Computer Network Help for Midsize Businesses

With the majority of office networks, 64-bit computing is a great untapped power source. Both Intel and AMD, the leading CPU chip manufacturers, have been delivering 64-bit ability in their mainstream processors for years, so that all types of business computers such as notebooks, desktop computers, engineering workstations and advanced servers now have the ability to run in 64-bit format. However the majority of these computers still run 32-bit software platforms.

The main reason for this common reluctance to participate in the 64-bit millennium is that the real benefit for updating in-place systems has appeared to be small in relation to the work needed. There is no seamless process to migrate from a 32 to a 64-bit operating system. The enhancement requires a clean installation, which means reinstalling current programs, saving and recovering data, and configuring new 64-bit drivers. This demands careful planning to do efficiently. Furthermore, many popular office productivity software are currently offered only in 32-bit editions, so what's the advantage?

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, yet they are significant. The RAM allocation techniques used in 32-bit systems are essentially an engineering afterthought that undermines system stability. Memory-starved programs are often unable to access free memory because the O/S is unable to allocate it effectively. This can be the cause of programs freezing or running erratically even though a machine seems to have plenty of available memory. Also, 64-bit software platforms allow far more addressable RAM than 32-bit systems and process more information per CPU cycle. You can also jump from one RAM-hungry program to another more quickly while using a 64-bit system. Fundamentally, 64-bit computing makes systems more reliable, more scalable, and faster, which makes businesses more productive.

Microsoft's x64 Initiative
Microsoft's “x64” technology supports the 64-bit CPUs used in most servers and desktop PCs currently deployed in business IT systems. (Microsoft's "Itanium" support is limited to special advanced Intel/AMD CPUs and is designed for environments that require massive multi-processing.) Before the availability of Microsoft Office 2010, most Microsoft client programs including Microsoft Office 2007 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 were offered solely in 32-bit versions, which can still be used on x64 Windows. The new generation of Office 2010 offers dramatic improvements. As an example, Microsoft Excel 2010 is available in a 64-bit edition that allows you to create spreadsheets with enormous datasets that are not restricted to the 2-Gbyte maximum file size imposed by previous versions of Microsoft Office Excel.

Microsoft offers true x64 versions of key Microsoft Server platforms, such as Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and 2005, Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 and 2007, Commerce Server 2007, Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006, plus System Center Operations Manager. Microsoft Windows Server x64 editions are priced and licensed the same as 32-bit versions, so in most circumstances you pay nothing more for 64-bit server software or hardware.

For desktop PCs, Microsoft supplies Windows 7 and Windows 8 in same-cost x64 editions that offer high stability, capacity, and throughput. Like all upgrades from 32-bit to 64-bit platforms, the move up can't be done seamlessly. Each desktop PC and server needs a clean installation that entails reinstalling applications, saving and restoring data files, and configuring 64-bit device drivers. On the other hand, for typical in-place workstations, and for every PC powered by XP, any release of Microsoft Windows 7 or 8 requires you to perform a clean installation. This being the case, there has never been a better time to migrate to 64-bit computing on the workstation, since it will require scarcely any extra effort.

How Progent Can Assist Your Business to Upgrade to 64-bit Processing
In addition to helping your organization to understand the practical advantages, expenses, and technical risks attached to upgrading to 64-bit computing, Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help you design, document, carry out, administer, and repair a system-wide migration to 64-bit server and client OS software and applications. Progent can help you test your 64-bit infrastructure to verify that it handles all of the key 32-bit applications that you want to retain plus the new 64-bit editions of applications you plan to run. If moving to Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 is part of your 64-bit migration strategy, Progent's certified Windows 7 engineers, Windows 8.1 consultants, and Windows 10 testing and upgrade consultants can assist your company to determine which workstation hardware and programs can or ought to be preserved, and plan an upgrade procedure that is the least disruptive to your business operations.

Other ways Progent can assist your business to upgrade to 64-bit computing include:

• Progent's expertise providing remote network consulting and troubleshooting can save you effort and expense over the course of your x64 upgrade, and Progent's experience cooperating with internal IT staffs and providing technical knowledge sharing to them can improve the efficiency of your network support staff.

• Progent's Cisco CCIE network consultants can verify that your network architecture is optimized to support your x64 computing solution, that it is simple to track, manage, and troubleshoot, and that it provides a high degree of security and dependability.

• Progent's business continuity consultants can help you in developing and testing a workplace recovery plan that includes your 64-bit servers. Progent's Microsoft certified System Center System Center Data Protection Manager (SCDPM) support experts can assist you to configure System Center System Center Data Protection Manager to support near-continuous remote backup with the capability of fast system restoration.

• Progent's CISM and CISA security engineers can assist you create a comprehensive security strategy that implements some of the new security mechanisms included with 64-bit server platforms. Progent can also perform 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 leverage your equipment, streamline administration, enhance fault tolerance, cut colocation expenses, and speed up restoration time in the event of a disaster.

• Progent's online training classes can help get both your network support staff and your desktop workers up to speed quickly and affordably by providing online webinars specialized for your network requirements and business procedures.