Caltex, DiData partnership proves effective

Dimension Data is currently involved in its third major networking project for Caltex Oil SA within the past 12 months, exemplifying the leading global technology services company`s strategy of forging mutually beneficial, long-term strategic partnerships with customers.

Having upgraded the oil giant`s wide area network (WAN) earlier this year, Dimension Data SA then replaced the local area network (LAN) at the company`s Milnerton refinery, and is currently implementing a new LAN in its Foreshore-based head office in Cape Town.

"Our relationship has gone from strength to strength," says Warren Myburgh, communications specialist for Caltex South and Central Africa. "Two years ago, our relationship was purely one of product supply, with Dimension Data providing us with the odd router or Ethernet switch.

"However, once the maintenance contract on our previous networking equipment was up, we elected to move to Cisco networking kit in line with our holding company, ChevronTexaco. Since then, our relationship with Dimension Data has become one of strategic partnership. The company has re-designed our entire corporate LAN and WAN, and replaced all our networking equipment."

Dimension Data upgraded Caltex`s WAN in March 2001, to provide the oil giant with a stable, resilient infrastructure.

Throughout the project, Dimension Data worked closely with EDS, which was involved in all phases including design, in order to ensure a seamless transition after installation as EDS operationally manages the WAN and LAN environments at Caltex.

"The resulting network facilitates future business deliverables and addresses the company`s remote computing needs," says Myburgh. "We now have a state of the art infrastructure catering for numerous business applications, including voice over IP and multimedia, as well as the projected increase in traffic due to our enterprise resource planning SAP system."

The new network consists of Cisco 3660 routers in each of Caltex`s core computer centres. These connect to onsite Telkom Channelised E1 Martis nodes, which replaced the previous separate Diginet leased-lines.

"The routers are ideal as core network routers due to their robustness, redundant power supplies, flexibility and modularity," says Alan Campbell of Dimension Data SA.

The solution also addressed Caltex`s Remote Access Server (RAS) needs. "To ensure manageability and security, we incorporated additional products into the solution," says Campbell. "Cisco Secure was installed to provide a centrally managed, single user authentication service, which could be synchronised into the Microsoft Windows NT security domain."

Once the WAN was commissioned, Dimension Data and Caltex embarked on replacing the LANs at the refinery and head office.