HP Color LaserJet CP4005n Printer CB503A Leaflet
Product codes
CB503A
Computers in Gypsum Supply’s four offices were
connected via a peer-to-peer network, which
employees used for sharing printers and accessing
an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
“There was no central place to store documents;
all information existed on individual PCs,” explains
Alan Sauerbrei, CTO of Gypsum Supply’s affiliate
company, Wright Family Office, and sole IT employee
of both businesses. In addition, the company lacked
an in-house email server; each desktop computer had
its own Post Office Protocol (POP) email connection.
Sauerbrei worried that Gypsum Supply would have
difficulty expanding unless it upgraded to a network
that better supported employee communication and
file sharing.
connected via a peer-to-peer network, which
employees used for sharing printers and accessing
an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
“There was no central place to store documents;
all information existed on individual PCs,” explains
Alan Sauerbrei, CTO of Gypsum Supply’s affiliate
company, Wright Family Office, and sole IT employee
of both businesses. In addition, the company lacked
an in-house email server; each desktop computer had
its own Post Office Protocol (POP) email connection.
Sauerbrei worried that Gypsum Supply would have
difficulty expanding unless it upgraded to a network
that better supported employee communication and
file sharing.
As he pondered his options, Sauerbrei entered
Gypsum Supply in a contest sponsored by HP, AMD,
and Microsoft. To his surprise, the company won two
HP ProLiant DL385 Servers; two HP ProCurve Switch
1800 series network switches; 2 HP Compaq 2710p
laptops; an HP Color LaserJet CP4005n Printer;
Microsoft Windows Server 2008; and Microsoft
Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2008 Premium,
which includes Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and
Windows SharePoint Services.
Gypsum Supply in a contest sponsored by HP, AMD,
and Microsoft. To his surprise, the company won two
HP ProLiant DL385 Servers; two HP ProCurve Switch
1800 series network switches; 2 HP Compaq 2710p
laptops; an HP Color LaserJet CP4005n Printer;
Microsoft Windows Server 2008; and Microsoft
Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2008 Premium,
which includes Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and
Windows SharePoint Services.
Better communication all around
Sauerbrei was pleased and began to upgrade the
company’s network in February 2009. “We’ve used
HP ProLiant servers in Wright Family Office for years,
so I really felt comfortable with the servers and the
infrastructure coming from HP,” he says. Within a
week, he had a server running SBS.
Sauerbrei was pleased and began to upgrade the
company’s network in February 2009. “We’ve used
HP ProLiant servers in Wright Family Office for years,
so I really felt comfortable with the servers and the
infrastructure coming from HP,” he says. Within a
week, he had a server running SBS.
One benefit stems from the company’s move from
paper calendars to shared, Web-based calendars.
Now it’s easier to coordinate inventory and resources,
Sauerbrei says. In addition, salespeople can respond
faster to customers. “Being able to wirelessly sync
calendars, contacts and emails lets us serve customers
more quickly,” Sauerbrei says. “Our quote process is
complex; there are quite a few variables that have to
be considered. Even if salespeople can’t provide a
quote right away, they can respond from their smart
phone and let the customer know when to expect
the quote.”
paper calendars to shared, Web-based calendars.
Now it’s easier to coordinate inventory and resources,
Sauerbrei says. In addition, salespeople can respond
faster to customers. “Being able to wirelessly sync
calendars, contacts and emails lets us serve customers
more quickly,” Sauerbrei says. “Our quote process is
complex; there are quite a few variables that have to
be considered. Even if salespeople can’t provide a
quote right away, they can respond from their smart
phone and let the customer know when to expect
the quote.”
Security and reliability boosted companywide
Before the network upgrade, IT management posed
a significant challenge. “Tech support was difficult,”
Sauerbrei says, “because we didn’t know what was
on each PC. We had 23 PCs in four offices, and there
was no way to see their status from a central location.
When a computer had a problem, fixing it was an
adventure because there wasn’t any consistency.”
Before the network upgrade, IT management posed
a significant challenge. “Tech support was difficult,”
Sauerbrei says, “because we didn’t know what was
on each PC. We had 23 PCs in four offices, and there
was no way to see their status from a central location.
When a computer had a problem, fixing it was an
adventure because there wasn’t any consistency.”
Now Sauerbrei can pull up a single console in
Windows Small Business Server that shows the
operating system, service packs, security patches,
and antivirus updates for every desktop computer
in the company. “With the SBS environment, I can
look at those things proactively,” he says. “It’s hard
to quantify, but I’m saving time by monitoring the PCs
and doing preventive maintenance. More important, if
I see a problem—like an antivirus update that doesn’t
complete—I can take care of it right away.”
Windows Small Business Server that shows the
operating system, service packs, security patches,
and antivirus updates for every desktop computer
in the company. “With the SBS environment, I can
look at those things proactively,” he says. “It’s hard
to quantify, but I’m saving time by monitoring the PCs
and doing preventive maintenance. More important, if
I see a problem—like an antivirus update that doesn’t
complete—I can take care of it right away.”
“Not having to travel every time
I want to check on a server or
respond to a user request saves me
up to 200 hours a year—which is
tremendously helpful.”
— Alan Sauerbrei, CTO, Wright Family
Office (affiliate of Gypsum Supply)
2