To boost data throughput for mission critical operational systems and provide electronic mail and Internet access, one of South Africa`s leading power supply companies, Consolidated Power Projects (Conco), has chosen Ariel Network Solutions (ANS) for the roll-out of a high-speed network.
Since its inception in 1986, Conco has established itself as a major force in the construction of high voltage switchyards, substations and associated projects in the southern African region. Some of the company`s major customers include JCI, ESKOM, Amcoal, SASOL and many town councils and provincial administrations.
Bernard Berelowitz, managing director at Conco says: "Over a nine year development period, we have completed and commissioned substations all over South Africa and in neighbouring countries, as well as internationally. We have strung hundreds of kilometres of overhead powerlines, poured many cubic metres of concrete in associated civil works, and at the same time have recorded a consistently high annual growth rate."
The company`s superb reputation has also resulted in it being awarded numerous international contracts, one of which was the Crookwell Wind Farm project in Australia. Conco also supplied and successfully commissioned substations and overhead transmission lines for the challenging Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
"To cater for consistent growth and to interact with international suppliers and customers, it is vital that we have high performance information technology at our disposal," explains Berelowitz. "For example, we`ve made a considerable investment in CAD systems and skilled personnel to be able to produce design work quickly and effectively. However, ensuring the timeous delivery of technical drawings depends largely on the ability to move large data files throughout the organisation and to customers worldwide, hence the need for a high speed, ultra reliable computer network."
Mike Fisher, product manager at ANS says: "Conco`s network was becoming increasingly slower as the movement of extremely large CAD files and project management spreadsheets proliferated. The company`s existing Windows 95 peer-to-peer shared 10Mbps network had reached saturation point and it got to the stage where it was almost impossible to add more users without bringing the entire system to a grinding halt."
ANS proposed and subsequently implemented a high-speed switched network based around an auto-sensing dual speed (10/100Mbps) switch and a Compaq NT server. "Individual workgroups, such as administration, accounting, projects and maintenance now have their own switched 10Mbps connection to the server, while CAD users link in at 100Mbps full duplex," explains Fisher.
Conco`s internal communications have also been boosted with Microsoft Exchange Server for e-mail, while Internet access is provided via a 64Kbps Cisco router. In addition, ANS provided mirrored disks, a DAT tape backup facility and an intelligent uninterrupitble power supply unit.
Berelowitz concludes: "As companies are increasingly having to compete on a global scale, it is vitally important to maintain a streamlined operation and sound financial control. Time-to-market is the key to survival and to this end, systems and procedures need to be totally computerised and integrated at all levels, allowing for tight controls and regular updatings."
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