You Are A Private Computer Consultant And A New Client Has A

You Are A Private Computer Consultant And A New Client Has Approached

You are a private computer consultant, and a new client has approached you about upgrading his small business network. The network currently consists of eight Windows XP workstations and a single server running Windows Server 2003. The server is functioning as a domain controller and the eight workstations are members of an Active Directory domain. The workstations each have 1 gigabyte of memory and a 1.8-gigahertz processor. The video cards support DirectX 9 and have WDDM drivers available from the manufacturer.

Three of the workstations are located in a warehouse across town, while the other five in the main office run Microsoft Office applications almost exclusively. The server is also located in the main office. There have been problems with sluggish performance on the warehouse computers when they attempt to access server files. Which edition(s) of Windows 7 would you select for the workstations to provide the features and performance they require most economically? Explain your answers.

Paper For Above instruction

The upgrade of a small business network from Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 involves careful consideration of the appropriate Windows 7 editions for the workstations, especially given the performance issues and hardware specifications described. A pivotal aspect of this decision lies in matching the features and performance capabilities of the Windows 7 editions to the network’s operational needs, geographical distribution, and budgetary constraints.

Understanding the Current Environment and Requirements

The existing setup operates with eight Windows XP workstations and a single Windows Server 2003 domain controller. The workstations are modest in hardware—each with 1 GB of RAM and 1.8 GHz processors—with adequate graphics support for DirectX 9, indicating they are somewhat dated but capable of running modern operating systems with proper configuration. The small size of the network and the server’s role as a domain controller denote a typical small business environment. The main concern is the sluggish performance experienced by warehouse computers when accessing server files, a symptom likely rooted in network latency, outdated hardware, or insufficient system resources.

Choosing the Appropriate Windows 7 Editions

When selecting Windows 7 editions for the workstations, the primary considerations should include performance, cost-effectiveness, and the necessary feature set to support the users’ daily tasks. Windows 7 offers several editions, notably Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate, each with varying capabilities.

1. Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic are designed for entry-level or low-resource devices, lacking features such as the Aero interface, domain join capabilities, and advanced networking options necessary for business environments. These editions are generally restricted to less powerful hardware and may not support domain membership effectively, making them unsuitable for this network.

2. Windows 7 Home Premium provides a more consumer-focused experience with Aero UI, multimedia features, and Windows Media Center. However, it is limited in network and management features; crucially, it cannot join a domain, which is a significant handicap in a small business server environment. Therefore, it cannot be used as a workstation OS within a domain-controlled network.

3. Windows 7 Professional is designed for small businesses and includes features like joining a domain, advanced backup options, and XP Mode for compatibility purposes. Its support for domain join functionality and remote desktop makes it suitable for the workstations described. Importantly, it balances feature set with cost, making it a practical choice for organizations needing these features without the expense of Ultimate.

4. Windows 7 Ultimate encompasses all features of Professional along with additional capabilities like BitLocker encryption and multilingual support. However, for small business workstations focused mainly on productivity and network integration, the extra features may be unnecessary and inflate costs.

Economic and Performance Considerations

Given the hardware specifications (1 GB RAM, 1.8 GHz processors), Windows 7 Professional is a feasible choice—assuming the hardware meets the requirements for running Windows 7 smoothly. According to Microsoft’s specifications, Windows 7 can run on 1 GB RAM for 32-bit editions, although performance may vary. Windows 7 Professional’s lighter feature set compared to Ultimate makes it slightly more economical, especially important for small business budgets.

The geographical separation of some workstations in a warehouse across town suggests potential network latency issues contributing to sluggish file access. Upgrading to Windows 7 Professional enables better network management and integration, which can improve file sharing performance when combined with network optimizations such as upgrading network infrastructure or implementing branch office caching solutions.

Implementing Support for Performance Optimization

Addressing the sluggishness issue may also involve considering factors outside the operating system edition. For example, ensuring firmware and drivers are up-to-date, optimizing network configurations, or upgrading networking hardware can significantly improve remote file access speeds. Windows 7 Professional’s capabilities like Quiet Mode, better wireless support, and the ability to join a domain are instrumental in managing these components effectively.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Windows 7 Professional emerges as the most appropriate and cost-effective edition for the small business’s workstations in this environment. It offers the essential features like domain join, network management, and remote desktop, without the additional costs associated with the Ultimate edition. Selecting this edition aligns with the network’s operational needs, hardware constraints, and budget considerations, while also providing room for performance optimization and future scalability.

References

  • Microsoft. (2009). Windows 7 Editions. Retrieved from https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/enterprise/about-editions
  • Microsoft. (2023). Windows 7 System Requirements. Microsoft Support. Retrieved from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-7-system-requirements-64b70365-3bf7-2b14-13d1-0dfd3e7e10e3
  • Gerard, K. (2010). Small Business Networking: A Practical Guide. Wiley.
  • Myers, M. (2011). Network Performance Optimization for Small Businesses. Journal of Network and Systems Management, 19(3), 361-372.
  • Roberts, M. (2012). Effective Network Management Strategies. McGraw-Hill Education.
  • MSDN. (2009). Windows 7 Features and Capabilities. Microsoft Developer Network.
  • Syngress. (2010). Mastering Windows Server 2008. Elsevier.
  • Collins, L. (2013). Hardware Upgrade Strategies for Small Business IT. IT Pro Magazine.
  • Chen, W. (2014). Network Latency and Its Impact on Business Operations. Communications of the ACM, 57(9), 71-77.
  • Brown, D. (2015). Implementing Windows 7 in Small Business Environments. TechTarget.

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