Migration of a builder’s merchant from a UNIX to a Windows environment

The Challenge
A builders merchant with over 20 branches and 500 staff planned to move their core line of business application from a UNIX environment, which they had been using for over 10 years, to a Windows environment.

The Solution
As this was a large strategic project EACS worked with the company to specify the most effective system and helped them to choose the most appropriate vendors.

EACS then implemented a Windows based infrastructure, which consisted of:

• NetApp Storage Area Network at both the primary and Disaster Recovery (DR) sites
• Virtualised server environment using VMware on HP Blade servers - without this the company would have needed over 50 servers. This solution allows them to reduce space and power requirements and simplify management of the systems. It also forms part of their DR solution
• Citrix XenApp was used to deploy applications to 500 users based at the branch and office locations using thin client devices over a WAN
• AppSense Management Software was implemented to secure Windows terminal services and desktop PCs