PC Reseller
Education - Single School
Education - School District

PC RESELLER

Oftentimes PC resellers and installers have more work than they can handle. When that occurs, they approach companies like Networks 2000 for assistance.

Since 1997, Networks 2000 has been providing ongoing Windows NT and Novell Netware networking services for this well-established PC reseller. Work provided for their clients includes:

• Upgrading a 50-user file and print server to Netware 4.11.
• Upgrading a Windows NT 4.0 Server to propagate Internet connectivity for e-mail and World Wide Web access.
• Setup and configuration of a CC: Mail 8.0 messaging system for a 100-user Novell/Windows NT 4.0 LAN.
• Configuring internal and Internet e-mail access across frame relay WAN including access from external Internet connections.
• Optimizing NDS across multiple WAN connections.

This arrangement allows our customer to focus on bringing in new business and to complete projects more quickly than if they performed them on their own.

EDUCATION - SINGLE SCHOOL

A private high school with over 1400 students and more than 200 workstations had an existing network that required a number of upgrades to keep up with changes in technology and meet the needs of a growing student population. They came to Networks 2000 for assistance with implementing and managing these changes. After determining their exact needs and requirements, the following work was performed:

• Reconfigured the existing network to access the Internet using services provided by Southwestern Cable's Road Runner.
• Configured multiple networks to segregate the student's network from the administration offices.
• Optimized the student workstations for network access and security.
• Set up email services for administrative users through Post.Office.
• Set up and configured Internet URL and filtering using Cyberpatrol's Superscout product for students and administration, to stop access to inappropriate web sites. There are two separate networks configured behind the firewall.
• Implemented a centrally managed anti-virus protection program using Norton Antivirus Enterprise.
• Upgraded their server hardware and Operating system to Netware 6.0 from Netware 4.11.
• Set up Macintosh services on the Novell servers to provide access for those workstations, and configured the server for use by students.
• Implemented DNS, DHCP, Zenworks and desktop imaging.

We currently provide ongoing technical support, including: consulting, server administration and service and support for hardware and networking issues.

School management has been very happy with the outcome of these projects. In addition to providing them with a strong, stable network that meets their existing needs and allows for future growth, they have seen a major reduction in the number of hours their IT employees spend managing the networks.

By implementing a firewall, we have given this school peace of mind, knowing that students and faculty won't be able to access prohibited sites, and that no one from the outside will be able to access confidential information.

EDUCATION - SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Director of Technology for a 20-site school district, each site with its own Novell server, contacted Networks 2000 for assistance. Their network engineer was leaving and taking his network expertise with him.

Networks 2000 stepped in immediately to handle critical issues, providing almost daily, on-site network support.

Before this occurred, the director had already decided to take a look at the overall health of their network. They had been hit recently by computer viruses and several unplanned network crashes.

Networks 2000 had the answer. In a meeting at the District office with the director and the network engineer, a Technology Assessment Profile (TAP) was administered. Networks 2000 explored every aspect of their network, including:

• Management
• Security
• Data Storage
• Disaster Recovery

Soon after, Networks 2000 delivered the final result, a top to bottom analysis of the school district's network, then worked with the director to establish an implementation plan based on the district's most critical needs, their budget and resource availability. The list was extensive, but within the first few weeks Networks 2000 had significantly reorganized and secured the network by performing the following:

• Increasing server reliability and established redundancy by upgrading to Novell NetWare 5.1 from 4.2 and creating replication servers.
• Reconfiguring Novell NDS from two trees to one to ease network management issues.
• Improving the tape backup performance by installing a second DLT tape drive to rework their backup strategy. By adding remote data replication (a Novell Replication Service product), tape backup is now performed from one location, making it faster and more reliable.
• Upgrading Norton Anti-Virus to the latest version, 7.61, and setting up much needed automatic updates to significantly decrease their problem of unplanned server downtime.
• Implementing an email virus gateway server to scan email for viruses before they reach the email server.
• Upgrading primary server hardware and all servers with the latest operating system patches, fixes, and firmware.

Additional recommended upgrades include:

• Additional network infrastructure changes, such as: increase the number of IP addresses, implement DNS/DHCP-to reduce internet bandwidth usage by keeping DNS queries within the network and reduce the complexity of IP address management.
• Improve Internet access performance through implementation of a web-caching device.
• Improve overall network security and network management.
• Develop a more workable Disaster Recovery Plan.
• Create and maintain network documentation.
• Implement a Storage Area Network (SAN).

The director of technology was amazed at how many specific improvements came out of such a quick assessment. He is very happy with all the support given to him by Networks 20000. Within a very short time, their multi-location WAN has become much more stable and easier to manage. The upgrades continue.