Network Support for Medium-size Businesses

For most business networks, 64-bit computing is a great unexploited power source. Intel and AMD, the top CPU chip makers, have been incorporating 64-bit ability in their mainstream CPUs for years, with the result that all types of business computing hardware such as notebooks, desktop computers, high-powered workstations and advanced servers now possess the architecture to run in 64-bit format. Yet most of these computers still run 32-bit operating systems and applications.

The main cause for this widespread reluctance to participate in the 64-bit millennium is that the business benefit for upgrading existing computers has appeared to be small in comparison to the work needed. There is no automatic process to upgrade from a 32 to a 64-bit operating system. The upgrade requires a clean install, which calls for reinstalling current programs, backing up and restoring data, and configuring new drivers. This demands thorough planning to do economically. Furthermore, most desktop productivity software are currently offered only in 32-bit editions, so where's the benefit?

Advantages of Upgrading to 64-bit Computing
The benefits of 64-bit over 32-bit processing may seem vague and difficult to define precisely, but they are significant. The RAM allocation techniques used in 32-bit platforms are essentially an engineering band-aid that limits system stability. Memory-starved programs are often not able to access existing memory because the O/S is unable to assign it efficiently. This results in programs freezing or running erratically even when a computer appears to have ample unused RAM. In addition, 64-bit software platforms support much more physical RAM than 32-bit ones and crunch more information per CPU cycle. You can also switch from one RAM-intensive program to another more quickly while running in a 64-bit system. Basically, 64-bit processing makes systems more stable, more expandable, and faster, which makes companies more competitive.

Microsoft's 64-bit Computing Support
Microsoft's “x64” software works with the 64-bit CPUs used in virtually all servers and desktop PCs currently installed in office IT systems. (Microsoft's 64-bit "Itanium" software is limited to a few advanced processors and is designed for environments that need massive multi-processing.) Before the availability of Microsoft Office 2010, the majority of Microsoft desktop applications including 2007 Office and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 were offered only in 32-bit versions, which can nevertheless be run on x64 Windows. The new generation of Microsoft Office delivers significant improvements. For example, Microsoft Excel 2010 is available in a 64-bit edition that permits you to create spreadsheets with huge datasets that are not restricted by the 2-Gbyte maximum file size imposed by previous versions of Excel.

Microsoft has developed native x64 editions of key Microsoft Server System products, including Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and 2003, SQL Server 2008 and 2005, Exchange Server 2007, Commerce Server 2007, Microsoft BizTalk Server, as well as System Center Operations Manager. Windows Server x64 editions are priced the same as 32-bit editions, so typically it costs nothing more for 64-bit server operating systems or machines.

For workstations, Microsoft supplies Windows 7 and Windows 8 in same-price 64-bit editions that offer high dependability, scalability, and performance. As with all upgrades from 32-bit to 64-bit operating systems, the upgrade can't be carried out seamlessly. Each desktop PC and server requires a clean setup that entails reinstalling application software, backing up and recovering data files, and configuring 64-bit device drivers. In fact, for most in-place desktop PCs, and for all PCs powered by XP, any version of Windows 7 or Windows 8 requires you to carry out a "from scratch" install. Consequently, there will never be a better time to move to x64 processing on the desktop, since it will require scarcely any additional effort.

How Progent Can Help Your Business to Upgrade to 64-bit Computing
Besides assisting your organization to understand the business advantages, expenses, and technical risks associated with migrating to 64-bit processing, Progent's Microsoft-certified engineers can help you plan, document, carry out, manage, and troubleshoot a system-wide move to 64-bit server and desktop OS software and applications. Progent can help you test your 64-bit environment to make sure it supports all of the key 32-bit programs which you intend to retain as well as the new 64-bit editions of applications you plan to run. If moving to Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 is included in your x64 upgrade plan, Progent's certified Windows 7 engineers, Windows 8.1 migration consultants, and Windows 10 evaluation and upgrade experts can assist your company to decide which desktop hardware and applications can or ought to be retained, and outline an upgrade procedure that is minimally disturbing to your business operations.

Other ways Progent's consultants can help your business to migrate to x64 processing include:

• Progent's expertise delivering remote network support services can save your business effort and money during your x64 upgrade, and Progent's background cooperating with internal support personnel and providing technical knowledge transfer to them can improve the efficiency of your support staff.

• Progent's certified Cisco CCIE network engineers can make sure that your network architecture is optimized to accommodate your x64 processing environment, that it is simple to monitor, administer, and troubleshoot, and that it offers a high degree of security and robustness.

• Progent's disaster recovery consulting professionals can assist you in developing and testing a business continuity plan that includes your x64 servers. Progent's Microsoft certified System Center SCDPM support professionals can assist you to deploy System Center SCDPM to provide near-continuous online backup with the capability of fast system recovery.

• Progent's CISM, CISSP, and GIAC network security consultants can help you develop a company-wide security plan that deploys some of the new security mechanisms incorporated into x64 server platforms. Progent can also perform security vulnerability testing to evaluate or validate your network's compliance with industry or government security requirements.

• Progent's virtualization experts can help you utilize 64-bit virtual server technology to leverage your equipment, simplify management, enhance reliability, lower colocation costs, and speed up recovery time in case of a catastrophic breakdown.

• Progent's online training classes can help bring both your IT support team and your desktop employees up to date quickly and cost-effectively by delivering remote virtual training customized for your computing environment and operational processes.