Basically configuring the system from scratch, all the user data was backed up, the internal domain directory was set-up properly with host name look-ups; home share points were set and all available administration tools were configured into the management control panel.

Except for a need to contact the external ISP, so as to make sure DNS entries and outside interface was set up properly, the job was finished about 2 AM the next morning!

The result was just about what was hoped for — the load strains were reduced, and back-up primary domain control was established and a 100 per cent up time with no fail-overs achieved!

Tayco’s line of sophisticated and award-winning office furniture includes customizable systems and a comprehensive line of accessories. Apple computers are not included with the furniture, as shown in the picture, but they are critical to the company's IT infrastructure.

Tayco was thrilled, and the president was supportive of an all-Mac environment. Save for the fact that one important CRM software program had not yet been ported to the Mac OS, his wish might have come true. As it stands, Tayco quickly decided to roll out two more Xserves, balancing the network even more and steering the company to an open, expandable IT environment.

Today, the core elements of that environment include:

“We have three Xserves right now — one used for DHCP, file sharing (SMB, AFP), VPN, LDAP, FTP, DNS and Software Update Services; the second is the Directory Master (Primary Domain Controller for Windows clients). It is also our secondary DNS Server. The third Xserve is our Open Directory Replica (Secondary Domain Controller for windows clients), as well as a third DNS Server, and file server (it hosts homefolders).”

“So basically Xserve1 is the ‘networking’ box, Xserve 2 and 3 are used for authentication purposes and file serving. Just in case, Xserve3 provides backup authentication service, so our clients can log-in and access their files even if open directory master is not available,” Przemek explains.

The AFP he mentioned, the Apple Filing Protocol, is a file services presentation layer protocol. It’s one of several file services supported including Server Message Block (SMB), Network File System (NFS), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and WebDAV. It currently supports Unicode file names, POSIX and access control list permissions, UNIX quotas, resource forks, named extended attributes, and advanced file locking.

Tayco was thrilled, and the president was supportive of an all-Mac environment.

Tayco is now set up so that users can connect to the servers simply by browsing the network, or entering a URL. Users can share the contents of their folders simply by checking Personal File Sharing in the Sharing section of System Preferences.

And because OS X talks to most file server protocols on every major server platform in the market today — including AFP, SMB/CIFS, WebDAV and NFS file services running on Mac OS X Server, AppleShare, UNIX, Linux, Novell NetWare and Windows NT, 2000 and 2003 servers, Tayco is able to protect its past investments and utilize older system assets for specific functions, Przemek says.

“We do use two IBM’s iSeries servers for our ERP system, with one server dedicated to this task alone. Another is our mail/calendaring server — we use Domino software. We also use three more IBM’s xSeries servers for printing/network fax services, ERP related tasks, and one for our web-based reports.”

He notes that Xserves provide central LDAP based authentication for all of the above servers.

Xserves also underscore the ability to manage a network of different workstations — desktops and laptops-running Mac OS X, Windows 2000, and Windows XP, among others.

For the users, this is invisible. For the company, it is invaluable. For the IT guy, it’s easy to connect nodes in a basic star topology, with connections to a central switch, and then to the Xserve. Przemek has no real reason to interconnect the workstations to each other.

Additional workstations can be added, configured and removed easily, as addresses on the network are assigned automatically. Using the Xserve Workgroup Manager, users are not locked to a particular workstation-they can always get to their files, access their files and personalized desktop from anywhere on the network.

Additionally, wireless networking can be set up by running an AirPort base station in Ethernet bridging mode, so that the Xserve provides the DHCP information to the clients, rather than the base station’s built-in DHCP server.

This is exactly what Tayco now has in place. Their IT department is a two-man shop, with reliable and accessible support from Thompson’s company, Digital Transitions, just a phone call away.