E.on - File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Solution

	After a series of network upgrades and the introduction of a "demilitarized zone" between the internal network and the outside world, E.on UK needed an easy-to-use, automatic file delivery system. The proposed system was required to schedule the flow of interface files and reports to, and from, various locations across the UK network to the finance system hosted in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear.
elexa Consultants designed the system around the new network infrastructure and used an existing solution, Visual Basic, as its starting point. The system was enhanced to match the new network configuration and many efficiency improvements were introduced. Comprehensive security features were incorporated into the system. For example, every aspect of the system is logged and the Log File Management module allows analysis of the log files. IF any part of the process fails, the system will automatically try again. This is particularly useful when a network connection is temporarily unavailable or an FTP connection is dropped. Additionally, files cannot be overwritten accidentally - if a file already exists and a move, or FTP, will overwrite it, then the file is automatically archived to prevent any unwanted loss of data.
The system went live in March 2004 and has been hailed a resounding success. The flow of files and reports has been automated and the detailed reports produced by the system make it easy to identify the cause of any problems, such as a user placing a file in the wrong location.
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