Contact Information: Contact: Henry Stimpson Stimpson Communications 508-647-0705 HStimpson@StimpsonCommunications.com Ken Lizotte Emerson Consulting Group 978-371-1788 ken@thoughtleading.com
Create a Super-Reliable Computer Network: Atrion's Nault Shares the Secrets
| Source: Atrion
WARWICK, RI -- (MARKET WIRE) -- February 1, 2007 -- What's the best way to invest in your computer
network to avoid costly downtime despite a power or Internet outage?
Reliability expert Charles Nault, chairman of Atrion Networking Corp., lays
out five building blocks for a super-reliable network, in an article in
Mass High Tech, Jan. 26 issue.
1. Network-critical physical infrastructure. NCPI refers to the physical
environment in which critical network components operate, beginning with
power. Besides backup batteries, a generator fired by a large propane tank
is a must. "Build your NCPI as if your company's life depended on it --
because it does," Nault writes.
2. Servers. "Standardize on one vendor with a solid product and on-site
support. For all mission-critical applications, make sure there is a hot
spare and a flawless backup."
3. Security. "Begin this one with patches and fixes. Infrastructure
devices have become more sophisticated, and so have their operating
systems. It is not unheard of for a router manufacturer like Cisco Systems
Inc. to have to release an emergency upgrade for plugging up a newly
discovered vulnerability."
4. Edge devices. "Standardization is critical. A common and usually
adequate strategy is to keep a spare router, switch, or whatever the device
may be, that can be installed in just about any location."
5. Monitoring and problem resolution. Constant monitoring prevents most
problems and minimizes the time it takes to resolve problems that
inevitably do occur. For companies that need to recover in minutes rather
than hours, proactive monitoring is the only way to go.
"Building your super-reliable network is mostly a function of risk
assessment and planning done upfront. You must establish firm policies
providing for stability, standardization and security, as well as for
maximum performance and availability," Nault concludes.
The article can be read at
http://masshightech.bizjournals.com/masshightech/stories/2007/01/29/focus4.html.
Atrion Networking Corp. is a network integration firm in Warwick, R.I. For
more information, visit www.atrion.net.