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Sussex HIS Optimizes IT Infrastructure Via Infoblox and Khipu Networks Solutions(Wireless News Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) The Sussex Health Informatics Service (HIS) announced that is has commenced a significant overhaul of its IT infrastructure, working towards centralization of IT services for all its customer organizations. HIS noted that this requires a unified approach to networking, security and application delivery to ultimately increase the level of patient care across Sussex. Part of the effort is a Community of Interest Network (COIN) that provides a Gigabit-speed WAN, linking core node sites to over 270 National Health Service (NHS) sites in Sussex. The COIN is being leveraged to provide common network services, including a single global Microsoft Active Directory repository. It also will serve as the backbone to eventually deliver IP Telephony services for all the NHS sites. This consolidation and centralization of network services was a daunting task. Microsoft Active Directory (AD) is the distributed directory service and the information hub of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and 2000 Server operating systems. AD provides critical services such as Windows login, and also supports a wide range of directory services for Microsoft applications. Two core network services upon which Active Directory relies are the Domain Name Service (DNS) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). DNS and DHCP are provided as part of Microsoft AD and are often deployed on Microsoft Domain Controllers along with other services, such as print and file sharing. However, loss of these services results in loss of Microsoft application services (e.g. Windows Domain Logon, Exchange, file and print sharing) and also impacts all non-Microsoft applications (e.g. Unix) that utilize DNS services. As a result, the security and availability of DNS and DHCP services is especially critical. Previously, many of the 270-plus sites across Sussex were running Microsoft NT4 Domain Controllers. But, to achieve the levels of reliability and central manageability the team required to support the COIN, Sussex HIS set out to migrate all the sites to a resilient appliance-based platform. Mark Walker, infrastructure consultant for the Sussex HIS team and responsible for the project, said: "Leveraging the Microsoft Domain Controllers, we previously found that DNS and DHCP services were often a source of network downtime." As a result, Khipu Networks suggested the use of purpose-built Infoblox-1550 appliances, which provide a unified platform for DNS, DHCP, IP address management (IPAM) and other services, such as network time. The Infoblox appliances provide a migration path as well as many high availability features to ensure core network services are always available. Mark Walker added: "We found Khipu Networks' approach innovative. They suggested the use of Infoblox-1550 appliances so that the Sussex HIS could unify DNS, DHCP, IPAM and network time. We worked with Khipu Networks in a design workshop where our Microsoft, infrastructure and security teams discussed the minimum and ideal requirements for core network services. We were impressed by their understanding of our requirements and the related recommendations. Since installing the Infoblox devices that Khipu recommended, we have a more effective, available, secure and resilient solution that also decreases the administration overhead for us. The Infoblox appliances are essential to delivering our vision and requirements for the COIN." The Sussex HIS team deployed eight Infoblox-1550 appliances in three consecutive days without any interruption to their network uptime. They are now able to migrate sites onto their centralized network whenever they require. Infoblox's appliances -- certified and recommended by Microsoft as a certified Microsoft partner -- are purpose built to provide non-stop availability of standards-based, Microsoft-compatible DNS and DHCP services, among others. The appliances are based on the security-hardened Infoblox NIOS operating system, which allows no root access and presents no unnecessary open ports, the groups noted in a release. ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) ((Distributed on behalf of 10Meters via M2 Communications Ltd - http://www.m2.com)) ((10Meters - http://www.10meters.com)) Copyright 2007 Wireless News |