Weekend Network Makeover

A local law firm was having ongoing network connectivity problems. The attorney partners and support staff were losing access to email and the internet which was critical for gathering information vital to their cases. Lack of the local network also prevented access to shared folders and applications necessary for computing billable hours.

3DotSolutions was approached to remedy the situation. After a brief analysis, it was obvious that the person configuring the network had never build a server using minimal standards and best practices. It was determined that the entire network needed to be rebuilt from the ground up.

Using hardware and network equipment from 3DotSolutions and application software from the client, we built a temporary, full function IT Infrastructure in our lab. The server and network components were built to mirror a new permanent Microsoft Active Directory production network infrastructure. Users would be configure with robust security based on standard procedures and best practices When completed, this temporary server and network would be the template for the new production network.

At the end of a Friday workday, we did a complete backup of the current server, and exported all user profiles, including favorites, desktops, etc. We then removed the current server, installed the newly configured firewall, connected the server, printers and workstations. Users had been set up in the lab with new logon accounts and passwords. Old profiles were migrated to the new profiles. We printed from each workstation, validated desktops, placed notes on desks with logon instructions and left. On Monday, with one 3dotsolutions engineer onsite, the staff began arriving, sat at desks, read logon instructions and began work, some unaware that the entire infrastructure had changed.

We returned to the lab, and installed Microsoft Small Business Server on the client’s server. We then installed the server side applications, and used the workstations from the previous cycle to test each client access to the network file systems and internet. We then rebuilt the production network firewall and re-established the connections to printers and file servers. Finally we created a data backup system, so that there was no chance of losing valuable client data. We then locked down the network to protect data files and customer and attorney privacy.

For the second time 3DotSolutions engineers arrived at the client site on a weekend, placed the newly configured firewall and server on line, rolled forward the file systems from the temporary server, powered on the client workstations and validated that they were connected to the network with up to date, point in time restoration of all production and client data files and user profiles. As a final step, we successfully ran the scheduled backup. The staff came in on Monday and logged in as before and were unaware that the entire infrastructure had changed.

NOT ONE MINUTE OF DOWN TIME WAS LOST DURING THE ENTIRE PROCESS.