Mid-Size Corporate Network Merger 

Challenge: Two Chicago-based companies, each with a 250+ node network announce a merger. One company is relocating to the other company’s building. Integrate their separate Windows NT networks into a single, cohesive network with integrated email, fax, and Internet connectivity.

Solution: Set up a temporary wide area network utilizing T1 lines to connect the two sites. Next we set up a trust relationship between the two NT domains, allowing users from each domain to access each other’s server resources. Since both companies used Lotus Domino as their messaging and fax platforms, cross-certifying the Domino servers allowed access to each other’s databases and internal email messaging. Next we started merging the NT servers into a single domain, relocated them to a central server room, and centralized the management of all the servers. This was followed by relocating the users from one facility to the other, and migrating their accounts into the primary NT domain. Last step was to consolidate the two Lotus Notes domains into a single domain. The final result was to consolidate from a total of 42 file and application servers to just 28, while adding new functionality like Virtual Private Networking, increased security from Internet hackers, and improved stability and reliability of the network.

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