Challenge: A Chicagoland manufacturing company with another facility in Tennessee wants to improve user access to an IBM AS/400 server running their Manufacturing Resource Planning software, provide Internet and e-mail connectivity, and migrate data files from an old SGI Unix-based file server to a new NT server. Chicago users currently access the AS/400 through terminals and terminal emulation cards in their PCs. Tennessee terminal users access the AS/400 through a Perle controller connected to Chicago with a 64 kb/s leased line.
Solution: Install a Fast Ethernet network in both the Chicago and Tennessee locations. Connect the AS/400 and users workstations to the Ethernet LAN. Connect the workstations to the AS/400 using IBM Client Access software over TCP/IP. In Chicago, install a new Windows NT Domain Controller server, migrate the data from the SGI Unix system to it; set up a Microsoft Proxy Server and DSL Internet link to provide secure Internet access and remote user access through Virtual Private Networking; and set up a Microsoft Exchange Server to provide internal and external e-mail. Next, set up Cisco routers in Chicago and Tennessee to route TCP/IP traffic over the existing 64 kb/s line between the sites. Last, setup a Backup Domain Controller Server in Tennessee to provide file and print services to the Tennessee users, and install IBM Client Access software on the workstations to connect to the AS/400 in Chicago directly through the Cisco routers. This solution provided cost-effective file, print, email, internet, and IBM AS/400 resource sharing for 80+ Chicago users and 20+ Tennessee users.
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