Network Admin

[greggpb]

What does it cost to administer a network running Windows sbs2003, 20 CAL's

And we have setup VPN access to our netowrk which is baeing charges to us as R250per user per month ? does that sound right.. we own our router Surely we just buy the VPN software(client)

 

[midkemia]

yes you can buy the VPN client software, or if you know what you doing, you can forward the port to the server, and run the VPN straight off the server.

We usually just run the VPN off the server, but if you want better security you can buy a SSL IPSEC VPN client. This usually costs around R500 per client. This is a once off cost.

what sort of costing are you looking at for the administering? For Setup of network, of daily user issues?

 

[greggpb]

At the moment we are paying about 5k grand a month for nothing,
+R250 per Vpn User per Month

Because we still pay call-out and hourly fee.

 

[midkemia]

Ye that is abit of a rip off.

Our Offices are based in JHB, with a satellite branch in CPT.

But in sure we can give you a quote on a VPN client ( if you dont want to setup the windows server built in server).

We do most of our work remotely nowadays anyway, as long as you have a decent connection, there is not usually a reason to do a callout.

 

[Conradl]

Industry standard for end user support is 1 x full time support member for 280-350 users; depending on the environment.

=176 support hours/300 people
=8.8 support hours/20 people

Of course for a small site you need to do more than just end user support, so perhaps 20 hours a month for your site (normal running, assuming no failures).

Your R5000 should include sufficient hours to basically cover the running of the site, assuming no other costs. If the company was regularly spending more than 3 full days on site supporting users, then I would be worried....

Regarding the VPN, a cisco ASA comes with 10 VPN licenses (around 8k) and can be upgraded to 50 users for around another 10k (loose figures). You could implement one and recover your costs in three months, assuming the network connection is not covered by the R250/month fee....

 

[TheRift]

How about a linux box running openvpn? We run this, works like a charm.

 

[midkemia]

ye openvpn works. you could also setup a IPCOP and use the PPTP add on module to run windows PPTP.

that 280-350 users has to be on decent PC's