Web Development
Milborrow Chimney Sweeps
Milborrow Chimney Sweeps has been established for over 100 years, providing chimney sweeping, annual maintenance, stove installations, and industrial boiler cleaning services to both domestic and commercial customers. Their Crawley Down offices serve as the central hub where a team of call centre staff coordinates the sweeps, managing their schedules and booking them on and off jobs.
Creative Brief
The Situation
Milborrow Chimney Sweeps’ ageing FileMaker v4 database, along with their workstations, network, and server, were in urgent need of replacement, having been in service for over 15 years. The outdated systems were increasingly unable to meet the demands of the business, necessitating a comprehensive upgrade to ensure continued efficiency and reliability.
The Solution
The design and build process for the new database will be detailed in a future case study. Once the database was ready for deployment, the focus shifted to upgrading the supporting infrastructure, including workstations, servers, and the company network. A large data cabinet and structured cabling were installed by a third-party contractor under iSOS’s supervision, laying the foundation for the system.
Two Mac mini servers were configured: one for the FileMaker database and the other for file sharing and managing roaming network accounts for seven new iMac workstations. The Mac mini servers are safeguarded with Time Machine backups to protect against data loss.
To streamline the setup of the iMacs, we used the NetInstall service on the primary Mac mini server to clone the “golden master” iMac configuration onto the remaining machines, saving time and ensuring consistency across the office.
A pfSense router appliance was installed to manage network services and internet access via dual BT Infinity connections, while a Netgear 48-port power-over-ethernet switch supported both the workstation and telephony networks. The data cabinet was meticulously arranged for easy future expansion by iSOS or the telephony provider.
Given the rural location of the office, an APC uninterruptible power supply was installed to keep servers online during power cuts until the diesel generator could be started, preventing database corruption from improper shutdowns.
User accounts were organised by department, with access restricted to relevant file shares, ensuring secure collaboration. Call centre workers’ accounts were limited to essential applications, promoting a focused work environment.
The Results
Call centre workers can now log in to any workstation with seamless access to the database, calendar, and file sharing services. If one of the BT Infinity connections fails, internet access is automatically maintained through the secondary connection, ensuring uninterrupted service. Desks are kept tidy and free from excessive cabling, thanks to the power-over-ethernet network switch, which powers the VoIP handsets. The entire system is securely housed in a locked data cabinet and is regularly backed up, ensuring business continuity even in the event of hardware failure.
What We Did
For this client, we implemented a comprehensive suite of technologies to enhance their IT infrastructure. This included Apple OS X Server with Open Directory for centralised user management and Profile Manager for device configuration. We set up roaming network accounts, enabling staff to log in from any workstation, and used NetInstall to streamline the setup of new machines. File Sharing and VPN services were established for secure data access, while Time Machine was employed for regular backups. A pfSense router was configured for DNS, DHCP, load balancing, and failover between dual BT Infinity connections. The network was further supported by Netgear ProSafe Switching and structured cabling, ensuring efficient connectivity, with VoIP systems integrated for communication. TeamViewer Remote Support was also implemented to provide ongoing technical assistance.
