Wondering if anyone can help me with our upcoming upgrade to Mac in the office.
We currently have old PC's networked together to share data and internet etc on the XP platform.
We are in dire need for an upgrade of technology and wish to move the office to OS X.
Primary Use
Our main use of the machines is really Word, Excel and Outlook (IMAP), which is really covered with Office 2003.
The really only legacy software is an access based rostering package called CareLink+ (by icon global). Which as far as I know requires SQL running on a machine that the rest connect to, and Crystal to output reports etc.
Desired Additional Functions
I would also like my staff when they are on the road to be able to log into our systems remotely when they are out of the office. Something we currently do not have.
Hardware
I'm thinking of purchasing a MacPro to act as the central server and then have the staff connect to that via C2D iMacs. That way we do not have issues of data being stored on individual machines but rather on ther server. Making it easier for backups as well as users to move from iMac to iMac in the office and still retain there user settings etc.
We currently have a 1.5mb Internet link into the office which will be upgraded to ADSL2+ soon (24mb down/1mb up). We also have a 801.11b router as well as an 8 Port switch. We currently use Cat5 cable in the office, but would replace it with Cat6 if nessasery as well.
We would be looking at getting a couple of Macbooks for the staff on the road as well as 3G phones to connect online. I will also be upgrading my PowerBook G4 to a Mac Book Pro.
I will also be replacing our faxes & printers with 3 Epson Lasers printers in various incarnations that can be networked.
Considering keeping two of our PC's in case they will be required to run the afore mentioned CareLink+ system with the 2nd as it's mirror backup, and then network it to the MacPro Server. If this is the best option that is.
GOALS
To obviously go all MAC!!!
To be able to still run our legacy rostering software either via virtulisation software or whatever else will work that will still allow multiple users to use it at once as we can currently do.
To ensure that as my office expands (eg more machines added) that we have the infrastructure to do it easily.
My staff can log into our systems remotely, including the Carelink+ software.
Your Help
So if you have any suggestions on the best course of action on hardware, running the legacy software on the new system ets or just some considerations that would be great. At the moment the real stopper is the CareLink+ software, if we can connect to that system then I would be very happy. Also and advice on remote access and what I need would be great.
Basically if anyone out there can help me design this, that would be great.
Sorry for the long post, I thought I would dump as much info I could to hopefully give you an accurate picture of where I am at.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
We currently have old PC's networked together to share data and internet etc on the XP platform.
We are in dire need for an upgrade of technology and wish to move the office to OS X.
Primary Use
Our main use of the machines is really Word, Excel and Outlook (IMAP), which is really covered with Office 2003.
The really only legacy software is an access based rostering package called CareLink+ (by icon global). Which as far as I know requires SQL running on a machine that the rest connect to, and Crystal to output reports etc.
Desired Additional Functions
I would also like my staff when they are on the road to be able to log into our systems remotely when they are out of the office. Something we currently do not have.
Hardware
I'm thinking of purchasing a MacPro to act as the central server and then have the staff connect to that via C2D iMacs. That way we do not have issues of data being stored on individual machines but rather on ther server. Making it easier for backups as well as users to move from iMac to iMac in the office and still retain there user settings etc.
We currently have a 1.5mb Internet link into the office which will be upgraded to ADSL2+ soon (24mb down/1mb up). We also have a 801.11b router as well as an 8 Port switch. We currently use Cat5 cable in the office, but would replace it with Cat6 if nessasery as well.
We would be looking at getting a couple of Macbooks for the staff on the road as well as 3G phones to connect online. I will also be upgrading my PowerBook G4 to a Mac Book Pro.
I will also be replacing our faxes & printers with 3 Epson Lasers printers in various incarnations that can be networked.
Considering keeping two of our PC's in case they will be required to run the afore mentioned CareLink+ system with the 2nd as it's mirror backup, and then network it to the MacPro Server. If this is the best option that is.
GOALS
To obviously go all MAC!!!
To be able to still run our legacy rostering software either via virtulisation software or whatever else will work that will still allow multiple users to use it at once as we can currently do.
To ensure that as my office expands (eg more machines added) that we have the infrastructure to do it easily.
My staff can log into our systems remotely, including the Carelink+ software.
Your Help
So if you have any suggestions on the best course of action on hardware, running the legacy software on the new system ets or just some considerations that would be great. At the moment the real stopper is the CareLink+ software, if we can connect to that system then I would be very happy. Also and advice on remote access and what I need would be great.
Basically if anyone out there can help me design this, that would be great.
Sorry for the long post, I thought I would dump as much info I could to hopefully give you an accurate picture of where I am at.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
