Computer Network Support for Medium-size Businesses

With most business networks, 64-bit computing is a great untapped power source. Intel and AMD, the leading CPU manufacturers, have been incorporating 64-bit capability in their commodity CPUs for years, with the result that all classes of business computers including notebooks, desktop PCs, high-powered workstations and back-office servers now possess the ability to run in 64-bit format. However most of these in-place devices still host 32-bit operating systems.

The primary reason for this widespread hesitation to participate in the 64-bit revolution is that the business benefit for upgrading in-place computers has appeared to be modest in relation to the effort required. There is no automatic path to upgrade from a 32-bit to a 64-bit OS. The enhancement demands a clean installation, which calls for reinstalling existing applications, saving and restoring data files, and configuring new drivers. This demands thorough planning to do economically. Meanwhile, most desktop applications are still offered only in 32-bit editions, so where's the benefit?

Benefits of Moving Up to 64-bit Processing
The benefits of 64-bit over 32-bit computing may appear to be subtle and difficult to define precisely, but they are significant. The RAM management techniques utilized by 32-bit operating systems are basically an engineering afterthought that limits system stability. RAM-starved applications are sometimes unable to utilize existing memory because the operating system is unable to allocate it efficiently. This can be the cause of software shutting down or performing fitfully even though a machine seems to have ample unused memory. In addition, 64-bit software platforms allow much more addressable RAM than 32-bit systems and process twice as much data per clock cycle. You can also go from one memory-hungry program to another more quickly when running in a 64-bit environment. Fundamentally, 64-bit computing makes environments more stable, more scalable, and faster, which in turn makes businesses more productive.

Microsoft's 64-bit Processing Initiative
Microsoft's “x64” technology supports the 64-bit processors used in most computers currently deployed in business IT environments. (Microsoft's 64-bit "Itanium" initiative is limited to special advanced Intel and AMD CPUs processors and is intended for environments that need large-scale multi-processing.) Before the release of Microsoft Office 2010, most Microsoft client programs including Microsoft Office 2007 and Visual Studio 2005 were offered only in 32-bit versions, which can still be run on x64 platforms. The new generation of Microsoft Office 2010 offers significant enhancements. For example, Microsoft Excel 2010 is available in a 64-bit version that permits you to build spreadsheets with enormous datasets that are not limited by the 2-gigabyte file size imposed by previous releases of Office Excel.

Microsoft offers true x64 editions of many Microsoft Server System products, including Windows Server 2008 and 2003, SQL Server 2008, Exchange Server 2007, Commerce Server 2007, Microsoft BizTalk Server, plus System Center Operations Manager. Microsoft Windows Server x64 editions are priced and licensed identically to their 32-bit editions, so typically you pay nothing more for 64-bit server operating systems or hardware.

For desktop PCs, Microsoft offers Windows 7 and Windows 8 in same-price x64 versions that provide advanced stability, capacity, and throughput. As with all migrations from 32- to 64-bit operating systems, the upgrade can't be done without effort. Each workstation and server requires a clean setup that involves reconfiguring application software, backing up and restoring data, and configuring 64-bit drivers. In fact, for most in-place desktop PCs, and for all PCs powered by Windows XP, even the 64-bit release of Windows 7 or 8 requires you to carry out a clean installation. This being the case, there will never be a better opportunity to move to x64 computing on the workstation, since it will involve little additional effort.

How Progent Can Help You to Upgrade to 64-bit Processing
In addition to helping your organization to evaluate the practical benefits, expenses, and technical variables attached to upgrading to 64-bit processing, Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help you plan, document, implement, manage, and troubleshoot a system-wide migration to 64-bit server and desktop operating systems and applications. Progent can help you pilot your 64-bit environment to make sure it handles all of the important 32-bit programs that you want to retain plus the new 64-bit versions of software you wish to install. If moving to Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 is included in your x64 upgrade plan, Progent's certified Windows 7 experts, Windows 8.1 consultants, and Windows 10 evaluation and upgrade consultants can assist you to determine which workstation computers and applications can or should be preserved, and plan an upgrade procedure that is minimally disturbing to your network operations.

Other ways Progent can help you to upgrade to 64-bit computing include:

• Progent's experience providing remote computer support services can save you effort and expense during your 64-bit upgrade, and Progent's background cooperating with in-house IT staffs and providing technical information sharing to them can increase the effectiveness of your support staff.

• Progent's certified Cisco CCIE network consultants can verify that your network infrastructure is optimized to accommodate your x64 processing solution, that it is easy to monitor, manage, and troubleshoot, and that it offers a high level of security and robustness.

• Progent's disaster recovery consultants can help you in creating and testing a business continuity plan that incorporates your 64-bit servers. Progent's Microsoft certified System Center System Center Data Protection Manager (SCDPM) engineering professionals can help you to configure Microsoft System Center System Center Data Protection Manager to support near-continuous online backup with the advantage of fast system recovery.

• Progent's CISM, CISSP, GIAC, and CISA network security engineers can assist you develop a comprehensive security strategy that deploys some of the new protection technologies included with x64 server platforms. Progent can also carry out network security vulnerability checking to evaluate or confirm your company's adherence to industry or government security standards.

• Progent's virtualization experts can help you benefit from 64-bit virtual server technology to save money on equipment, streamline administration, improve reliability, lower hosting costs, and reduce restoration time in case of a disaster.

• Progent's live online instruction can help get both your IT management team and your desktop employees up to date rapidly and cost-effectively by delivering remote webinars customized for your network environment and business procedures.