–6 user workstations — all using Windows 11 Professional.

This design avoids the complexity and cost of a dedicated server while fully supporting Sage’s multi-user features in a small-office setup.

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🧾 What’s Included

• Installation of Sage 50 Accounts Pro (5-user licence)
• Installation of Inventory & Sales software (5-user licence)
• Configuration of one PC as a central shared data host
• Setup of file sharing and multi-user data access
• Local backup scheduling (to USB/OneDrive/SharePoint)
• Ongoing support and patch guidance for each workstation
  

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✅ Benefits of Peer-to-Peer for Small Teams

Feature	Benefit
Simple architecture	No server required — all PCs are equal peers
Familiar environment	Each user works within Windows 11
Low upfront cost	No server licensing or RDS CALs needed
Easy to scale to 3–5 users	Efficient for small teams working on-site
Flexible data storage options	Shared folder hosted on central PC, accessible via local network

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⚠️ Considerations

Limitation	Workaround / Impact
No central snapshot system	Manual file backups on schedule
No remote desktop access	Only local usage supported
Less ransomware protection	Use endpoint antivirus + cloud sync for resilience
Harder recovery in outage	Each PC must be restored individually if affected
Requires local discipline	Users must not modify or move shared Sage data folders

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💡 Summary

Peer-to-peer is an ideal solution for:

• Small offices with 5 or fewer users
• No need for concurrent remote access
• Teams seeking simple maintenance
• Cost-conscious deployments
  

If in the future you grow or wish to support remote working, we can migrate this setup into a full server environment without starting over.

Sincerely,
[Your Company Name]
Simple IT. Efficient Delivery.

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2. Server + Proxmox Supplier Proposal (Markdown)
   

Proposal: Dedicated Server System (Proxmox + Windows Server 2025)

Dear Client,

We propose a robust, secure, and future-proof centralised server environment to support Sage 50 Pro, Inventory Management Software, and up to 6 concurrent users — fully scalable and backed by modern snapshot-based disaster recovery.

This is the professional approach used by accountants, service businesses, and SMEs seeking reliability, speed, and protection from data loss or ransomware.

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🧾 What’s Included

• Provision and setup of a mini-server running Proxmox VE
• Installation of Windows Server 2025 Standard (with Desktop Experience)
• Configuration of Remote Desktop Services (RDS) for 5 concurrent users
• Installation of Sage 50 Pro and Inventory software in the server VM
• Creation of 5 user accounts with secure login over RDP
• Setup of ZFS with snapshots for fast rollback and protection
• Optional S3/offsite backup + ransomware shielding
• Local admin training and full support documentation
  

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✅ Benefits of Central Server Approach

Feature	Benefit
Centralised data & control	One place to manage Sage, backups, updates, and user access
Multi-user RDP access	All users log in securely with isolated sessions
Hardware redundancy & ZFS	Self-healing filesystem + snapshots = fast disaster recovery
Simplified backups	Daily snapshots + optional external sync
Remote access	Works perfectly with Jump Desktop or ZeroTier
Expandable	Add more VMs, services, or storage in future

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⚠️ Considerations

Requirement	Explanation
Server licence and CALs	Windows Server + 5 RDS CALs required (one-off cost)
Slightly higher initial cost	Hardware and setup are an investment — mitigated by lower downtime
Some IT knowledge helpful	Fully managed or partly self-managed options available

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🛡️ Resilience and Security

Protection Layer	Included?
Snapshots (ZFS)	✅ Yes
Immutable backup options	✅ Yes
Proxmox VM isolation	✅ Yes
Centralised access logs	✅ Yes
Ransomware rollback	✅ Yes

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💡 Summary

This solution is ideal for:

• Teams of 5 or more using Sage 50 daily
• Businesses that want real-time multi-user access
• Those requiring backup, security, and future expandability
• Clients seeking reduced support overhead across devices
  

Sincerely,
[Your Company Name]
Resilient IT. Business Ready.

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