McClure deploys PeerGFS to steady multi-office file access

McClure has deployed Peer Software's PeerGFS across its multi-office storage infrastructure, covering distributed engineering teams that work with large design files.

The system now underpins file access and synchronisation across a network of offices that had faced instability under a managed file-sharing setup.

McClure employs more than 250 people across 15 offices in the United States and works on projects in aviation, bridges, development, structural engineering, transportation, surveying, water and wastewater, and landscape architecture. Its teams use applications including Autodesk, Bentley, Trimble, Rhino and structural analysis software, all of which depend on consistent access to large CAD and project files.

As the company expanded through new locations and acquisitions, its previous environment, hosted and managed by a regional managed services provider, came under strain. The setup led to synchronisation failures, network disruption and repeated version conflicts that affected day-to-day work, according to the companies.

McClure also evaluated cloud storage services as an alternative, but found that approach did not deliver consistent performance for its main applications across the organisation.

How it works

The deployment uses PeerGFS on Windows-based file servers, with nine edge locations equipped with local storage. The configuration is designed to give staff faster local access while maintaining real-time file synchronisation between offices and central oversight across thousands of synchronised folders.

Peer Software engineers worked directly with McClure's IT team to tune the environment, focusing on network conditions and operational practices. The work formed part of the implementation as the firm sought to stabilise a file platform for a geographically dispersed workforce.

The project reflects a familiar challenge for engineering businesses that manage large files across multiple sites. Design and infrastructure companies often need staff in different offices to work on the same material without delays, duplicate versions or interrupted access, particularly when projects involve specialist software and large shared datasets.

For McClure, the immediate issue was reliability. Delays or conflicts in file availability can disrupt collaboration between teams working across disciplines and locations, especially when project information must remain current across offices.

Jeremy Cswercko, IT Manager at McClure, described the effect of the new system on daily operations.

"With PeerGFS fully optimised, we now have a reliable, high-performance file environment that supports collaboration across all of our offices," said Jeremy Cswercko, IT Manager at McClure. "Our teams have dependable access to shared data regardless of location or application, and the disruptions we previously experienced have been eliminated."

The deployment has also reduced pressure on McClure's internal IT staff, according to Peer Software, with local edge infrastructure helping to cut latency for remote offices. The system is intended to support the full set of engineering and design tools used across the business rather than serve a single department or workflow.

The deal also gives Peer Software a customer example in a sector where distributed file access remains difficult to manage. Engineering firms, architects and other design-led organisations often maintain a mix of on-site storage, branch infrastructure and cloud services, adding complexity as they open new offices or absorb acquisitions.

Jimmy Tam, Chief Executive Officer of Peer Software, linked the McClure project to that broader challenge.

"Engineering firms like McClure rely on consistent, high-performance access to large files across many locations," said Jimmy Tam, Chief Executive Officer of Peer Software. "This project demonstrates how PeerGFS, combined with hands-on technical partnership, can transform a file-sharing environment into a foundation for growth."