Network Help for Midsize Companies

With most business networks, 64-bit computing is a great untapped resource. Both Intel and AMD, the top CPU chip manufacturers, have been delivering 64-bit capability in their commodity CPUs for years, so that all types of business computing hardware such as notebooks, desktop computers, high-powered workstations and advanced servers already have the architecture to run in 64-bit mode. Yet the majority of these devices continue to host 32-bit software platforms.

The primary cause for this widespread hesitation to join the 64-bit revolution is that the business advantage for updating in-place systems has appeared to be small in comparison to the effort required. There is no automatic path to upgrade from a 32 to a 64-bit OS. The upgrade demands a clean install, which means reinstalling current programs, backing up and restoring data, and installing new drivers. This requires thoughtful planning to carry out economically. Meanwhile, most desktop productivity software are still available only in 32-bit editions, so what's the benefit?

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 real. The RAM memory management techniques utilized by 32-bit systems are basically a technical afterthought that undermines stability. RAM-hungry applications are sometimes unable to access free memory since the operating system is unable to assign it efficiently. This can be the cause of programs shutting down or executing fitfully even though a computer seems to have plenty of available memory. In addition, 64-bit operating systems support far more addressable memory than 32-bit ones and crunch more data per CPU cycle. You can also switch from one RAM-hungry program to another more quickly when you are using a 64-bit system. Fundamentally, 64-bit processing makes environments more reliable, more expandable, and more efficient, which makes businesses more productive.

Microsoft's x64 Initiative
Microsoft's “x64” software supports the 64-bit processors used in virtually all computers currently deployed in business IT systems. (Microsoft's 64-bit "Itanium" technology is restricted to a few high-end processors and is intended for environments that require massive multi-processing.) Before the availability of Microsoft Office 2010, the majority of Microsoft desktop applications such as Microsoft Office 2007 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 were available only in 32-bit versions, which can nevertheless be used on x64 Windows. The new generation of Office 2010 offers dramatic enhancements. As an example, Office Excel 2010 is available in a 64-bit version that allows you to build spreadsheets with huge datasets that are not limited by the 2-Gbyte maximum file size that hampers 32-bit editions of Excel.

Microsoft has developed native x64 versions of many Microsoft Server System products, such as Windows Server 2008, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and 2005, Exchange Server 2010 and 2007, Commerce Server, Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006, plus System Center Operations Manager. Windows Server x64 editions are priced and licensed the same as their 32-bit editions, so typically it costs nothing extra for 64-bit server software or hardware.

For client computers, Microsoft offers Windows 7 and Windows 8 in same-price x64 versions that offer advanced dependability, capacity, and performance. As with all migrations from 32- to 64-bit operating systems, the move up can't be carried out seamlessly. Each desktop PC and server requires a clean installation that entails reconfiguring applications, saving and recovering data, and configuring 64-bit device drivers. In fact, for typical current desktop PCs, and for all PCs running XP, any edition of Microsoft Windows 7 or 8 requires you to carry out a "from scratch" install. Consequently, there will never be a better time to upgrade to x64 processing on the desktop, since it will require scarcely any extra work.

How Progent Can Help You to Upgrade to 64-bit Computing
In addition to assisting you to evaluate the business advantages, costs, and technical risks attached to upgrading to 64-bit computing, 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 environment to make sure it handles all of the important 32-bit programs which you want to retain plus the new 64-bit versions of software you plan to install. If moving to Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 is included in your x64 migration strategy, Progent's Windows 7 engineers, Windows 8.1 consultants, and Windows 10 evaluation and migration experts can help your company to determine which desktop computers and programs can or ought to be preserved, and plan a migration process that is minimally disturbing to your network productivity.

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

• Progent's expertise delivering online network support services can save your business effort and expense over the course of your x64 migration, and Progent's background cooperating with internal support staffs and providing technical information transfer to them can increase the efficiency of your support team.

• Progent's Cisco CCIE network engineers can verify that your network infrastructure is configured to support your x64 computing solution, that it is simple to monitor, manage, and troubleshoot, and that it provides a high level of security and robustness.

• Progent's disaster recovery consulting professionals can help you in creating and validating a disaster recovery strategy that includes your x64 servers. Progent's Microsoft certified Microsoft System Center System Center Data Protection Manager consulting experts can assist you to deploy Microsoft System Center SCDPM to support automated online backup with the capability of rapid data restoration.

• Progent's CISSP and GIAC security experts can assist you create a comprehensive security strategy that deploys some of the powerful protection mechanisms included with x64 server platforms. Progent can also provide network security vulnerability checking to assess or verify your company's adherence to mandated security requirements.

• Progent's virtualization experts can show you how to utilize 64-bit virtual server solutions to conserve hardware, streamline management, improve dependability, cut colocation expenses, and speed up restoration time in the event of a catastrophic breakdown.

• Progent's online training classes can help get both your IT support staff and your office employees up to speed quickly and cost-effectively by providing interactive online webinars specialized for your computing environment and operational processes.