Salvesen Logistics upgrades to Frame Relay-based IP net

Logistics and distribution company Salvesen Logistics, which bought Swift Distribution in 1993, is to integrate its two Wans and upgrade its IT systems in a multimillion pound deal.

The company signed a #1.5m deal with Workplace Technologies last month to roll out Motorola routers connected through Energis' Frame Relay service and BT leased lines.

Salvesen previously ran its computer systems off Digital VAX equipment so had a large network based on Case DCX equipment, while Swift centred on an IBM AS400 infrastructure.

"What we had by acquisition was where we were holding most of the UK together by kilostream lines and had to redesign the whole lot completely," said Dave Kendrew, technical manager for Salvesen Logistics.

The company will now roll out Motorola 6560s as branch nodes in 20 sites which will connect to the Northampton central depot through Frame Relay.

In smaller sites Motorola Vanguard 300s will connect into the nearest branch node through BT leased lines.

"The big advantage to Salvesen is that instead of paying for long distance, they've now just got local hops back to the nearest branch node," said Steve Edwards, account manager for Workplace Technologies.

"Our ultimate aim is to have a complete IP network, but we decided we won't replace all the legacy stuff immediately - we'll run it over multiprotocol routers." said Salvesen's Kendrew.

New business will be based on IP, while the older systems will be migrated over time, with IBM cluster controllers being replaced by Pearl equipment, and Case DCX equipment being replaced by 3Com terminal servers.