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Open Dental Server Requirements and Migration in 2026
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Ezra Angelo
- • March 11, 2026
Open Dental has distinct server requirements compared to Dentrix and Eaglesoft because it uses a MySQL database rather than Microsoft SQL Server, which changes both the hardware specification and the maintenance procedures an IT provider needs to know.
Ekim IT Solutions is the dental-exclusive IT provider and certified Open Dental vendor partner managing Open Dental server infrastructure for dental practices across Maine, New England, Tampa Bay, and nationally. A practice running Open Dental and searching for server requirements or planning a server migration needs an IT provider who specifically understands MySQL administration, not just general SQL Server management.
Open Dental’s MySQL database requires different administration procedures than the SQL Server databases that Dentrix and Eaglesoft use. An IT provider experienced only with Dentrix or Eaglesoft server management is not automatically qualified to manage an Open Dental MySQL server correctly.
Open Dental Server Requirements for 2026
Ekim IT Solutions configures Open Dental servers to these 2026 specifications.
Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2022. Open Dental also supports Linux and macOS for the server role.
Making it the most flexible of the major dental platforms. Most dental practices use Windows Server for familiarity and vendor support alignment.
Open Dental requires a specific MySQL version aligned with the Open Dental version installed.
Ekim IT Solutions confirms MySQL version compatibility before every Open Dental upgrade or server migration.
16GB minimum for the Open Dental server, with 32GB recommended for practices with higher patient volumes or multiple simultaneous workstation connections.
Open Dental’s MySQL database is less memory-intensive than Dentrix’s SQL Server at comparable practice sizes.
Open Dental Server Storage Requirements
Strongly recommended for the Open Dental server. Spinning hard drives cause database query delays that become noticeable during peak clinical hours.
Minimum 500GB recommended, with 1TB or more for practices with substantial imaging data stored alongside the database.
Separate database and imaging storage partitions recommended for practices storing imaging data on the same server as the Open Dental database.
Open Dental Server Migration: What It Involves
An Open Dental server migration occurs when a practice replaces aging server hardware, upgrades the server operating system, or moves to a new physical or cloud server environment. The migration process involves exporting the Open Dental MySQL database from the source server, installing and configuring MySQL on the destination server to match the version required by the installed Open Dental version, importing the database, and verifying all workstation connections, imaging paths, and database integrity before the practice resumes clinical operations.
Open Dental Private Cloud Deployment
Open Dental uniquely supports private cloud deployment, where the Open Dental server runs on a cloud-hosted virtual machine rather than physical on-premise hardware. This eliminates local server hardware costs while maintaining data ownership on a dedicated, not shared, server environment, unlike cloud-native platforms that store data on shared vendor infrastructure. Ekim IT Solutions configures and manages Open Dental private cloud deployments for practices that want cloud infrastructure flexibility without surrendering data control.
Verify Your Server Readiness
Check each item currently confirmed for your Open Dental server.
Server runs Windows Server 2019 or 2022, or a supported Linux or macOS version
MySQL version confirmed aligned with the installed Open Dental version
Server has at least 16GB RAM
Server uses SSD or NVMe storage, not a spinning hard drive
Database and imaging storage are on separate partitions, if imaging is stored on the same server
Frequently Asked Questions
Ekim IT Solutions works exclusively with dental practices. We serve New England and New York with on-site support and dental practices nationwide with remote support. As a certified Open Dental vendor partner, we manage Open Dental server infrastructure with the MySQL-specific expertise your practice needs, not general SQL Server knowledge applied to a different database engine.
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- • March 11, 2026
