In the modern business landscape, infrastructure is more than just a server in a data center - it is the foundation upon which a company’s survival rests. In this case study, we explore how INTROSERV helped a Croatian manufacturing enterprise transition from fragmented tools to a centralized Odoo ERP system by delivering a high-performance, turnkey hardware and software platform.
Objectives and Key Results
Primary Goals
- Building a Scalable Foundation: Deploying a secure, resilient infrastructure to ensure the seamless operation of the Odoo ERP ecosystem.
- Cost Optimization: Eliminating expensive vendor lock-in (SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Windows Server) by migrating to a high-performance Open Source stack without sacrificing functionality.
- Location Integration: Establishing a unified digital workspace connecting the Zagreb headquarters, remote production sites, and external contractors.
- Centralized Governance: Implementing a unified identity management system with granular Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) for all corporate resources.
Key Results
- Turnkey Infrastructure: The client received a fully configured environment, allowing the Odoo implementation team to start 2 weeks ahead of schedule.
- High Availability: By leveraging Proxmox and a dual Zentyal domain controller setup, we eliminated single points of failure in user management.
- Secure Remote Access: Deployed a scalable 15-user terminal server (Kubuntu + ThinLinc) with LDAP authentication.
- Economic Efficiency: Achieved significant savings in both upfront licensing capital (CAPEX) and ongoing operational expenses (OPEX).
- Transparent Data Management: Configured Samba shares with department-specific access rights (Warehouse, Accounting, Production, Procurement).
- Enterprise-Grade Data Protection: Integrated Proxmox Backup Server, reducing potential recovery time from days to minutes.
The Context
The Client: A rapidly growing furniture manufacturer with a distributed geographical structure. The headquarters and the manufacturing plant are located in different cities, with additional support from outsourced staff and external Odoo consultants.
To manage procurement, production, and sales effectively, the company required a unified environment. The core challenge was the lack of an IT foundation: data was siloed in spreadsheets, and communication between sites was fragmented across personal phones and multiple messaging apps.
The Challenge
The client’s primary requirement was cost-efficiency without compromising reliability.
- The "Microsoft/SAP Tax": The client viewed high-end proprietary solutions as overkill. The licensing burden (SAP/Microsoft, Windows Server, SQL Server, and CALs) for a 20-person team would have required prohibitive capital investment.
- Technical Complexity: The goal was to bridge multiple locations into a single network while ensuring data security, ease of administration, and full compatibility with Odoo’s requirements.
The Solution
The client initially approached INTROSERV to rent a server for a specific software product. During the consultation phase, INTROSERV’s system administrators helped design and configure the entire stack from the ground up.
Hardware Platform and Virtualization
We selected high-performance dedicated servers from INTROSERV’s Amsterdam facility, providing excellent latency to Croatia. The Proxmox VE hypervisor was deployed to manage resources flexibly, isolate system components, and simplify backups.
Network Security: OPNsense
The first line of defense within the Proxmox environment was an OPNsense virtual router, providing:
- An enterprise-grade Firewall.
- Secure VPN tunnels connecting the office, the factory, and remote employees.
Identity and File Management: Zentyal
To manage users, we deployed two Zentyal virtual machines:
- Master Domain Controller: Primary identity management.
- Secondary Controller: Redundant node to ensure fault tolerance.
- Samba Server: Shared directories with group-based permissions (Accounting, Warehouse, Sales, Production).
Workspace: Kubuntu + ThinLinc Terminal Server
Instead of costly Windows/RDS licenses, we implemented a solution based on Kubuntu 24.04 and ThinLinc (by Cendio). This preserved the familiar remote desktop experience – including shared clipboards and peripheral redirection – while eliminating per-user OS licensing fees.
- Performance: 15 independent terminal sessions. Thanks to ThinLinc’s compression algorithms, users experience near-local responsiveness even over VPN.
- Integration: Login is synchronized via LDAP. Users utilize a single credential to access their desktop, files, and the Odoo workspace.
Odoo ERP Integration
Odoo ERP was installed on a dedicated VM. Because INTROSERV pre-configured the network connectivity and access rights, the Odoo implementation team was able to focus immediately on business logic rather than system administration.
Scalability and Future-Proofing
As the company grows, adding new remote seats, only requires purchasing additional ThinLinc licenses. The hardware resources were provisioned with a 2-year growth margin in mind.
The Value of a Managed Approach
Through INTROSERV’s extended support and system administration services, the client received a ready-to-use corporate IT infrastructure rather than a "blank" server.
Key Success Factors:
1. CAPEX Optimization: Using an Open Source stack (Proxmox, OPNsense, Zentyal, Kubuntu) eliminated the "infrastructure tax" of expensive proprietary licenses.
2. Accelerated Time-to-Market: Delivering a pre-configured, tested environment allowed the ERP team to start work instantly, saving weeks of server-side debugging.
3. Reduced Operational Overhead: The architecture follows enterprise standards where fault tolerance is built-in, minimizing the risk of production downtime.
4. Vendor Independence: The client maintains control over their core software licenses (Odoo and ThinLinc) while trusting INTROSERV with the underlying reliability.
The Bottom Line:
With INTROSERV’s expertise, a mid-sized furniture manufacturer secured an enterprise-grade IT platform at a mid-market price point.
Ready to build a resilient environment for your business? Contact the INTROSERV sales team today. We’ll help you select the right configuration and handle the heavy lifting of your system's initial setup.
