ProNet Computers is a computer
support company supplying professional
computer installation, support, maintenance and outsource repair, based
in Mansfield Notts.
ProNet Computers has developed and deployed the
hardware necessary to enable the UK Business Barometer to offer its
internet based trends survey for small and medium size enterprises.
The Barometer is jointly run by Nottingham
University Business School and Business365. Surveys are published monthly,
and cover general and topical issues related to UK Business.
Firms are asked to provide brief details about
their business often referred to as 'classification data' such as age,
size, location etc. This will be updated on an annual basis, although
significant changes can be reported through the 'change of address/trading
conditions' section. The regular questionnaire is transmitted
electronically and takes only a few minutes to complete.
All information collected in confidential, and
results are used to pass on the views of Business to national and regional
policy makers, and for further research.
http://www.ukbb.ac/
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Towards the
end of 2000 The University of Nottingham commissioned this a data base
company to produce a database accessible across the internet.
This client
is a specialist intranet database designer with expert
knowledge in business processes. However, they consulted ProNet
Computers for advice on the deployment of their database on the internet.
ProNet Computers has had a long business relationship
with this Client and therefore this Client had great faith in the ability
of ProNet Computers to offer a solution - not only within budget and on
schedule, but also of sound technical construction.
ProNet Computers
demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed solution by "dry
running" the Client database on their in-house demonstration Intel
servers for a two month period prior to commission.
Following a
further period of discussion and consultation, both short and long term
business plans were agreed. These allowed them to progress with a
structured programme to deploy their new computer data centre at
considerably reduced costs than anticipated in advance by Client.
A
"secret" secure co-hosting data center was located close to the
head office of Client and then plans were put in place for the deployment
of the Intel Servers.
ProNet Computers
built the new Intel servers and then loaded the Microsoft Windows 2000
operating system with "Thin client components" & Microsoft
SQL server in their labs in the Mansfield office. After a period of
"burning in" the servers were moved to their new
"secret" location and deployed. ProNet Computers were able
to offer Client absolutely minimal down time to the now live internet
database, as whilst the new servers were deployed into their new location,
tested and then the internet DNS entries were adjusted to point at the
newly deployed Intel servers, the live database was still running on
ProNet Computers' servers..
The project was
very successful:-
ProNet
Computers are fully committed to working with their clients to provide a
cost effective business solution and at the same time advise and inform
them of advances in technology which will benefit them in the future. All
of this can only be forthcoming as a result of long-term business
relationships.
http://www.ukbb.ac/
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When
ProNet was first introduced to this client, the business needs of the
Association were beginning to stretch the IT system infrastructure to its
limits. The system was based
on a Novell NetWare 4.11 server with approximately 50 client PCs all
running Microsoft Windows 3.11. These were mainly located at the head
office, but also in a satellite site in North Nottinghamshire connected
via a 64K Kilostream line and 30 stand-alone remote projects consisting of
retirement homes, shelters for abused women and “Care in the
Community” Schemes.
Lotus
CC mail catered for internal Email, with Internet Email facilities
provided on only one pc with one Email account. This machine also had web
browsing capability.
The
core business software, Openhouse, which dealt with the rents and repairs
to the hundreds of homes that were maintained by this client, operated on
a Unix server, along with the Powersolve accounting system.
Microsoft products made up the remaining set of applications, along
with the other specialised software that each individual department
required.
It
was apparent that the system required substantial upgrading.
Following consultation, a phased programme was designed to achieve
this goal and the decision was made to proceed.
UPGRADE
PROGRAMME
A
complete network infrastructure audit was undertaken to establish the
exact connectivity requirements of this client.
The
solution that was mutually agreed was a heterogonous environment,
comprising NetWare 5 as an application server (this client was familiar
with the NDS structure and was happy with NetWare’s performance and
reliability), an NT4 Domain system to control the network printing
services, Internet connectivity via Microsoft Proxy Server, and 2 UnixWare
file servers to run the rents and accounts systems.
All
workstations were to be upgraded to run Windows NT4, with the applications
being deployed via Novell’s Zenworks Technology. The desktops were to be
"bolted down" to minimise end-user configuration issues.
Full
Internet Email was to be deployed to the desktop using Novell GroupWise,
along with integrated Fax using Cheyenne’s FaxServe located on an NT4
server.
The
core set of applications remained fairly static - though upgraded to
Office 97- and a new set of department-specific software could now be
utilized, which included AutoCAD, PowerProject, NHER Surveyor, CATS
Training, Widget and the Croner series of Reference titles, to name but a
few.
Printing
was another area that received some extra attention. Previously, the Unix
systems produced various reports, including the rent statements, that had
to be formatted and then re-formatted. These were then printed out on a
selection of dedicated HP printers that were equipped with memory cards
full of user-installed forms. These printers were no longer available so a
new solution had to be found.
Software
was sourced that could take the place of the printer installed forms and
was deployed on an NT4 server. This software takes a plain text output and
formats it to a pre-determined layout, printing it out on any postscript
compatible printer. This meant that all forms and reports that were issued
from the Unix system could be fully customised to the needs of this client
without altering any of the existing report generating utilities on the
Unix box which were left outputting straight non-formatted text.
The
new systems were installed alongside the existing system to minimize
disruption to the users.
When
the system was ready for testing, selected departments were transferred
and a gateway to the CCmail system from the GroupWise system was
established to provide continuing Email support throughout the
Association.
After
the initial testing phase was satisfactorily completed, the decision to
move remaining users over to the new system was taken, and a phased
implementation plan was invoked over a 6-week period.
ONGOING
SUPPORT
After
several months of operation it became clear that the integration between
GroupWise and FaxServe was not functioning as it should.
Novell and Cheyenne were unable to resolve the problems, and
therefore an alternative solution was proposed and accepted which involved
replacing both GroupWise and FaxServe and implementing Microsoft Exchange
and Fenestrae Faxination with Microsoft Outlook as the Email client.
The
new Microsoft Exchange server was installed, tested and proved to be
working properly with the FaxServe solution within that week.
Outlook was deployed via Zenworks on the following weekend to
avoid user disruption. All Email and diary information was migrated across
platforms. This solution has proved to be far superior to the Novell
offering, which at the time was chosen because of ease of integration with
the Novell Operating system.
CENTRALISED
SOFTWARE
The
this client infrastructure had now grown to service something in the
region of 150 LAN users, 30 Remote Projects, 2 branch Offices and numerous
home users. The Exchange server contained some 500-employee mailboxes at
this stage.
The
next requirement of this client was to centralise the project users’
bespoke software, and to provide them with Email and Office Products. This
was achieved with an NT4 Terminal Services server with Citrix MetaFrame
also installed. Users could dial in through an NTL Primary rate ISDN
connection, interfaced to an NT4 server that was
configured to provide RAS access to the network.
NTL
was chosen as the telco because NTL's Centrex system provides a no call
charge system, within their Centrex network.
With
the availability of a new high speed, permanently-on, wireless Internet
connection provided by Tele2, all web browsing and Email traffic was
diverted through a new BinTec Router utilising this new connection. This
router provides a firewall solution as well as Radius Client
Authentication via a Windows 2000 Server for remote users over the
Internet.
With
the success, flexibility and ease of deployment of thin client technology,
it was decided to adopt Citrix MetaFrame throughout the whole organisation.
This was coupled with an upgrade of all NT servers to Windows 2000
with the data stored on a Linux server. Two MetaFrame servers are being
implemented in a load-balanced environment, providing a much more
resilient system as well as evenly distributing the user load.
The
two remote offices are now connected to the head office via a permanent
virtual private network (VPN) over the Internet.
Access to all this client systems can now be achieved via dial-up
analogue or digital telephone line remote access services (RAS), VPN from
home, or directly through any web browser and from anywhere in the world.
ProNet
Computers continues to work closely with this client to maintain the IT
system infrastructure in a stable, efficient state and to advise and
inform the Association regarding advances in industry technology which may
benefit the Association in the longer term.
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Building
and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF) commissioned ProNet Computers, after
doing through research in to our technical ability to succeed in this
project, to migrate their legacy Apple Macintosh
system to an Intel/Microsoft
Windows system.
The
Building and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF) is a research institute
based in Coalville, Leicestershire in the United Kingdom.
Established
by Mr Peter Elderfield in 1976, the Building and Social Housing Foundation
received its financial endowment from a building organisation formed by a
group of homeless and penniless ex-servicemen just after World War
Two.
The
Foundation carries out research into all aspects of housing, concerning
itself with the immediate and practical problems of housing today as well
as attempting to look to the future in a progressive and imaginative
way. Of particular interest is the need to identify a sustainable
and viable way of life for the future in both the developed and developing
world and the reallocation of resources away from wasteful expenditure on
armaments to meeting the shelter needs of the millions of homeless around
the world.
BSHF
is not concerned with identifying problems, but rather with focusing
attention on solutions and bringing about improvements in housing
conditions throughout the world. This it does through a variety of
activities which are detailed below. In all its work it aims to
avoid bureaucracy, eliminate the waste of resources and encourage
self-help and self-reliance.
Building
and Social Housing Foundation is a registered charity (Number 270987) and
its objectives are:
1)
To undertake study and research into the science of the development,
construction or management of residential housing.
2)
To publish the results of all study and research.
One
of the new system design constraints was that The BSHF wanted to retain
access to their archive data on the original Apple computers but due to
the constraints in availability of spare desk space having the two systems
deployed on the desktop was not an option.
An
important computer system design issue to the BSHF was integrated email
and web browsing along with a secure and structured computer system,
common network printing, secure file storage and backup along with remote
computer system access.
FINAL
COMPUTER SYSTEM DESIGN
Intel
Pentium III computer network server in Intel SC5000 server chassis &
Microsoft Windows 2000.
Veritas
Backup software and Digital Audio Tape (DAT) unit configured in unattended
backup, verify and email confirmation of job.
Intel
Pentium III Personal Computers with Intel Pro100 network interfaces
running on Microsoft Windows 2000 Pro.
Intel
InBusiness 10/100Mb network switch.
BinTec
IDSDN network router with analogue module for dial in remote access and
internal network firewall.
SCOPE
OF WORK
- Install category 5E network data points
in local office to facilitate network connectivity.
- Build install, configure and test new
Intel computer server along with network hardware.
- Migrate existing data to server.
- Enable Apple Mackintosh file access on
new Intel server to enable retrieval of old data files.
- Configure new Email system to
facilitate internal & external Email.
- Configure all new Intel PC’s to
access the new file server within the designed security model.
- Configure BinTec network router to
access existing Internet Service Provider (ISP) for Email retrieval
and networked PC internet
web browsing.
- Install and configure new off-site
PC’s enabling Thin Client access to head office and therefore remote
retrieval of Email, Files
and Contact information.
- Configure ProNet Computers BinTec
network router to enable remote network support.
This
project was successfully completed to budget and within anticipated
timescales.
Building
and Social Housing Foundation
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The Nottinghamshire ICT theme group has
been a ‘virtual’ group of organisations within the Nottinghamshire
Infrastructure Consortium which has taken the information and
communications technology (ICT) review forward. It includes
Full
report
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To contact
ProNet Computers:
Dial 01623 811920 or email
info@pronetcomputers.com
ProNet
Computers, Problem Free IT
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