IT Connection Newsletter: Issue 5
Progent's Certified Experts Offer Server Virtualization Consulting Services
Virtual server software from Microsoft, VMware, and Citrix has never been more affordable or powerful. Progent can help you choose a virtualization solution that works best for your business and makes an immediate, positive impact on your bottom line.
Virtualization allows you to run many Virtual Machines (VMs) on a single physical computer, reducing the number of servers you need to run your workloads. Virtual server solutions from Microsoft, VMware, and Citrix are designed to make economic sense for networks of any size. Unfortunately, many small companies are intimidated by virtual technology and unaware of its many benefits.
In addition to the obvious advantage of cutting hardware costs by 50% or more, virtualization offers improved availability, streamlined management, better security, optimized performance for critical applications, faster recovery from unplanned downtime, lower costs for data center space and power, shortened development cycles, more thorough testing of new applications, plus faster software deployment and hardware provisioning.
Licenses for the entry-level virtual server software from Microsoft, VMware, and Citrix are free. The net result is that businesses can save 50-70% on overall IT costs through virtualization, a return on investment unmatched by any other technology initiative. When used properly, virtualization is one of the most leveraged ways to add business value to your information network.
Windows Hyper-V
Hyper-V is a role of Windows Server 2008 R2 that provides the tools to deploy and manage virtual servers. Hyper-V's hypervisor-based architecture, which requires an x64 host with hardware-assisted virtualization, offers better speed, capacity, and security than Microsoft's previous virtualization platform. Hyper-V supports enterprise-class features such as symmetric multiprocessing, live migration, dynamic storage, expanded memory, and host clustering. An entry-level edition with a single-role version of Windows, called Hyper-V Server 2008 R2, is available as a free download.
Hyper-V works along with Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) to provide a comprehensive backup and recovery solution, and Hyper-V's integration with System Center Virtual Machine Manager unifies the administration of a virtualized environment. Hyper-V Management Console and Windows PowerShell provide advanced tools for remote and automated management.
VMware vSphere
VMware is the leading source of virtualization software and offers
a free entry-level hypervisor, vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi), to provide a fast start for companies new to virtual server technology. VMware offers an easy, affordable upgrade path to vSphere Essentials to add improved management and security features or to the powerful vSphere Essentials Plus, which offers high availability and live migration.
Unlike Hyper-V, which runs in conjunction with Windows Server 2008, all editions of vSphere install on bare metal as purpose-built, low-overhead hypervisors that require only about 100 Mb of disk space. This improves security by exposing a small attack surface. Advanced versions of vSphere and its predecessor, VMware ESX, have been adopted by the world's largest enterprises.
Citrix XenServer
The entry-level version of XenServer from Citrix has advanced features that include live migration, central management of multiple servers, and unlimited servers, VMs, and memory. XenServer has a bare-metal hypervisor, like vSphere, but it also has an open architecture (proven by use in the world's largest virtual technology deployment, Amazon's Elastic Cloud). Like Hyper-V and unlike vSphere, XenServer utilizes paravirtualization to achieve near-native performance, which makes it practical to support more VMs per physical server.
Progent's Hyper-V, vSphere, and XenServer Support
Progent's certified Microsoft and VMware engineers can help you assess the potential benefits of virtualization and select a product that meets your business needs, perform pilot installations to test virtual servers with your production applications, organize your network and server architecture for optimal performance with virtual technology, help you migrate from an older virtualization platform, follow industry best practices for rolling out virtual servers, and train your IT staff to monitor and manage Windows Hyper-V, VMware, or Citrix solutions.
If you plan to deploy Hyper-V, Progent's Microsoft Gold-certified consultants can help you configure, manage, and troubleshoot all aspects of Windows Server 2008 R2.
Contact Progent for Virtualization Help
For help with Hyper-V, vSphere, or XenServer virtual server software, call Progent at
For a more detailed description of virtualization technology from Microsoft, VMware, and Citrix, visit Server Management with Virtual Servers.
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An index of content::
Windows 10 MDT Consulting Services
Microsoft Windows 10 ADK Consultant Services
Progent's Windows consultants can help organizations of any size to evaluate Windows 10 or to upgrade to Windows 10 from any older version of Microsoft Windows. Remote and onsite assessment and migration services for Windows 10 provided by Progent's experts include Return on Investment analysis, project coordination, application compatibility testing, test lab systems, Hyper-V virtualization strategies, Cloud integration, mobile management, teleworker connectivity, data and identity security, automated provisioning and management, network infrastructure optimization, wired/wireless convergence, disaster recovery planning, group and personal training for IT support personnel and users, and ongoing Call Center support services.
SCOM 2012 Migration Online Troubleshooting
SCOM 2012 Fabric Monitoring On-site Technical Support
Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants have more than 10 years of background planning, implementing, optimizing and repairing Microsoft SCOM environments and offer organizations of all sizes advanced remote or onsite consulting support for SCOM 2012. Progent can help your company to plan an architecture for SCOM 2012 servers that provides the performance and availability needed to monitor your IT resources effectively, whether your infrastructure are onsite, in the cloud, or a mixed solution. Progent's SCOM consultants can also assist you to import and set up System Center 2012 Operations Manager management packs according to leading practices for monitoring network fabric and both Microsoft and third-party applications and services. In addition, Progent can deliver fast remote or onsite technical support to assist you to remediate critical problems detected by Microsoft SCOM 2012.
Remote Support Services Windows 2000 Server
Windows 2000 Server Online Help
Progent's certified Windows Server 2000 experts offer network support and information technology consulting services for the complete family of .NET Servers, Windows Server 2000, and Microsoft Windows Server 2003. Progent's Microsoft Windows Server 2000 integration, update, and support offerings include network design, installation, project management, local and remote technical support, Call Center outsourcing, professional security analysis, turn-key outsourcing, and economical co-sourcing.
Small Business Networking Companies
MCSE Expert Certified Small Office Outsourcing Companies
Progent's Microsoft and Cisco certified computer engineers offer expert help with a broad range of products and technologies and can deliver that expertise remotely nationwide or onsite in major cities across the country and anywhere in . Progent provides online help for networks powered by Microsoft Windows, UNIX, Linux, Sun Solaris, or Apple ac, or for environments that include a mix of Microsoft and UNIX-based platforms. Progent also offers the help of Cisco CCIE network engineers for the toughest network issues, as well as the the assistance of CISA and CISSP-qualified security engineers to handle high-level security design and troubleshooting. Progent has provided online network support to companies in all 50 states in the U.S.
Urgent Internal Network Security Scan Engineers
Internal Security Scan Consult
Progent offers two ultra-affordable service packages intended to allow small companies to receive an impartial security evaluation from a certified security engineer. With Progent's External Security Inventory Checkup, a security expert runs an extensive test of your IT infrastructure from beyond your company firewall to determine potential weaknesses in the security posture you expose to the outside world. With Progent's Internal Network Security Inventory Scan, an engineer runs a system scan from an authorized machine within your company firewall to determine the risk to internal assaults. The two security inventory packages are set up and executed from a secured remote site.
24 Hour Microsoft Office System Small Office IT Outsourcing
Top Microsoft Computer Network Consulting company
Progent’s IT outsourcing services offer affordable network consulting for small organizations. Whether it involves designing network architecture, setting up an in-house Help Desk or outsourcing a one, deploying an updated e-mail platform, monitoring your network, or creating an on-line eCommerce application, outsourcing your IT technical services can contain expenses and eliminate uncertainties, allowing network service expenses to increase in a more moderate and manageable fashion than is feasible by assembling a bulky, all-purpose in-house IT staff. Progent’s Outsourcing White Paper and flyers show how Progent can help you build a secure and highly available system foundation for your critical applications powered by Microsoft Windows including Office XP, Microsoft Office 2003, and Office 2000.
Windows Server 2012R2 Data Deduplication On-site Support
Windows Server 2012 R2 Active Directory Consult
Progent's certified professionals can help you to evaluate the business value of Windows Server 2012 R2 for your company, create test systems and rollout plans, optimize your infrastructure for local, multi-location, private or public cloud-based, and partial-cloud datacenters, train your IT support staff, create an enterprise-wide security strategy, automate IT administration, help with creating applications, and build and validate a disaster recovery/business continuity plan.
Open Now Redhat Linux Support and Setup
Technology Professional Mandriva Linux
Progent's Linux support services offer small companies and developers help with administering and supporting Linux computers that run with Microsoft-powered technology. Progent offers your organization access to Linux experts, support professionals premier by Microsoft and Cisco, and security specialists with CISA credentials. This wide array of experience provides you with an easy one-stop consulting firm to help you create and manage a secure and robust cross-platform connectivity and communications infrastructure that allows Linux and Microsoft interoperability by integrating Windows with leading Linux derivatives including RedHat Linux, SUSE Linux, CentOS Linux, Ubuntu Linux, PCLOS, fedora, Gentoo, Mandriva Linux, Debian GNU/Linux, and Slackware.
Consult ISA 2006 Firewall
Microsoft Certified Expert Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2006 Technical Consultant
Application Publishing with ISA Server 2006 provides greater control over intranet resources while supporting enhanced efficiency by making these resources accessible to legitimate remote users. Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2006 can guard business applications, services, and data throughout all network components with application-layer filtering and powerful publishing tools. Progent's Microsoft-certified ISA Server 2006 consultants can help you plan, deploy, configure, and maintain ISA Server 2006 on your network so your business benefits from a highly functional and economical combination of security, convenience, and speed.
After Hours Compliance Auditor SonicWall
24-7 Firewall Support SonicWall NSA 6650 Firewall
Progent's certified SonicWall firewall experts can help you configure, manage, and tune SonicWall firewall devices including the current SonicWall TZ and NSa Series of firewalls and the older SonicWall PRO 1260 Secure Switch devices. Progent's CISM and CISA-certified network security consultants can help you incorporate SonicWall firewalls into an end-to-end network protection plan and build security into your corporate operations.
Microsoft Azure hybrid cloud solutions Consult
Microsoft Certified Microsoft Azure IPsec configuration Contract Development
Progent can assist businesses of any size to migrate any part of their computing infrastructure to the Microsoft Azure cloud. This can streamline network management and reduce hardware investments. Microsoft Azure offers a comprehensive library of public cloud services and Progent can help you to understand the benefits and restrictions of various cloud networking architectures supported by Azure. Progent can help you manage cloud-resident or hybrid cloud and local apps and network infrastructure and make sure that you sidestep the typical errors small companies make when moving to a public cloud. Progent can help you to configure cloud servers on Azure Virtual Machines, utilize VHD storage with Azure Storage, handle authentication with Azure Active Directory, and build backup-and-recovery services with Azure Backup. Progent can also show you how to configure perimeter firewalls and IPsec VPN tunnels and also to manage iPhones and iPads and Android smartphones and tablets.
Gentoo Linux Online Troubleshooting
Top Rated Ubuntu Linux Engineer
If your company is producing UNIX or Linux software in an environment that includes MS Windows-based processors, PCs, and office productivity products, Progent offers comprehensive IT outsourcing that allows you to focus on your field of high-value know-how without the continual distraction of managing your business network. Through the use of smart server monitoring and by providing online and in-person assistance when your company needs it, Progent represents an affordable way for maintaining an IT system that features high dependability, security, and efficiency. Progent's Linux developer assistance services feature comprehensive information technology outsourcing, virtual infrastructure, remote and on-premises support and repair, network monitoring, and Contact Center outsourcing.
Load Aggregation Testing Technology Professional
Capacity Planning Test Lab Professionals
Progent's Test and Training Lab at the QTS (formerly Herakles) Colocation Center is available for piloting line-of-business applications, creating cost-effective migration methodologies, evaluating and tuning performance, planning or verifying disaster recovery solutions, mitigating compatibility problems, and building training systems for the latest technologies. For Progent clients who lack sufficient internal resources to configure proper test systems, Progent's Test and Training Lab reduces capital outlay and engineering risk while keeping critical IT initiatives on schedule.
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