SmartCloud is a virtualized network system that allows small and mid-sized businesses to access the vast resources that are available on “the cloud”, but before we describe what SmartCloud actually is let’s look at …

The Old, Traditional Network

For many years, the typical network has consisted of centralized server(s), possibly a server that allows for remote connection, and a variety of desktops and laptops. Inside this network end-users were able to produce documents, perform database updates, and communicate with colleagues and customers, etc…, but with high maintenance systems, too much downtime, and high total costs associated with hardware, power consumption, and IT support.

SmartCloud – The Perfect blend of the “Cloud” and “Virtualization”

So the challenge has been, how can a network be designed that can eliminate the problems associated with a traditional network, and significantly lower the total cost of operations? The answer is “virtualization”. SmartCloud uses a highly redundant, extremely reliable, expandable, low maintenance, low power, “green” business computer network.

What is “Virtualization” and how does it make the
network better?

To make this easier to understand,

we will first describe the “traditional” computer:

A traditional computer is a fully contained unit – meaning that it has all the necessary hardware and software to perform the user’s functions. When a computer is built at the factory, it is just hardware. Then the manufacturer installs the Windows operating system on it. The operating system is “married” to the hardware – meaning that it cannot easily be moved to other hardware (there are licensing and technical reasons why this is difficult).

So why is this marriage a bad thing? If the hardware fails, the user won’t be able to access their software. And when that happens, an IT person must spend a large amount of time repairing the hardware, and/or reinstalling a lot of software. In addition, if there are major software problems, the user won’t be able to access their business applications. Again, an IT person must spend a large amount of time repairing/reinstalling software, and/or just replacing the whole computer. Also, just setting up a new computer for a new user is very time consuming, as all software and settings must be installed and configured each time.

Now ask yourself these questions:

Question:

“What are our two biggest points of failure on our network?”

Answer:

They are computer hardware and end-users. Computers have moving parts that wear out, have many points of failure, get full of dust, and are susceptible to power outages, etc. End-users download and install cute programs, get infected with spyware, delete files, go into places that they shouldn’t, etc.

Question:

“Will our bottom line really improve if our users almost never crash and are always running super fast?”

Answer:

“Absolutely!” Think about it…

How many opportunities do your salespeople miss out on because their systems are habitually slow or even down? How much more work can your office staff perform in a week if theirsoftware always ran at top speed and was 99.99% accessible (that’s only 1 hour of downtime per year!)? And how much time is wasted dealing with SPAM, Spyware, and browsing entertainment web sites?

Computers are just the expensive and unreliable hardware that runs all of your business critical software. So what if we could nearly eliminate all of the expensive and unreliable hardware? And what if we could remotely resolve most end-user mistakes in 60 seconds? And what if we could nearly eliminate SPAM, Spyware, and control web browsing? Would that make your network so low maintenance that your employees could actually focus on the work that they were hired to perform?

What is meant by a “virtual” computer system?

In the real world, the word “virtual” may have some negative connotations (like fake or not real). But it is a very positive thing when applied to computer technology:

• Virtualization separates the software from the hardware, eliminating the “marriage”. The virtualization process takes all of the information from a computer’s hard drive (thousands of files) and compresses it into a “single” file that is stored in a redundant, centralized server. Each user gets their own unique virtual desktop computer file. This file can easily be transported and run from different hardware or locations.
• If there is a hardware failure, because a virtualized desktop is separate from the hardware, the centrally located virtual computer file can be accessed by the end-user from a different computer or terminal. Virtual files are driver and hardware independent, so they can run on any computer hardware.
• Backup and Recovery: A virtual computer performs a snap-shot backup every 15 minutes. If the end-user experiences a virus or some kind of system error, the administrator just reboots the virtual computer desktop to a previous working snapshot! This saves hours of downtime and expense.
• Administration: IT staff can easily rollout software updates/upgrades to virtual desktops in one simple task. First, the administrator installs the upgrade on what is called the “Golden Template Desktop”. Then the desired Virtual desktops are temporarily awakened to receive the rollout, and then put back into hibernation. New virtual desktops can easily be created from templates, and the templates are easily updated.
• Desktop Hardware: Expensive desktop computers are no longer needed, and can be phased out and replaced by inexpensive and zero maintenance proprietary DuraLogic “thin-clients”. A DuraLogic thin-client is much like a dumb-terminal, except that it significantly improves the experience for the end-user. The thin-client has USB and COM port redirection, so that local devices will be accessible (like printers, scanners, digital cameras, PDA’s, point-of-sale equipment, etc…), and also has a DVD/CDRW drive and dual-monitor support.

Virtualization Is No Gimmick

How efficient would it be, if with just a few mouse clicks, you could roll-back to a previous point in time, any computer, or server, or an application, or your data? Or, go forward in time with just a few mouse clicks, to quickly setup a new desktop, or a new user, or roll out a new application to all of your users? Again, all with just a few mouse clicks.  And have all of that information continually sent securely off-site for business continuity?

What if you could do all of this amazing stuff, without a huge upfront cost or IT spending increase? What if this system actually saved you money from the moment it was installed, and made your users more productive?

Virtualization makes your network extremely reliable,
easy to administer, and significantly lowers operating costs

How Your Organization Benefits

• Highly redundant and extremely reliable network. This IS a “Business Continuity” system.
• Easily expandable to add or remove resources as needed if your organization grows or shrinks.
• Low maintenance.
• Low up-front costs
• Low total cost of operations
• Less downtime and more peace of mind. 99.99% uptime for the virtual machines (that’s about 1 hour of downtime per year).
• 99.99% high availability location for your business critical web applications.
• Higher employee productivity.
• Most administration will be performed remotely, which causes less employee interruptions.
• Data is more secure than ever before, as it is all centrally stored, and in redundant locations.
• Power consumption at your office can be reduced.
• The entire system is monitored 24/7/365.
• There will be a low and predictable IT expense.
• DuraLogic becomes your “Virtual Chief Information Officer”, and becomes your one point of contact to directly manage your other technology vendors: ISP, telco, phone system vendor, copier vendor, web site developer, accounting software, etc…

What Happens If My Organization Continues to Use the “Traditional” Network?

• End users will continue to suffer from downtime and lost productivity.
• The possibility of data loss or security breaches will continue to be at an undesirable level.
• A higher than desired percentage of network administration will continue to be performed on-site.
• Monthly IT support costs will continue to be higher than desired.
• Power consumption will continue to be high.
• Server migrations will continue to be expensive.

The Steps to Bring SmartCloud To Your Office:

1. A review of the existing system is performed. Software applications are checked for compatibility. Required hardware items are: UPS, Ethernet Switch, broadband Internet connection, and a firewall. A redundant Internet connection with a fail-over firewall is preferred.

2. DuraLogic will create space for you in your virtual datacenter. We will allocate the appropriate amount of server resources as needed, like CPU’s, memory, and disk space.

3. Virtual Servers are created in your SmartCloud.

4. Virtual Desktops are created in your SmartCloud.

5. Applications are installed that could not be automatically migrated.

6. Existing data is imported into your SmartCloud. Backups are automatic.

7. The existing system and the SmartCloud system work in parallel for a short period of time for testing.

8. A thorough Quality Control review of the new system is performed.

9. The on-site admin is trained on appropriate functionality, duties, and support procedures.

10. Your SmartCloud goes live.

Once The SmartCloud Is Implemented…

1. Your virtual datacenter runs all of your server applications as they did before, like Exchange, SQL, Accounting, Active Directory, etc… Nothing has changed about your servers other than the hardware and location that they run on.

2. End-users sit at their desk in front of a monitor, as before, and see their same XP/Vista/W7 desktop (now located at your Virtual Datacenter). They will run all the same software as before and it will not seem any different. And since the end-user is accessing a virtual desktop located on a central server, no matter where they are in the world, they will be able to access their personal virtual desktop via a secure web portal.

3. For laptop users, in late 2010 there will be a virtualized laptop unit that will replace traditional laptops. It will not have Windows installed or store any data, so it will be secure and easy to administer. It will just be a conduit for accessing the user’s virtual desktop. It will sync the virtual desktop so that the user can still use the laptop when there is no Internet connection.

4. All virtual hard drives are backed up every 15 minutes, and the data is sent encrypted to a 2nd secure datacenter. Restores are nearly instantaneous.

5. The entire system is monitored by system engineers 24/7/365.

6. Two-factor authentication may be supported sometime in the future.

Pricing:

Pricing for SmartCloud will be determined by both the size of your company and your technology needs. Some of the Benefits of The SmartCloud are:

• Smaller up-front costs for upgrading your network because the need is eliminated to purchase servers, desktops, etc.
• The cost to support your network is a budged flat monthly fee, eliminating all surprises.
• If your business expands or contracts you can easily adapt to those changes

Supported Operating Systems for SmartCloud:

• Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7
• Windows Server 2000, 2003, 2008
• Exchange Server 2000, 2003, 2007, 2010
• SQL Server 2000, 2005, 2008
• SBS 2000, 2003, 2008
• 32 and 64-bit Windows Servers and Desktops
• Linux
• Mac’s are NOT supported in a virtual computer, but can co-exist on the network
• Netware is not supported in a virtual computer

Are You Ready For The Cloud?

Not every business is ready to make the transition to the cloud, but many are. DuraLogic is offering a comprehensive evaluation of your company’s IT infrastructure to determine if and when you might make the most out of transitioning some or all of your technology to the cloud. This Evaluation is provided at NO COST TO YOU. This offer is valid for new or existing clients.