Network Support for Medium-size Businesses

With the majority of office IT systems, 64-bit processing is a giant untapped resource. Intel and AMD, the leading CPU chip makers, have been incorporating 64-bit ability in their mainstream processors for years, so that all types of business computers including notebooks, desktop computers, engineering workstations and back-office servers already possess the ability to operate in 64-bit format. Yet most of these devices continue to host 32-bit operating systems.

The main cause for this widespread hesitation to participate in the 64-bit revolution is that the business benefit for updating in-place systems has appeared to be small in comparison to the effort needed. There is no automatic process to migrate from a 32 to a 64-bit OS. The upgrade requires a clean installation, which calls for reinstalling current applications, saving and restoring data, and installing new drivers. This requires thoughtful planning to do economically. Meanwhile, many popular desktop applications are still available only in 32-bit editions, so where's the benefit?

Advantages of Upgrading to 64-bit Computing
The benefits of 64-bit vs. 32-bit computing may appear to be vague and hard to define precisely, but they are significant. The RAM allocation techniques used in 32-bit platforms are essentially an engineering afterthought that undermines system stability. Memory-starved applications are sometimes unable to utilize free RAM since the O/S cannot assign it effectively. This results in software shutting down or performing fitfully even when a computer appears to have plenty of unused RAM. In addition, 64-bit operating systems support much more physical RAM than 32-bit ones and crunch more data per clock cycle. You can also jump from one memory-intensive application to another more quickly while using a 64-bit environment. Fundamentally, 64-bit processing makes systems more reliable, more expandable, and more efficient, which in turn makes businesses more competitive.

Microsoft's 64-bit Processing Support
Microsoft's “x64” software works with the 64-bit processors found in virtually all computers now deployed in business networks. (Microsoft's "Itanium" support is restricted to a few advanced Intel and AMD CPUs processors and is intended for environments that need massive multi-processing.) Prior to the release of Microsoft Office 2010, the majority of Microsoft desktop programs such as Microsoft Office 2007 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 were available only in 32-bit editions, which can nevertheless be run on x64 Windows. The latest generation of Office 2010 offers dramatic improvements. As an example, Microsoft Excel 2010 is offered in a 64-bit edition that permits you to build spreadsheets with enormous datasets that are not limited to the 2-Gbyte file size imposed by previous editions of Excel.

Microsoft offers true x64 versions of many Microsoft Server System products, such as Windows Server 2008, Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Exchange Server 2010 and 2007, Microsoft Commerce Server, Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006, plus System Center Operations Manager. Microsoft Windows Server x64 editions are priced and licensed the same as their 32-bit versions, so typically you pay nothing extra for 64-bit server operating systems or machines.

For workstations, Microsoft supplies Windows 7 and Windows 8 in same-cost x64 editions that provide high stability, capacity, and throughput. Like all upgrades from 32- to 64-bit platforms, the move up can't be carried out seamlessly. Each desktop PC and server requires a clean installation that involves reinstalling application software, backing up and recovering data files, and installing 64-bit device drivers. In fact, for most current workstations, and for every PC powered by Microsoft Windows XP, the 32 or 64-bit release of Windows 7 or 8 requires you to perform a "from scratch" installation. Consequently, there will never be a better time to move to 64-bit processing on the workstation, since it will require scarcely any additional work.

How Progent Can Help You to Migrate to 64-bit Computing
In addition to helping your organization to evaluate the practical benefits, expenses, and technical risks attached to upgrading to 64-bit processing, Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help you plan, document, carry out, manage, and troubleshoot a system-wide migration to 64-bit server and client operating systems and applications. Progent can help you test your 64-bit environment to make sure it supports all of the important 32-bit programs which you intend to retain as well as the new 64-bit editions of software you plan to install. If moving to Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 is included in your x64 migration plan, Progent's certified Windows 7 engineers, Windows 8.1 consultants, and Windows 10 testing and upgrade experts can help you to determine which workstation computers and programs can or ought to be retained, and plan a migration procedure that is the least disruptive to your network operations.

Additional ways Progent's consultants can assist you to upgrade to x64 computing include:

• Progent's expertise delivering remote network consulting and troubleshooting can save your business time and expense over the course of your x64 upgrade, and Progent's background working with internal IT personnel and providing technical knowledge sharing to them can increase the efficiency of your support staff.

• Progent's Cisco CCIE network consultants can make sure that your network infrastructure is configured to support your x64 processing environment, that it is easy to track, manage, and repair, and that it offers a high degree of data protection and fault tolerance.

• Progent's business continuity consulting professionals can help you in creating and validating a business continuity plan that incorporates your x64 servers. Progent's Microsoft certified Microsoft System Center System Center Data Protection Manager support professionals can help you to deploy System Center System Center Data Protection Manager to support automated remote backup with the capability of rapid system restoration.

• Progent's CISSP and GIAC certified network security specialists can assist you develop a company-wide security strategy that implements some of the new protection technologies incorporated into 64-bit server platforms. Progent can also provide security vulnerability checking to assess or verify your network's compliance with industry or government security standards.

• Progent's virtualization experts can show you how to use 64-bit virtual server solutions to save money on equipment, streamline management, enhance dependability, lower hosting expenses, and speed up recovery time in the event of a disaster.

• Progent's online instruction can help bring your IT support team and your office employees up to date rapidly and affordably by providing online virtual training customized for your network requirements and operational procedures.