Computer Network Support for Medium-size Companies

With the majority of office IT systems, 64-bit computing is a giant unexploited power source. Both Intel and AMD, the leading CPU chip manufacturers, have been incorporating 64-bit ability in their commodity processors for years, so that all types of business computers such as notebooks, desktop computers, high-powered workstations and advanced servers now have the ability to operate in 64-bit format. However most of these in-place devices continue to run 32-bit operating systems.

The primary reason for this common hesitation to participate in the 64-bit millennium is that the business advantage for updating in-place systems has appeared to be modest in relation to the effort required. There is no automatic process to upgrade from a 32 to a 64-bit operating system. The upgrade requires a clean installation, which calls for reinstalling current applications, saving and recovering data, and configuring new 64-bit drivers. This demands thorough planning to carry out efficiently. Meanwhile, most office applications are still offered only in 32-bit versions, so where's the advantage?

Advantages of Moving Up to 64-bit Computing
The benefits of 64-bit over 32-bit processing may seem vague and hard to define precisely, yet they are significant. The RAM memory partitioning techniques used in 32-bit systems are essentially an engineering band-aid that undermines system stability. RAM-starved programs are sometimes unable to utilize free RAM because the O/S cannot assign it effectively. This results in programs freezing or performing erratically even though a computer seems to have ample available memory. In addition, 64-bit operating systems allow far more physical RAM than 32-bit systems and crunch twice as much data per clock cycle. You can also jump from one RAM-hungry program to another more quickly while running in a 64-bit system. Basically, 64-bit computing makes environments more stable, more expandable, and faster, which in turn makes businesses more productive.

Microsoft's x64 Support
Microsoft's “x64” technology supports the 64-bit processors used in virtually all computers currently deployed in business networks. (Microsoft's 64-bit "Itanium" software is restricted to special advanced Intel/AMD CPUs and is intended for applications that require massive multi-processing.) Prior to the release of Microsoft Office 2010, the majority of Microsoft desktop applications including 2007 Office and Visual Studio 2005 were offered solely in 32-bit versions, which can nevertheless be run on x64 Windows. The new generation of Microsoft Office offers dramatic enhancements. For example, Microsoft Office Excel 2010 is available in a 64-bit edition that allows you to build spreadsheets with huge datasets that are not limited by the 2-gigabyte maximum file size that hampers previous editions of Excel.

Microsoft offers true x64 editions of key Microsoft Server System products, including Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 and 2007, Microsoft Commerce Server, Microsoft BizTalk Server, as well as Operations Manager. Windows Server x64 editions are priced and licensed the same as their 32-bit editions, so ordinarily it costs nothing more for 64-bit server operating systems or machines.

For workstations, Microsoft supplies Windows 7 and Windows 8 in same-cost x64 editions that provide high stability, capacity, and throughput. Like all upgrades from 32-bit to 64-bit operating systems, the move up can't be done seamlessly. Every workstation and server needs a clean setup that involves reinstalling applications, backing up and restoring data files, and configuring 64-bit drivers. On the other hand, for most current workstations, and for every PC running Microsoft Windows XP, even the 64-bit edition of Windows 7 or 8 will require you to carry out a "from scratch" installation. Consequently, there will never be a better opportunity to move to 64-bit computing on the workstation, since it will involve little additional effort.

How Progent Can Help You to Migrate to 64-bit Processing
In addition to helping you to evaluate the practical benefits, expenses, and technical risks associated with migrating to 64-bit computing, Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help you design, document, carry out, manage, and repair a network-wide move to 64-bit server and client operating systems and applications. Progent can help you pilot your 64-bit environment to make sure it handles all of the key 32-bit applications which you intend to retain as well as the latest 64-bit versions of software you wish to run. If moving to Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 is part of your x64 upgrade plan, Progent's certified Windows 7 experts, Windows 8.1 migration consultants, and Windows 10 planning and migration consultants can assist your company to decide which workstation hardware and applications can or ought to be preserved, and outline a migration process that is minimally disturbing to your network productivity.

Other ways Progent can assist you to upgrade to 64-bit processing include:

• Progent's experience providing remote computer consulting and support can save you effort and expense during your 64-bit migration, and Progent's background working with internal IT staffs and providing technical information sharing 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 x64 processing environment, that it is simple to monitor, administer, and repair, and that it offers a high degree of data protection and reliability.

• Progent's disaster recovery consultants can assist you in developing and validating a workplace recovery plan that includes your 64-bit servers. Progent's Microsoft certified Microsoft System Center System Center Data Protection Manager (SCDPM) support experts can assist you to configure Microsoft System Center System Center Data Protection Manager to provide automated remote backup with the advantage of rapid system restoration.

• Progent's CISM, CISSP, GIAC, and CISA network security consultants can help you develop a company-wide security plan that implements some of the new security mechanisms included with 64-bit 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 utilize 64-bit virtual server technology to conserve hardware, simplify administration, improve reliability, lower hosting expenses, and speed up recovery time in case of a catastrophic breakdown.

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