(edited by international telecommuting translator li)

The memory server is a highly available, highly scalable database. It requires multiple user access over the internet so has high bandwidth requirements. Such a server has a high cost of ownership...

(edited by international telecommuting translator li)

The memory server is a highly available, highly scalable database. It requires multiple user access over the internet so has high bandwidth requirements. Such a server has a high cost of ownership. Costs to be considered for such a server are:

• Server software (typically 100,000 or more)
• Hardware (database server plus web server)
• Hosting and communications
• Support for translators and vendors connecting (potentially 24 hour support)
• training for translators/vendors
• Administration of connection credentials (server software is licensed per concurrent user)

The running of the shared memory also places additional responsibilities on the owners of the system:

• Maintaining 24 hour access to the service. A system failure could have disastrous consequences for the 2nd vendor.
• Access rights and access dispute resolution (i.e. which vendors users have priority if any)
• Censure for misuse removal of access rights (poor quality etc.). Who is responsible for this and what is the range of their powers?

Many vendors are prepared to make such investments as above, but cost of ownership increases by third party (other vendors) having access to the server. The question of who pays for this infrastructure (and how the payment is structured) needs to be considered.

It should be noted that where there are two or more vendors working for the same client and only one pays for the shared memory infrastructure, the others are at an advantage as they are in effect getting this, very powerful, facility for free.

From the clients' perspective this potential for dispute among sub-contractors can be very damaging and detrimental to projected workflow and may require the client to take a more "hands-on" role that was originally perceived.