OS and Software > No, I Will Not Fix Your #@$!! Computer > Advice on Networking.

said by cypherstream:

Actually in a manufacturing environment, those old systems are not unheard of. I used to work in Manufacturing, and that company had a bunch of old 486's and early model pentiums running equipment. All the computer did was run dos, connect to the network drive, pull csv files and use that decimal data to know how big to cut material. Some of the old controllers freaked out when running faster CPU's. It's like their counters were way off and the systems didn't work. Needless to say we would get old crap at auction for that. I don't work there anymore, but I can understand the use for that ancient equipment in certain situations.

said by Joe12345678:

but they should still plan for new software as it will get harder and harder to find working 486 parts.

said by cypherstream:

Actually in a manufacturing environment, those old systems are not unheard of. I used to work in Manufacturing, and that company had a bunch of old 486's and early model pentiums running equipment. All the computer did was run dos, connect to the network drive, pull csv files and use that decimal data to know how big to cut material. Some of the old controllers freaked out when running faster CPU's. It's like their counters were way off and the systems didn't work. Needless to say we would get old crap at auction for that. I don't work there anymore, but I can understand the use for that ancient equipment in certain situations.

It's really a BIG project you have on your hands. Everything network wise needs to be upgraded. Switches, do some VLAN's, look into metro ethernet WAN links or NxT1's if no fiber is available, domain controller at each location with file & print server and replication, maybe go SAN if the budget allows. Heck now if starting from the ground up, SAN and virtuilization is the way to go. There's a lot of different elements in your assignment that really need attention. Good luck!