Connectivity to the Internet has emerged as a mission-critical capability for many small businesses. The use of the Internet to distribute information has mushroomed to the point that many organizations are unable to perform day-to-day functions without Internet connectivity.
Traditional applications such as internal email clearly lose much of their value when they can’t be used to communicate with customers or vendors, but as organizations increasingly adopt Internet-based information delivery for line-of-business applications, even core functions can grind to a halt when Internet access becomes unavailable.
Until recently, only large organizations could afford to build fully redundant and transparent Internet connections that could survive a failed Internet link or router. Such seamless fault tolerance requires T1-class Internet lines, an option that in the past overstretched the budgets of most small businesses. As T1 prices have dropped to as low as a few $100 per month, and as alternative connections have become available, the opportunity for small businesses to achieve enterprise-class fault tolerance has become economically feasible. But even though the cost for lines has become affordable, the complexity of implementing these solutions has not.
Few small businesses have the in-house expertise required to work effectively with multiple ISPs, coordinate the necessary configuration steps with Internet numbering authority organizations, and implement advanced routing protocols such as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) and Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP). Progent offers Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) consulting to help you apply the latest connectivity technology to implement a cost-effective fault-tolerant solution.
Today multiple options exist for building automatic and semi-automatic failover solutions. These can involve a mix of T1, DSL and wireless Internet connections. The viability of high-speed fixed-wireless links has recently opened up new alternatives for achieving transparent fault tolerance. By establishing diverse physical paths to the Internet, small businesses gain insurance against costly outages caused by events out of their control, such as a construction crew accidentally digging up phone lines.
As companies rush to deploy VoIP solutions, the potential productivity loss that could result from an interruption in Internet access increases dramatically. This creates another strong incentive to configure a fault-tolerant architecture. Current technologies from Cisco and other networking companies make it possible to build high-availability voice and data solution that have even better uptime potential than conventional voice and data services.
For small business with extremely limited budgets, fault-tolerant failover solutions are possible by utilizing redundant, low-cost DSL services. While not providing all the transparency of more complex and expensive solutions, this alternative can provide significant functionality and avoid costly productivity loss in the event of line failure.
As companies have shifted away from dedicated leased T1 and frame relay lines to Internet-based VPN connections, the demand for fault-tolerant Internet connectivity has accelerated. Businesses can apply the cost savings from retiring legacy leased circuits to upgrading their Internet infrastructure so that they will not only protect their connectivity to remote offices but also the Internet connectivity of office users. Absent those cost savings, many small companies are reluctant to invest in fault-tolerant Internet configurations.
Other High Availability Solutions Provided by Progent's Experts
Progent's Microsoft and Cisco-certified consulting experts can assist your company build an affordable, fault-tolerant IT architecture that addresses critical challenges covering a broad array of networking solutions and operations such as:
Workplace Recovery Planning
Progent's business continuity engineers can show you how to create a workplace recovery strategy so you can restore IT functionality in the event of an IT system disaster. Progent can assist you to define a comprehensive disaster recovery strategy that incorporates scheduled disaster recovery evaluations and testing. Progent's Microsoft and Cisco-certified professionals can also help you create an affordable, zero-downtime network solution that takes into account availability issues involving a broad array of infrastructure technologies and processes. To read more, see Disaster Recovery Consulting Services.
Microsoft Server 2008 Failover Clustering
The clustering feature set incorporated into the Datacenter and Enterprise editions of MS Windows Server 2008 has been dramatically re-engineered to streamline the deployment, configuration, and administration of clusters that provide greater levels of system dependability, protection, performance, and flexibility. New or enhanced features include cluster validation, easier configuration and deployment, unified cluster administration, new cluster infrastructure for maximum uptime, better protection and quorum models, fewer failure points, greater storage and memory capacity, and enhancements for multi-site clusters. To find out more, go to Windows Failover Clustering Consulting.
Windows 2003 Cluster Server
Progent provides Windows Cluster Server consulting to help your organization implement fault-tolerant server clusters designed to deliver 100% operation. Windows cluster servers for non-stop systems include Microsoft Windows 2003 Cluster Server, Microsoft SQL Cluster Server, and Exchange Cluster. By helping you build zero-downtime server clustering environments based on Windows Server 2003 Cluster, Progent’s certified Windows consultants ensure that your non-stop server clusters are set up to maximize the business advantage of your IT system. For details, go to Windows Clustered Server Support.
Non-stop Load Balancing
Progent offers fault tolerant load balancing consulting that addresses system load balancing, load balanced programs, LAN/WAN infrastructure routing, and content delivery products such as Cisco Content Engine. Fault tolerant load balancing products for which Progent offers consulting services include Microsoft Windows 2003 and 2008 Server Network Load Balancing Manager, Citrix Metaframe and Presentation Server, Cisco Content Services Switch, Cisco Distributed Director and Cisco CDN Software, and F5 Networks BIG-IP. To read more, visit Fault Tolerant Load Balancing.
Non-stop Data Centers
Progent's Data Center professionals can help you identify high availability data centers that match the particular requirements of your company. High availability Internet Data Centers are particularly appealing to small organizations because of their low cost and convenience compared to pursuing a do-it-yourself approach. Trying to design an on-site data center with even a basic level of fault tolerance is too costly for most small companies. Progent is ready to show you how to get all the advantages of non-stop colo centers by offering a complete array of consulting and support services. To read more, visit Non-stop Colocation Expertise.
Non-stop Branch Office Networking
Progent’s multi-site connection professionals can help small companies create fault tolerant branch office connectivity through fully redundant networks featuring transparent failover. Progent’s Cisco-qualified CCIE network engineers can design and deploy ultra-reliable Inter-office networks based on zero-downtime EIGRP routers or fault tolerant OSPF deployment of Cisco routers. Progent can demonstrate how redundant connectivity and automatic fail-over can provide economical 24x7 interoffice networking. To learn more, see 24x7 Inter-office Connectivity.
Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) Backup and Recovery Consultants
Progent's certified Data Protection Manager engineers can help you to develop a practical disaster recovery strategy, implement a cost-effective high-availability IT architecture, install a Data Protection Manager-based backup and recovery solution, thoroughly test your system, train your administrative staff or regular consultants how to maintain DPM, or provide extensive IT outsourcing services including remote hosting of DPM servers in Progent's world-class data center. For more information, see Data Protection Manager Expertise.
Why Choose Progent for Business Continuity Planning and High-availability Networking Consulting?
Because Progent is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and offers professional application consulting for a wide range of small business applications, Progent is able to help clients to find complete IT solutions that optimize the productivity of your information system. As a Registered Partner with Cisco Systems, Progent can provide the support of certified engineers and specialists with expertise in designing, implementing and troubleshooting infrastructure solutions based on Cisco products. The breadth of Progent's technical know-how and Progent's appreciation for the requirements of small businesses make Progent a great resource for building and maintaining an affordable, high-availability information system.
How You Can Contact Progent's Engineers for Non-stop Network Services
To contact Progent about technical help for fault tolerant LAN design, call 1-800-993-9400 or e-mail fault-tolerant-help@progent.com.
