One Server for Everything?

Even just a few years ago, if I told you that you could essentially run your entire enterprise with just one server, you might have laughed me out of the conference room. Yes, it is hard to believe that we have come so far so fast, but modern servers have become so advanced that you can run not one, but hundreds of instances of Windows Server simultaneously on the same device. Harnessing this kind of power can be a boon to just about any facility.

The barriers to convergence are dissolving

Just five years ago, the capital expense of implementing an integrated IT system would have been cost prohibitive for many businesses. Fortunately though, the hardware costs have decreased precipitously. But even that change would not offset another prohibitive cost of convergence: the extensive maintenance and support that was required. Once again, however, modern technology has an answer. With today’s servers, on-site maintenance is rarely necessary and the cost of maintenance is a fraction of what it used to be.

Through virtualization (running multiple instances of software within one server), IT service providers can maintain servers and other equipment remotely, without ever stepping foot in your facility.

What this means for your operations

With affordable hardware and maintenance at their disposal, more and more manufacturers are finding that integrating their operations into a single interactive system has a tremendous upside. By giving all of your machinery the ability to communicate, you gain access to real-time data and analytics.

After we roll out an integrated Factory Floor infrastructure for a facility, the biggest difference for plant managers is noticing how much productivity they’ve gained. Affordable hardware built with a converged infrastructure  means you don’t have to wait for the future to come to you. The servers and technology you need are already here, its just not as big as before.