Computer Network Help for Medium-size Companies

With most office IT systems, 64-bit computing is a giant untapped power source. Intel and AMD, the leading CPU manufacturers, have been delivering 64-bit capability in their mainstream CPUs for years, so that all classes of business computing hardware such as notebooks, desktop computers, engineering workstations and back-office servers already possess the architecture to operate in 64-bit format. However most of these in-place computers still run 32-bit operating systems.

The main reason for this widespread hesitation to participate in the 64-bit revolution is that the business benefit for updating existing computers has appeared to be modest in comparison to the effort required. There is no automatic process to migrate from a 32-bit to a 64-bit OS. The enhancement demands a clean installation, which means reinstalling existing applications, saving and recovering data, and installing new 64-bit drivers. This requires thorough planning to do economically. Furthermore, many popular desktop applications are currently offered only in 32-bit editions, so what's the benefit?

Advantages of Moving Up to 64-bit Processing
The advantages of 64-bit vs. 32-bit computing may appear to be subtle and difficult to define precisely, but they are real. The memory allocation schemes used in 32-bit platforms are essentially a technical band-aid that undermines stability. Memory-hungry applications are often not allowed to utilize free RAM since the operating system cannot assign it efficiently. This results in programs shutting down or running fitfully even though a computer appears to have ample unused memory. Also, 64-bit operating systems support far more physical memory than 32-bit systems and crunch more data per clock cycle. You can also go from one memory-intensive program to another more quickly when you are using a 64-bit system. Fundamentally, 64-bit processing makes systems more reliable, more expandable, and more efficient, which makes companies more productive.

Microsoft's x64 Support
Microsoft's “x64” technology works with the 64-bit CPUs used in most computers currently installed in business IT systems. (Microsoft's 64-bit "Itanium" initiative is limited to special advanced Intel and AMD CPUs processors and is intended for environments that need large-scale multi-processing.) Prior to the availability of Office 2010, the majority of Microsoft client programs such as 2007 Office and Visual Studio 2005 were available only in 32-bit versions, which can nevertheless be used on x64 platforms. The latest family of Office 2010 offers significant improvements. As an example, Microsoft Excel 2010 is offered in a 64-bit version that permits you to create spreadsheets with huge databases that are not restricted to the 2-gigabyte maximum file size imposed by 32-bit versions of Office Excel.

Microsoft has developed true x64 versions of key Microsoft Server System products, including Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and 2003, SQL Server 2008, Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 and 2007, Microsoft Commerce Server, BizTalk Server 2006, as well as System Center Operations Manager. Windows Server 64-bit versions are priced the same as 32-bit editions, so in most circumstances it costs nothing extra for 64-bit server operating systems or hardware.

For client computers, Microsoft offers Windows 7 and Windows 8 in same-price 64-bit versions that offer high stability, scalability, and performance. Like all migrations from 32-bit to 64-bit operating systems, the move up can't be carried out seamlessly. Each desktop PC and server requires a clean installation that entails reconfiguring applications, backing up and restoring data, and configuring 64-bit drivers. On the other hand, for typical in-place desktop PCs, and for all PCs running XP, any edition of Microsoft Windows 7 or 8 will require you to carry out a clean install. This being the case, there will never be a better time to migrate to x64 processing on the workstation, since it will involve scarcely any additional effort.

How Progent Can Assist Your Business to Upgrade to 64-bit Processing
In addition to helping you to evaluate the business advantages, costs, and technical variables associated with migrating to 64-bit computing, Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help you design, document, implement, administer, and repair a system-wide migration to 64-bit server and client OS software and business applications. Progent can help you pilot your 64-bit environment to make sure it handles all of the key 32-bit applications which you intend to retain as well as the latest 64-bit editions of software you wish to run. If moving to Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 is part of your x64 upgrade strategy, Progent's Windows 7 experts, Windows 8.1 consultants, and Windows 10 evaluation and upgrade consultants can assist your company to decide which workstation hardware and applications can or should be retained, and plan a migration procedure that is the least disturbing to your business productivity.

Additional ways Progent's consultants can help your business to migrate to 64-bit processing include:

• Progent's expertise delivering online computer consulting and troubleshooting can save you effort and money over the course of your x64 upgrade, and Progent's experience cooperating with in-house support staffs and providing technical knowledge transfer to them can increase the efficiency of your support staff.

• Progent's certified Cisco CCIE network consultants can verify that your network architecture is configured to support your x64 computing environment, that it is easy to track, manage, and troubleshoot, and that it provides a high degree of data protection and robustness.

• Progent's business continuity engineers can assist you in developing and validating a business continuity plan that incorporates your x64 servers. Progent's Microsoft certified System Center System Center Data Protection Manager (SCDPM) support professionals can assist you to deploy System Center SCDPM to support near-continuous online backup with the advantage of rapid data restoration.

• Progent's CISSP and GIAC security engineers can assist you develop a comprehensive security strategy that implements some of the powerful protection technologies incorporated into x64 server platforms. Progent can also carry out network security vulnerability testing to assess or validate your network's compliance with industry or government security standards.

• Progent's virtualization engineers can show you how to use 64-bit virtual server solutions to save money on equipment, simplify administration, enhance reliability, lower hosting costs, and reduce recovery time in the event of a disaster.

• Progent's live online training classes can help get both your IT management team and your desktop employees up to date rapidly and cost-effectively by providing online webinars customized for your network requirements and business processes.