Network Help for Medium-size Companies

With most office networks, 64-bit processing is a giant untapped power source. Both Intel and AMD, the leading CPU chip manufacturers, have been incorporating 64-bit ability in their commodity CPUs for years, so that all types of business computing hardware including notebooks, desktop PCs, high-powered workstations and back-office servers now possess the architecture to operate in 64-bit format. Yet the majority of these devices continue to run 32-bit software platforms.

The primary reason for this common reluctance to join the 64-bit millennium is that the real advantage for updating existing systems has seemed to be small in comparison to the work needed. There is no seamless path to upgrade from a 32 to a 64-bit OS. The upgrade requires a clean installation, which calls for reinstalling existing applications, saving and restoring data files, and installing new 64-bit drivers. This requires careful planning to carry out economically. Furthermore, most office productivity software are still available only in 32-bit editions, so what's the advantage?

Advantages of Moving Up to 64-bit Processing
The advantages of 64-bit over 32-bit processing may seem subtle and difficult to quantify, yet they are real. The RAM memory partitioning schemes used in 32-bit operating systems are basically an engineering afterthought that limits stability. RAM-hungry applications are often not able to utilize available memory since the operating system cannot assign it efficiently. This results in programs freezing or performing fitfully even when a machine appears to have plenty of unused RAM. Also, 64-bit operating systems allow far more physical memory than 32-bit ones and crunch twice as much data per clock cycle. You can also switch from one memory-hungry application to another more quickly when running in a 64-bit system. Fundamentally, 64-bit processing makes environments more stable, more expandable, and faster, which makes companies more competitive.

Microsoft's x64 Initiative
Microsoft's “x64” technology works with the 64-bit CPUs found in most servers and desktop PCs now installed in business networks. (Microsoft's 64-bit "Itanium" platform is restricted to special advanced CPUs and is intended for applications that require large-scale multi-processing.) Prior to the release of Office 2010, the majority of Microsoft desktop programs such as 2007 Office and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 were available solely in 32-bit versions, which can still be used on x64 platforms. The latest family of Microsoft Office delivers dramatic enhancements. As an example, Excel 2010 is available in a 64-bit edition that permits you to build spreadsheets with huge databases that are not limited to the 2-gigabyte file size that hampers 32-bit editions of Microsoft Office Excel.

Microsoft offers native x64 editions of key Microsoft Server platforms, including Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, Exchange Server 2010 and 2007, Commerce Server, Microsoft BizTalk Server, as well as Operations Manager. Microsoft Windows Server 64-bit versions are priced and licensed the same as their 32-bit editions, so in most circumstances it costs nothing more 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 provide high dependability, scalability, and throughput. Like all migrations from 32- to 64-bit operating systems, the upgrade can't be carried out seamlessly. Every workstation and server requires a clean installation that involves reconfiguring application software, saving and restoring data files, and configuring 64-bit drivers. In fact, for most in-place workstations, and for all PCs running Windows XP, even the 64-bit release of Windows 7 or Windows 8 will require you to perform a "from scratch" install. This being the case, there has never been a better opportunity to upgrade to 64-bit processing on the desktop, since it will require scarcely any extra work.

How Progent Can Assist You to Migrate to 64-bit Processing
Besides assisting your organization to evaluate the practical benefits, costs, and technical risks associated with upgrading to 64-bit computing, Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help you design, document, carry out, administer, and repair a network-wide move to 64-bit server and client operating systems and applications. Progent can help you test your 64-bit infrastructure to verify that it handles all of the important 32-bit programs which you want to keep as well as the latest 64-bit versions of applications you plan to run. If moving to Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 is part of your 64-bit upgrade strategy, Progent's certified Windows 7 experts, Windows 8.1 migration consultants, and Windows 10 testing and upgrade experts can help you to determine which desktop hardware and applications can or ought to be retained, and outline an upgrade procedure that is the least disruptive to your business productivity.

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

• Progent's experience delivering online network consulting and support can save you time and expense over the course of your x64 upgrade, and Progent's background cooperating with in-house support personnel and delivering technical knowledge sharing to them can improve the effectiveness of your support team.

• Progent's Cisco CCIE network consultants can verify that your network infrastructure is optimized to support your x64 processing solution, that it is easy to monitor, administer, and repair, and that it offers a high degree of data protection and fault tolerance.

• Progent's business continuity consultants can assist you in creating and validating a disaster recovery plan that includes your x64 servers. Progent's Microsoft certified System Center SCDPM engineering experts can help you to configure Microsoft System Center SCDPM to provide automated online backup with the capability of fast data recovery.

• Progent's CISSP and GIAC security experts can assist you develop a comprehensive security plan that implements some of the powerful protection technologies incorporated into x64 servers. Progent can also carry out security vulnerability checking to evaluate or confirm your company's compliance with industry or government security standards.

• Progent's virtualization consultants can show you how to benefit from 64-bit virtual server technology to save money on hardware resources, simplify management, improve fault tolerance, lower colocation costs, and reduce recovery time in the event of a catastrophic breakdown.

• Progent's online education can help get your IT support staff and your office workers up to speed quickly and cost-effectively by providing online webinars customized for your computing environment and business processes.