Banner Plant core system efficiency drastically improved...
The business critical hire desk system was running very slowly. To determine the causes of the problem, the database server was monitored using an open source snmp system. The monitoring revealed that during the times of poor performance the underlying disk system was 100% utilised on reading and writing and the disk queues were excessively long. See the 2 graphs below for an example of the performance prior to the fix.
It was determined that moving the database files to a new raid 5 array and increasing the server memory would help to overcome the disk bottle neck. A database maintenance plan was also implemented that re-indexes the databases every week and updates the statistics every day. The results speak for themselves, see the below 2 graphs taken recently.
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Major spam problem eliminated with open source solution...
A plant hire company on a yearly contract was being inundated with unsolicited and sometimes offensive emails (spam). An effective and cheap solution was requested, so Genica reused an existing desktop computer and installed a Linux based anti-spam and anti-virus gateway. The anti-spam gateway was placed in front of the mail servers to filter out spam and pass only clean mail to the mail server.
Spam levels dropped dramatically as the anti-spam gateway stopped 99% of all spam. The anti-spam system is based on the highly effective 'spamassassin' engine which utilises real time blocking lists, Bayesian analysis, fuzzy ocr, greylisting and updatable rules.
Email spam is no longer a problem for this plant hire company. It has been removed at zero cost.
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Swing migration used to transfer a production server to faster, more robust hardware in only eight hours...
An existing Windows Small Business server was running on unreliable hardware with a single disk file system. It was decided to migrate it to faster, more robust hardware.
The available time window to transfer Small business server, including Active Directory, Exchange email, SQL server and ISA server was only 12 hours. The swing migration method adds a backup domain controller to the original Active directory domain then removes it from the existing domain to act as a source for all the information for the domain on the new hardware. In the process, no servers need to be renamed. The domain keeps the original name and all internal references are kept intact.
The result is that the migration was completed in only 8 hours, causing no disruption to the Client as it was done on a weekend, and all systems were an exact match for the originals.
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The client was running their main business ERP software on a very old Unix Server (approx 8 years old). The Server regularly fell over and suffered from speed issues. Recognising they needed to upgrade to newer hardware, Genica were tasked with installing and moving across the whole system to a new Mutli-Processor Linux Server. To make matters a lot more complex, the client wanted the ERP software updating to a new Windows-based version too.
Genica spent 5 months on this project, being responsible for the following tasks:
The new server and ERP Windows-based system all went live on the 1st December 06. The client is delighted with the new system and the service provided. Click here to read their testimony on the matter.
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Web Surfing restrictions reduce time wasting...
The Client complained that their staff were violating company policy and browsing the Internet for social reasons during work time. They asked us to look at a cheap and easy way to restrict access, as the Internet was still a vital tool for all staff.
As the company only relied on a certain number of known web addresses, it was decided that the easiest option would be to deny access to everything but the allowed sites. This was done using the 'ISA Management Console' (part of Windows Server Software), coupled with Domain Groups to grant/deny access to specific users. When access to new websites not in the list is required, staff now have to get a manager to authorise it, and the address is then added to the approved list.
The client is extremely happy with this cost-effective solution, that required no extra software to be purchased.
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Genica acquire a new major client...
Genica are pleased to announce a new client to our growing portfolio. Flexseal Couplings Ltd, part of the Fernco Group, are an established Manufacturing company based in Barnsley with 60+ staff. Genica will be responsible for their day-to-day IT support as well as helping the client with a Sage Migration Project. Click here to see our full client portfolio.