Most companies with more than one office have some type of IP-based interoffice communications method. Common connectivity solutions include legacy frame relay lines, private T1 circuits, managed VPN, private IP, and unmanaged Internet VPNs. Communications failures for these interoffice links can significantly downgrade business productivity.
Loss of interoffice connectivity means that users in remote offices are cut-off from key central systems and can be left without the ability to perform even the most basic day-to-day functions required to carry out critical business transactions. As a result, customers are disappointed, orders are delayed, and the afflicted business pays for workers to wait for the network to come back online.
The vast majority of small business interoffice communications infrastructures have virtually no fault tolerance. A single downed communications line or a single router failure can bring vital business processes to a halt. All too often, single-point failures can take hours, and occasionally days, to repair. Progent’s Cisco-certified CCIE engineers have the knowledge and experience to design and implement sophisticated fault-tolerant architectures for interoffice connectivity. Progent's consultants are expert at fault-tolerant Cisco router configuration based on Interior Gateway Protocols including OSPF, or Open Shortest Path First, and EIGRP, or Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol.
The explosion of low-cost Internet connectivity options provides new opportunities to create affordable, truly fault-tolerant, fully redundant interoffice connections that seamlessly failover in the event of a single-point breakdown. In the past, the high cost of private T1 lines often exceeded reasonable cost/risk assessments for small businesses. But with the diverse selection of low-cost DSL, cable modem, and wireless ISP connections now available, companies can craft cost-effective solutions that offer protection from single points of failure. By utilizing the advanced fault-tolerant features available in Cisco’s IOS operating system, critical failures can be made invisible to users. With proper alert mechanisms, in-house IT resources or outside consultants can work efficiently to restore primary communications links without working under the intense pressure associated with crippling outages.
The business case for implementing fault-tolerant interoffice connectivity has never been more compelling. Low-cost DSL links can be configured as a backup to expensive T1 private lines for as little as 1/20th of the monthly operating cost of the primary link. The availability of business-class wireless links makes it possible to create a fault-tolerant communications architecture that completely eliminates the risk of rare but debilitating wired network failures, such as fiber cuts caused by construction work, or traffic accidents that take down utility poles or telephone wiring junction boxes. These solutions are affordably priced and offer acceptable performance in failover situations.
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:
Business Continuity Planning
Progent's business continuity engineers can show you how to create a business continuity 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, high-availability 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.
Fault Tolerant Internet Connectivity
Progent's Cisco-authorized IT professionals can help you design an economical, fault tolerant Internet connection architecture that can achieve 24x7 Internet access via a broad array of fault tolerant Internet access technologies including fault tolerant BGP, automatic fail-over, and redundant Internet Service Providers. Progent can provide CCIE professionals to help you apply the most current technology for fault tolerant Internet connectivity to build an economical, completely redundant Internet interface with automatic failover and other features to deliver fault tolerant Internet availability. To read more, see Non-stop Internet Access Architecture.
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Failover Clusters
The clustering technology incorporated into the high-end editions of Microsoft Windows Server 2008 is dramatically redesigned to simplify the installation, setup, and management of server clusters that provide greater levels of network dependability, protection, performance, and versatility. New or enhanced features include automated cluster verification, revamped configuration and deployment, improved cluster management, new cluster architecture for increased availability, better security and quorum structure, elimination of failure points, more disk and RAM capacity, and enhancements for geographically dispersed clusters. To read more, go to Windows Failover Clustering Support.
Microsoft 2003 Clusters
Progent offers Windows Cluster Server assistance to help your company deploy non-stop clustered servers designed to provide 24x7 uptime. Clustered Windows servers for high-availability systems include Windows 2003 Cluster Server, Microsoft SQL Server Cluster, and Microsoft Exchange Cluster. By helping you design fault-tolerant server clustering environments based on Microsoft Windows Server Cluster 2003, Progent’s certified Windows professionals ensure that your high availability clustered servers are set up to maximize the business advantage of your information network. To read more, visit Microsoft Server Cluster Expertise.
High Availability Load Balancing
Progent offers high availability load balancing support covering system load balancing, load balanced applications, LAN/WAN infrastructure routing, and content delivery technology including F5 Networks 3DNS. Fault tolerant load balancing products for which Progent can provide consulting expertise include Windows 2003 and 2008 Server Network Load Balancing Manager, Citrix Metaframe and Presentation Server, Cisco CSS, Cisco Distributed Director and ACNS, and F5 Networks BIG-IP. To learn more, see High Availability Load Balancing.
High-Availability Data Centers
Progent's Data Center engineers can help you identify fault-tolerant data centers that match the particular needs of your company. High availability colocation sites are especially attractive to small companies because of their low cost and convenience compared to pursuing a do-it-yourself approach. Trying to create an on-site data center with even a basic degree of fault tolerance is financially prohibitive for typical small companies. Progent can show you how to get all the benefits of high-availability Internet data centers by offering a complete range of consulting and maintenance services. For more information, go to Non-stop Data Centers Consulting.
Data Protection Manager (DPM) Data Recovery Consulting
Progent's expert Microsoft Data Protection Manager engineers can assist your company to develop a practical business continuity strategy, design an affordable fault-tolerant IT architecture, install a Microsoft Data Protection Manager-based recovery system, comprehensively test your DPM system, train your administrative personnel or local consultants how to maintain Microsoft Data Protection Manager, or handle complete IT support outsourcing including remote hosting of DPM servers in Progent's world-class data center. To read more, see Data Protection Manager (DPM) Expertise.
Why Pick Progent for Disaster Recovery Planning and High-availability Networking Consulting?
Because Progent is a Microsoft Gold Partner and provides specialized application expertise for a wide range of business applications, Progent is able to assist clients to find complete IT solutions that maximize the productivity of your network. As a Registered Partner for Cisco, Progent can provide the support of qualified consultants and specialists with expertise in designing, deploying and managing networking environments based on Cisco Systems technology. The breadth of Progent's IT know-how and Progent's familiarity with the requirements of small companies make Progent the ideal resource for creating and running an affordable, fault-tolerant network.
How to Get in Touch with Progent's Engineers for High Availability System Support
If you wish to get in touch with Progent about technical expertise for non-stop infrastructure, phone 1-800-993-9400 or email fault-tolerant-help@progent.com.
