Suncorp completes XP rollout

Insurer Suncorp Metway has completed the migration of 10,000 desktops and 350 applications from Windows NT to XP after eight months.

Suncorp and services partner Infosys migrated over 100 desktops per day during the eight months to December, according to a statement by Infosys.

The migration was run over 277 Suncorp locations, with Microsoft's Active Directory a key part of the rollout. Active Directory would reduce the support costs of managing multiple NT domains, said the statement.

The companies also deployed Microsoft's Systems Management Server 2003 which will allow the desktops to be managed remotely. In addition, Suncorp will be able to deploy packaged software in four hours. Previously the deployment cycle took three days.

Suncorp general manager for IT infrastructure, Paul Cameron, said there was little interruption to staff during the rollout.

"They would simply go home one night running NT and when they came to work the next day they had XP on their machines and access to the new supporting infrastructure and business applications," he said.