Network/Voice Design for Small Private Company

[rachelle]

I don't do network design. I don't work in the private sector. I have a friend that owns a 24/7 company that seriously needs to beef up their IT and voice solution. They have really grown and need help. How does a small, Mom and Pop type company get the serious IT solutions that they need, when they have no IT knowledge to bring to the table? Are there hosted solutions available from telco or maybe cable companies? This is a company of 7 people. They are in the Louisville, KY market. If you were to design a solution for this tiny company, what would it be?

They want:
5 new PCs
5 phone lines
to have voice mail on all lines
to have an auto attendant, to direct calls
a multifunctional fax, scanner, printer
to network the PCs to have centralized storage of their policies and procedures library
to hold in ready storage 7 years of financial records
to have redundancy, in case of hardware failure
to have redundancy, in case of fire
to have a UPS installed
to have VPN access, to work from a laptop
to have remote notification of voice mail messages or have messages go to their email

Like I said in the subject line, this is slightly off topic but, VoIP and network hosted services may be just what these non-techies need. What are your thoughts?



rlc


no matter where you go, there you are.
"This participation is persona and does not represent the United States Census Bureau." They make me say this.

 

[johnpoole]

the best one site fix would be cisco call manager at this time.. a single router one switch.maybe a server running redhat with raid. gives you what your looking for.. as for a vendor in ky.?.

i thought they just made chicken and the worlds worst tasting jelly?

john poole
bellsouth business
columbia,sc

 

[pbxn]

Rach,

I'd say they reach out to a company like CDW for their pc, server, printer and ups needs. They'll get great support, quick shipping, and they can based on their needs tweak their pc's.
As far as some support, since they're in Lou, they may want to try to contact Sullivan Univ to see if any classes would allow some of their up and coming tech geeks some interm to credit time to help set the environment.

5 Phone lines are a small key system, places like US Voice and Data (local) install, and support key systems. They also have a cabling side so that may be a good all in one solution. I'd still get a few quotes from other vendors like att.

If they don't want to go the vendor route, depending on what some of my buddies have going on, I may know a few that would help out.

 

[pbxn]

Awwh JP how could you, lol. We make some killer bourban as well as KFC

 

[GHTROUT]

Personally, I would consider hosted rather than buy all that equipment and try to manage it. All the telcos offer hosted IP phones now.



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Nortel Resources at GHTROUT.com | Connect with me on LinkedIn
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[rachelle]

Hosted would be best, considering the IT experience of the owners and staff. Would the telco also host their data side of the house or would that strictly do voice? Local telcos are:

Bell South
AT&T


Booooo to the KY humor.



Rachelle

no matter where you go, there you are.
"This participation is persona and does not represent the United States Census Bureau." They make me say this.

 

[johnpoole]

your right the bourban is better

john poole
bellsouth business
columbia,sc

 

[rachelle]

Bourbon
Cigaretts
Horse Racing

What more could you ask for?





no matter where you go, there you are.
"This participation is persona and does not represent the United States Census Bureau." They make me say this.

 

[pbxn]

Got to love the ponies because they go so well with the smokes and Bourbon.

I just went to lunch with another vendor, that not only sells and installs but supports both the voice and data side (24/7). They take care of alot of our clinics and acquired doctor offices on the voice side.
Brought your scenario up, and he didn't waiver on any of the options, vpn, firewall etc. So they could be another option?
if you want their contact info, shoot me an email here at work.
brian.koenig at nortonhealthcare dot org

 

[GHTROUT]

The Telco's either do the data part, or they partner with someone who does. That makes getting things done a pain, but it is at least a single point to start at.

Companmies that provide network consulting are another good place to start.

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Nortel Resources at GHTROUT.com | Connect with me on LinkedIn
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