Wan/remote access (Score 1)

I use OpenVpn with Samba for all remote connections to the companies I do work for. The company with the most users has about 500 systems in play. at 5 geographically separate locations from Florida to Northern Pennsylvania. I set up 'mini' servers at the major locations (these are white boxes which cost about $3,000 each). The operational data load is around 1TB, and the data storage is around 5TB. Using Samba, rsync, OpenVPN, Unison, and a few custom scripts, all remote white boxes data, and programming are maintained from one central location. The shares for the white boxes are designed for quick access to data with immediate need, and remote sync for data that is not immediate need. At the main office is a set of three $11,000 servers which are running virtual servers for all the white boxes, and a central repository for the 'not so immediate needed' data. These boxes are kept in sync, and can replace and/or take over the load of one of the others should they fail, or need to go down for maintenance. I have on a few occasions had to fix, or repair remote 'mini' servers, but in the instance of failure for one of these, the end user's shares are redirected to main office. There are still three systems out there that I have not had to physically touch for 3 years, still going strong. It sounds like some companies need to hire a real consultant to help with the intrinsics of the company IT operations. My idea of a consultant is an expert in the field who can advise on how to setup, operate, maintain and project future requirements the system or systems while keeping the operations cost to a minimum.