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Convergint Technologies designs and installs Electronic Security, Fire Alarm & Life Safety, and Building Automation Systems across North America.
Convergint employs hundreds of professionals in 17 locations across the U.S. and parts of Canada. Ten locations are connected via a full mesh network
(where each node—workstation or other device—is connected directly to each of the others). Few locations have the luxury of a dedicated IT specialist.
Convergint’s IT Administrator Joe Zamudio manages the company’s far-flung digital assets from their headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois.
In other words, it’s his job to assure that the organization’s multiple data streams flow efficiently and that data at all locations is always available.
The company’s full mesh topology offers reliability and redundancy, but it also poses inherent challenges. Zamudio needs to make sure that the huge
volumes of data being replicated don’t overwhelm their
branch servers and the network. In addition to standard
data traffic—AutoCAD files, spreadsheets, etc.—the company’s financial software generates large image files (invoices)
that need to be replicated across the network to all locations.
Originally, Convergint used Microsoft server’s FRS (file replication service), but it was intermittently “breaking down” and, according to Zamudio,
“was overly complex and cumbersome, lacking a GUI to
control functionality.” This prompted Zamudio to
investigate other solutions, leading ultimately to
Peer Software’s Peer Sync, the company’s flagship
backup/synchronization tool. PeerSync unobtrusively
monitors connections between storage points (e.g.,
server to server, desktop to server, desktop to desktop)
and provides a range of manual, scheduled, and/or
real-time file backup and synchronization routines.
In addition, users can select multiple source-target
configurations for speed and flexibility when dealing
with multiple computers and storage devices.
“PeerSync’s GUI gave us far more control,
which naturally allowed us to use more of
its functionality. The menus made it easier to
set our jobs up exactly how we wanted them to run.
Before, we needed to work with numerous utilities
on top of FRS to accomplish what PeerSync provides
in one package.”
In describing PeerSync, Zamudio refers over and
again to its “granularity and control,” particularly
as it relates to bandwidth usage. Each node in the mesh
is connected differently: in Schaumburg they have dual T1s,
since they’re the corporate hub, while others have T1s,
Integrated T1s, and several have cable (Washington and
Richmond) while the smaller locations in Canada have DSL.
“Being able to control bandwidth usage means
we can replicate our data and maintain enough
bandwidth to support our VOIP system that shares
an integrated T1. Using PeerSync, I can prioritize
replication by setting cycles to longer or shorter periods.”
For instance, Zamudio can replicate their financial
images every 15 minutes, but have a backup that is
blacked out from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. He can also have
data backups from their remote servers that only replicate
changes to existing files, further controlling bandwidth
usage.
“Without some of these controls, without the ability
to say how much bandwidth I want to allocate or how many
threads I want to run,” says Zamudio, “the network would
be slower due to higher traffic.”
One of the more vexing challenges stemmed from managing
the images generated by their invoicing package.
Images were regularly updated by various people
(i.e., for invoice approval), and each updated image
needed to be replicated to all locations. Rather than
sending an entire file to all locations, Zamudio was able
to use PeerSync’s ByteReplicator feature to send only
changes to the image—a dramatic reduction in bandwidth
usage—particularly now, as the system has swelled
to contain 80,000 plus images.
“It gets back to resources: how you can use your server
resources—CPU, memory, even disk space—more economically,
more efficiently. In addition to reliable and robust file
management, PeerSync gives you more precise control over
the way your resources are being used. In fact, PeerSync
lets you see how a job will work—starting and stopping
the service is a piece of cake. Plus, you can check the
logs to see if there were any problems. Again, it comes
down to control.”
Zamudio uses PeerSync Observer Enterprise Edition,
an add-on application that allows him to monitor all
instances of PeerSync enterprise-wide, simplifying the
task of assuring that all backup and synchronization
processes are performing optimally. At present, he has
it installed on two local servers, but plans on rolling
it out to monitor all instances of PeerSync across the
mesh network.
“It is another aspect of the control that
PeerSync gives me. The Observer lets me know exactly
what’s going on in the system. As we’re basically
centrally managed, it allows me to monitor and support
all servers running PeerSync without leaving the Schaumburg
office.”
Whether it is their upfront assessment process,
system design, installation or long-term support,
Convergint Technologies is committed to providing
the best service in the industry. As their name implies,
Convergint is fast evolving into one of North America’s
leading systems integrators, as building systems converge
with the IT enterprise. Continuing to provide customers
with the best solutions and the peerless service largely
depends on the efficiency and reliability of the systems
in place that support Convergint’s workforce. PeerSync
gives Convergint almost fail-safe data protection and data
availability, while making few demands on network resources,
making it as much a valuable IT tool as a bottom
line business asset.
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