Computer Support for Mid-size Companies

For the majority of office IT systems, 64-bit processing is a great untapped resource. Both Intel and AMD, the leading CPU makers, have been delivering 64-bit ability in their commodity processors for years, so that all classes of business computing hardware including laptops, desktop computers, high-powered workstations and advanced servers now have the ability to operate in 64-bit mode. Yet the majority of these in-place computers continue to run 32-bit operating systems.

The main reason for this common hesitation to join the 64-bit millennium is that the business advantage for upgrading existing systems has appeared to be small in relation to the effort required. There is no automatic path to upgrade from a 32 to a 64-bit OS. The upgrade demands a clean installation, which calls for reinstalling existing applications, saving and restoring data, and configuring new 64-bit drivers. This requires thoughtful planning to carry out efficiently. Meanwhile, most office productivity software are currently available only in 32-bit versions, so what's the benefit?

Advantages of Upgrading to 64-bit Processing
The advantages of 64-bit over 32-bit processing may appear to be subtle and hard to define precisely, but they are significant. The RAM memory management techniques utilized by 32-bit systems are basically an engineering afterthought that undermines system stability. RAM-starved applications are sometimes not allowed to utilize existing memory because the O/S cannot assign it effectively. This results in programs shutting down or running fitfully even though a machine appears to have ample unused RAM. In addition, 64-bit operating systems allow much more physical RAM than 32-bit systems and process twice as much information per CPU cycle. You can also jump from one memory-intensive program to another faster when running in a 64-bit environment. Fundamentally, 64-bit computing makes systems more stable, more expandable, and faster, which makes companies more productive.

Microsoft's x64 Support
Microsoft's “x64” software works with the 64-bit processors found in most computers currently installed in business IT systems. (Microsoft's 64-bit "Itanium" technology is restricted to special advanced processors and is intended for environments that need large-scale multi-processing.) Before the release of Microsoft Office 2010, the majority of Microsoft desktop applications including 2007 Office and Visual Studio 2005 were offered only in 32-bit versions, which can nevertheless be run on x64 platforms. The latest generation of Microsoft Office 2010 delivers dramatic improvements. For example, Excel 2010 is available in a 64-bit version that allows you to create spreadsheets with huge databases that are not limited by the 2-Gbyte file size that hampers previous versions of Microsoft Office Excel.

Microsoft offers native x64 editions of many Microsoft Server System products, such as Windows Server 2008, Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Commerce Server 2007, Microsoft BizTalk Server, plus System Center Operations Manager. Microsoft Windows Server 64-bit versions are priced the same as 32-bit editions, so ordinarily it costs nothing more for 64-bit server software or hardware.

For client computers, Microsoft supplies Windows 7 and Windows 8 in same-cost x64 editions that provide advanced stability, scalability, and throughput. As with all upgrades from 32-bit to 64-bit platforms, the move up can't be carried out seamlessly. Each workstation and server requires a clean installation that entails reconfiguring application software, saving and recovering data, and installing 64-bit device drivers. In fact, for typical in-place desktop PCs, and for all PCs running Windows XP, even the 64-bit version of Windows 7 or Windows 8 requires you to perform a "from scratch" installation. Consequently, there will never be a better opportunity to move to x64 computing on the workstation, since it will involve scarcely any extra effort.

How Progent Can Assist Your Business to Upgrade to 64-bit Processing
Besides assisting your organization to understand the business advantages, costs, and technical variables associated with upgrading to 64-bit computing, Progent's Microsoft-certified engineers can help you design, document, implement, administer, and troubleshoot a system-wide move to 64-bit server and client OS software and applications. Progent can help you pilot your 64-bit infrastructure to make sure it supports all of the key 32-bit programs which you intend to keep as well as the latest 64-bit editions of applications you wish to install. If moving to Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 is part of your x64 migration strategy, Progent's Windows 7 engineers, Windows 8.1 migration consultants, and Windows 10 testing and migration experts can assist you to decide which workstation computers and programs can or should be preserved, and outline an upgrade process that is minimally disturbing to your network productivity.

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

• Progent's experience providing remote computer support services can save your business time and expense during your 64-bit migration, and Progent's experience working with internal IT personnel and providing technical information sharing to them can improve the efficiency of your network support team.

• Progent's Cisco CCIE network engineers can make sure that your network architecture is configured to accommodate your 64-bit processing solution, that it is simple to monitor, manage, and troubleshoot, and that it offers a high level of security and dependability.

• Progent's business continuity consultants can help you in developing and validating a business continuity strategy that includes your x64 servers. Progent's Microsoft certified System Center System Center Data Protection Manager support experts can assist you to configure System Center SCDPM to provide automated remote backup with the capability of fast system recovery.

• Progent's CISSP and GIAC certified network security experts can help you develop a comprehensive security plan that deploys some of the new protection mechanisms included with x64 servers. Progent can also provide network security vulnerability checking to assess or verify your company's compliance with industry or government security standards.

• Progent's virtualization experts can help you use 64-bit virtual server technology to leverage your equipment, streamline administration, improve reliability, lower colocation and hosting costs, and reduce restoration time in the event of a disaster.

• Progent's live online education can help bring your network management team and your office employees up to speed rapidly and affordably by delivering remote webinars specialized for your computing environment and operational procedures.