Success Stories

Wire, wire, where's the wire?

After years of access across fiber links to remote facilities, a change was necessary. What to do?

With a network design that enabled 1 GB connectivity to each of 10 remote sites, a new approach was needed due to new unforeseen circumstances. The network would require access from each location to IP phones, files, printers, email and a variety of specialized applications and services. A solution would have to be responsive, secure, reliable and financially feasible.

Solution: A full point to point wireless infrastructure with 300 Mbps links at two main sites, with one site providing the centralized connectivity into the wired network infrastructure containing all shared organization wide services. The additional point to point site connections were established at 20 Mbps. To address the need for full services and to ensure adequate bandwidth for phone services, Windows Server 2008 Server in Terminal Services application mode was implemented. This required minimal training with end users and improved performance, reliability, security and ease of maintenance and administration.

Centralization is the key

Thirteen restaurants, thirteen accounting systems with thirteen exported files that were then merged with the main corporate systems. Furthermore, communications, printing, scanning and access to collaborative and shared information was difficult or non existent.

Solution: A plan was designed and implemented to centralize all accounting applications and shared data. Access to centralized email, calendars and additional applications was also included. The solution centered around a Windows 2003 Server domain with three Dell PowerEdge 2950 servers to include a dedicated terminal server, Exchange 2007 services and SQL 2005. All applications from the restaurants are now accessed through terminal sessions at the corporate office. This gives all restaurant managers access to shared data, collaboration tools and a centralized accounting system. Local printers and scanners are available for use in each terminal session.  All data is secured and further protected through imaging technology for quick and thorough recovery in the event of disaster recovery.

Virtualize me

An aging server with failing components causing delays in productivity due to declining performance and lack of resources for today's business needs. Additionally, a critical server application still requiring an older operating system and containing a number of difficult to duplicate configuration had to be preserved and protected.

Solution: With a combination of new Dell server hardware, Acronis imaging software and Microsoft HyperV Server 2008, the aging server was virtualized and now runs along side a new virtual server running Windows Small Business Server 2008. All data was migrated to a new fresh domain environment, leaving only the one critical application running in the older operating system. The old server hardware was shutdown and removed.