Ireland Move to Windows 2000
(05 Aug 2003)
Dublin, Ireland: 05th August 2003
Cadbury Ireland Ltd, has announced the successful completion of a significant project to upgrade their LAN and desktop infrastructure in Ireland. This involved converting from token ring to Ethernet and a major upgrade of their Server and desktop hardware. The project involved replacing over 300 PCs and Laptops along with new Print/File servers. The contract to upgrade their Servers and desktops to Windows 2000 was awarded to DSS, Irelands leading independent computer systems and services company.
This project, which took 3 months to complete and was finished earlier this summer, was valued at over €600k and encompassed the design and implementation of Windows 2000 for servers and clients as well the implementation of a disaster tolerant file and print serving solution.
This is the second such migration project carried out by DSS on behalf of Cadbury Ireland. The first one was in 1999 and involved the replacement of over 180 PC’s and upgrades for another 200 PC’s as part of their year 2000 compliance project. Since then, DSS have become accredited as a Microsoft Gold Partner, which further re-enforced their Microsoft capabilities and ability to deliver the migration to Windows 2000.
The scope of the work involved was significant, from the initial design of the project plan and identification of resource requirements to the development and testing of new desktop and laptop images. Piloting the solution amongst a group of key users before full implementation ensured smooth migration to the new operating system and full technical workshop training and documentation was also provided.
As part of the overall solution, DSS also implemented NSI’s GeoCluster product, which extends the capabilities of Microsoft Cluster Service (MSCS) to create a stretch cluster. This product was determined as the most suitable solution for Cadbury who required that file and print services should be maintained even in the event of a complete loss of the main computer room.
According to Catherine Murphy, DP Manager with Cadbury Ireland “ this project was a complex undertaking for Cadbury Ireland. Working in conjunction with our IT department, DSS ensured the smooth delivery of all the tasks required for successful completion of the project. We are delighted with the superior technical efficiencies which have resulted since the migration to Windows 2000 and with the professional manner in which its implementation was managed by DSS” added Catherine.