Computer Network Help for Mid-size Companies

With the majority of office IT systems, 64-bit computing is a giant untapped resource. Intel and AMD, the top CPU manufacturers, have been incorporating 64-bit ability in their mainstream CPUs for years, so that all classes of business computing hardware including laptops, desktop computers, engineering workstations and advanced servers now possess the ability 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 reason for this common reluctance to join the 64-bit millennium is that the business benefit for updating existing computers has seemed to be modest in relation to the work required. There is no automatic process to upgrade from a 32-bit to a 64-bit OS. The enhancement requires a clean install, which calls for reinstalling current applications, saving and recovering data, and installing new drivers. This requires thorough planning to carry out economically. Furthermore, most office productivity software are currently offered only in 32-bit editions, so where's the advantage?

Benefits of Moving Up to 64-bit Processing
The advantages of 64-bit over 32-bit processing may appear to be vague and hard to quantify, but they are real. The RAM memory management schemes utilized by 32-bit operating systems are essentially a technical afterthought that undermines stability. Memory-hungry applications are often not allowed to access free memory because the operating system cannot assign it effectively. This results in programs freezing or running fitfully even though a computer appears to have ample unused memory. Also, 64-bit operating systems allow far more physical RAM than 32-bit systems and crunch more data per clock cycle. You can also jump from one memory-hungry program to another more quickly while running in a 64-bit system. Fundamentally, 64-bit processing makes systems more stable, more scalable, and more efficient, which in turn makes companies more competitive.

Microsoft's 64-bit Processing Software
Microsoft's “x64” technology works with the 64-bit processors used in virtually all servers and desktop PCs now deployed in office IT systems. (Microsoft's 64-bit "Itanium" technology is restricted to a few high-end processors and is designed for applications that require massive multi-processing.) Prior to the availability of Office 2010, the majority of Microsoft client programs such as 2007 Office and Visual Studio 2005 were available only in 32-bit versions, which can nevertheless be used on x64 Windows. The latest generation of Office 2010 offers dramatic enhancements. As an example, Microsoft Office Excel 2010 is available in a 64-bit edition that permits you to create spreadsheets with enormous databases that are not limited to the 2-Gbyte maximum file size that hampers previous versions of Microsoft Office Excel.

Microsoft offers native x64 editions of key Microsoft Server platforms, such as Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 and 2007, Microsoft Commerce Server 2007, Microsoft BizTalk Server, plus Operations Manager. Windows Server 64-bit editions are priced identically to their 32-bit counterparts, so ordinarily you pay nothing more for 64-bit server software or hardware.

For client computers, Microsoft offers Windows 7 and Windows 8 in same-cost x64 editions that offer advanced dependability, capacity, and performance. As with all upgrades from 32-bit to 64-bit platforms, the move up can’t be carried out seamlessly. Each desktop PC and server requires a clean installation that involves reconfiguring application software, saving and recovering data files, and configuring 64-bit device drivers. In fact, for typical in-place desktop PCs, and for every PC powered by XP, the 32 or 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows 7 or 8 requires you to carry out a clean installation. Consequently, there will never be a better time to migrate to x64 computing on the workstation, since it will involve scarcely any additional effort.

How Progent Can Help You to Upgrade to 64-bit Processing
Besides helping you to understand the business benefits, costs, and technical risks associated with migrating to 64-bit processing, Progent's Microsoft-certified engineers can help you design, document, implement, administer, and troubleshoot a network-wide move to 64-bit server and client operating systems and business applications. Progent can help you test your 64-bit infrastructure to verify that it handles all of the important 32-bit applications which you want to keep plus the latest 64-bit editions of software you plan to run. If adopting Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 is part of your 64-bit upgrade plan, Progent's Windows 7 engineers, Windows 8.1 migration consultants, and Windows 10 evaluation and upgrade experts can help your company to determine which desktop computers and programs can or should be preserved, and design a migration process that is the least disruptive to your business productivity.

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

• Progent's experience delivering online network consulting and troubleshooting can save your business effort and money during your x64 migration, and Progent's background working with in-house IT staffs and providing technical information transfer to them can increase the effectiveness of your network support staff.

• Progent's Cisco CCIE network consultants can make sure that your network infrastructure is configured to accommodate your 64-bit computing environment, that it is simple to monitor, administer, and repair, and that it provides a high degree of security and robustness.

• Progent's disaster recovery consulting professionals can assist you in developing and validating a workplace recovery strategy that incorporates your x64 servers. Progent's Microsoft certified Microsoft System Center System Center Data Protection Manager consulting professionals can help you to deploy Microsoft System Center System Center Data Protection Manager to provide automated online backup with the capability of fast data restoration.

• Progent's CISM, CISSP, GIAC, and CISA certified security engineers can help you develop a company-wide security strategy that deploys some of the new protection technologies incorporated into 64-bit servers. Progent can also carry out security vulnerability testing to assess or validate your company's compliance with industry or government security standards.

• Progent's virtualization experts can help you benefit from 64-bit virtual server technology to save money on hardware resources, simplify administration, enhance fault tolerance, cut hosting expenses, and reduce recovery time in case of a catastrophic breakdown.

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