Network Support for Midsize Businesses

For most business networks, 64-bit computing is a great unexploited power source. Intel and AMD, the top CPU manufacturers, have been delivering 64-bit ability in their commodity processors for years, with the result that all classes of business computers such as laptops, desktop PCs, high-powered workstations and back-office servers now have the architecture to run in 64-bit format. However the majority of these in-place computers continue to run 32-bit operating systems and applications.

The main cause for this common hesitation to join the 64-bit millennium is that the real benefit for upgrading in-place computers has appeared to be modest in relation to the work required. There is no seamless path to upgrade from a 32 to a 64-bit OS. The upgrade requires a clean install, which means reinstalling existing applications, saving and restoring data, and configuring new 64-bit drivers. This requires thoughtful planning to do efficiently. Furthermore, most desktop productivity software are currently offered only in 32-bit versions, so what's the benefit?

Benefits of Upgrading to 64-bit Processing
The benefits of 64-bit over 32-bit processing may appear to be subtle and hard to quantify, yet they are real. The RAM memory management techniques used in 32-bit systems are essentially a technical afterthought that undermines system stability. RAM-hungry applications are sometimes not able to access available memory because the operating system cannot assign it efficiently. This results in software freezing or performing fitfully even though a computer appears to have plenty of unused RAM. In addition, 64-bit operating systems support much more physical RAM than 32-bit systems and process twice as much information per CPU cycle. You can also switch from one RAM-hungry application to another more quickly while using a 64-bit environment. Basically, 64-bit processing makes systems more reliable, more expandable, and more efficient, which makes businesses more competitive.

Microsoft's 64-bit Initiative
Microsoft's “x64” software supports the 64-bit CPUs found in most computers now installed in office IT systems. (Microsoft's "Itanium" technology is restricted to a few advanced CPUs and is intended for applications that need massive multi-processing.) Prior to the availability of Microsoft Office 2010, most Microsoft client applications including 2007 Office and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 were offered solely in 32-bit editions, which can still be used on x64 platforms. The latest family of Microsoft Office offers dramatic improvements. For example, Microsoft Office Excel 2010 is available in a 64-bit version that allows you to create spreadsheets with enormous datasets that are not restricted by the 2-gigabyte file size that hampers 32-bit versions of Microsoft Office Excel.

Microsoft has developed native x64 editions of key Microsoft Server platforms, such as Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and 2005, Exchange Server 2010 and 2007, Commerce Server 2007, Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006, as well as Operations Manager. Windows Server 64-bit versions are priced and licensed identically to their 32-bit versions, so typically it costs nothing extra for 64-bit server operating systems or machines.

For workstations, Microsoft supplies Windows 7 and Windows 8 in same-cost x64 versions that provide advanced dependability, scalability, and performance. Like all upgrades from 32-bit to 64-bit operating systems, the move up can't be carried out without effort. Each desktop PC and server needs a clean installation that entails reconfiguring applications, backing up and restoring data files, and installing 64-bit drivers. In fact, for typical in-place desktop PCs, and for every PC running XP, any release of Windows 7 or 8 requires you to carry out a clean install. Consequently, there has never been a better opportunity to migrate to 64-bit computing on the workstation, since it will involve little additional work.

How Progent Can Help Your Business to Upgrade to 64-bit Computing
Besides helping your organization to understand the practical benefits, costs, and technical variables associated with migrating to 64-bit computing, Progent's Microsoft-certified engineers can help you design, document, carry out, administer, and troubleshoot a system-wide move to 64-bit server and desktop operating systems and applications. Progent can help you test your 64-bit infrastructure to verify that it supports all of the important 32-bit programs that 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 64-bit upgrade strategy, Progent's certified Windows 7 engineers, Windows 8.1 migration consultants, and Windows 10 evaluation and upgrade consultants can assist your company to determine which desktop hardware and applications can or ought to be preserved, and design an upgrade process that is minimally disruptive to your network operations.

Other ways Progent's consultants can assist your business to migrate to x64 computing include:

• Progent's experience delivering remote network consulting and support can save your business time and money during your x64 migration, and Progent's experience working with internal IT staffs and providing technical information transfer to them can increase the effectiveness of your network support team.

• Progent's Cisco CCIE network engineers can make sure that your network infrastructure is configured to accommodate your x64 processing solution, that it is simple to monitor, administer, and repair, and that it offers a high degree of data protection and robustness.

• Progent's disaster recovery consultants can help you in creating and validating a workplace recovery strategy that includes your x64 servers. Progent's Microsoft certified System Center SCDPM engineering professionals can assist you to configure Microsoft System Center System Center Data Protection Manager to provide near-continuous remote backup with the capability of rapid system recovery.

• Progent's CISSP and GIAC certified network security engineers can help you create a company-wide security plan that implements some of the powerful protection mechanisms incorporated into x64 servers. Progent can also perform network security vulnerability testing to assess or verify your network's compliance with industry or government security requirements.

• Progent's virtualization experts can help you benefit from 64-bit virtual server solutions to conserve hardware resources, simplify management, improve robustness, lower colocation costs, and reduce restoration time in case of a disaster.

• Progent's live online instruction can help get both your network support team and your office workers up to date quickly and affordably by delivering interactive online webinars specialized for your network requirements and operational processes.