We have a considerable number of years of experience in designing PC LAN and WAN networks. These projects cover green field installations, upgrades and expansions plus troubleshooting existing installations.

Exmos Network

Our own network is a multi-site Windows 2003/Exchange 2003 Active Directory environment running over VPN. We utilise Outlook Web Access (OWA), Server Active Sync (SAS) and PocketPC for mobile e-mail and client VPN.

We have site-site VPN links into our major clients' networks allowing us immediate online access when required. When working remotely from the office, we utilise a global roaming service giving us dial-up and wi-fi access to the Internet and via VPN into our network from almost anywhere in the world at reduced rates.

Windows 2000 to 2003 Migration with multi-site expansion

This client was running a single site Windows 2000 Active Directory domain with a POP3 e-mail solution and some remote users in another office.

We installed a new Windows 2003 Server with Exchange 2003 in the Head Office and migrated the existing AD into 2003 with no downtime for the users. The existing server was moved to their remote office and Windows/Exchange 2003 installed. The sites are linked by VPN running over ADSL provided by two new firewalls. At the same time, a number of new workstations and laptops were introduced into the network. The majority of this work was carried out remotely during the Christmas/New Year holiday period while the office was closed.

SBS Network Upgrade

This particular Windows 2000 network stood out due to the many problems it was suffering due to what we believed was a misconfigured DNS. This resulting in very poor performance while accessing the server and a workstation logon process that took anything up to ten minutes. On closer inspection, we were amazed to discover it had no DNS installed - something thought to be impossible in an Active Directory environment. We reinstated the DNS and fixed the existing issues and general AD configuration before upgrading to SBS 2003 and introducing Exchange 2003.

Fibre Backbone Upgrade

This was a network infrastructure comprising several buildings linked by fibre. It had evolved over a number of years, with different segments being installed by different suppliers.

We put forward a proposal based on closely matched, high quality equipment from a major networking manufacturer. The network was constructed offsite in our office allowing the upgrade to be installed within a few hours at the site. The network now has Gigabit (1000Mbit) networking over all the fibre segments and some of the copper segments. Each desktop has its own 100Mbit switched connection. The servers sit on a Gigabit network switch, giving each server its own dedicated Gigabit connection.

Factory Production System running over Industrial Ethernet

We worked in partnership with the main contractor on this multi-million pound factory automation project. Our remit included designing an internally firewalled LAN segregating the servers from the main production network and both subnets from the office/admin network, while at the same time allowing only the appropriate connectivity to take place between all three networks. The network runs over a fibre-optic based Industrial Ethernet backbone. There are VPN links to the primary contractor and our own network, with client VPN connectivity for various other contractors who monitor and maintain some of the automation equipment.

We have a robust SQL Server backup solution running 24x7 replicating dump files to other devices and continually to tape. Due to the additional complexity with the tape rotations on this system, we monitor it remotely using Exmos Media Monitor for Backup Exec.

Network Expansion due to Acquisition

This started with a Netware to Windows 2000 Active Directory migration. It then became a multi-site AD environment with multiple Exchange Servers (2003) running over VPN on ADSL. Both sites run Ultrium/LTO Autoloaders managed by BackupEXEC and Exmos Media Monitor.

Netware to NT4 Migration

Our first major Netware to NT4 Migration took place back in 1996 for this client, based in the United States.

Once the base NT Server installation had been created, the customisation of the server and the migration of the users and their files from the Netware servers were all scripted. This allowed the migration process to be planned, tested and finely tuned while the users continued to use the existing systems throughout the week.

This was not merely a file copying exercise - part of our remit was to re-engineer the way in which the users stored their files and to migrate the existing files into their new structure and security.

At close of business on the Friday, the migration was started and allowed to run overnight. On the Saturday the migration was checked and work started on changing the network protocols on each of the eighty workstations.

We received a phone call on the Monday to say the migration had been a total success and everyone was up and running with no problems. Making a trip back to site 3500 miles away was not an option!