Case Study: Education

Virtual infrastructure built on VMware and Dell platform

A local authority now benefits from a scalable new infrastructure, replacing its previous textbook case of ‘server sprawl’. The council can continue to test and provide new services for employees and citizens - but now it’s easier and costs far less to manage.

The client and their challenges

Our client, a medium-sized district council had a large number of live services/applications running on an infrastructure that was becoming more difficult to manage and support. They represented a classic example of ‘server sprawl’ - with each new service/ application being rolled out and loaded onto its own dedicated server.

The council had been aware of server virtualisation but needed help in exploring the potential benefits. The ICT team had little spare time as they looked after the day-to-day needs of hundreds of council users and thousands of citizens who use the local authority’s online services.

The council took the first few steps - by speaking to a number of companies that specialised in virtualisation. However, each of these providers were partners with just a single vendor and so were unable to present the widest choice available.

Freestyle IT was different. Because the company partners with all three key vendors in virtualisation (Microsoft, VMware and Citrix), Freestyle could give a truly independent recommendation for the most appropriate solution. Initial consultations took place with the council.

The Freestyle IT solution

Freestyle began by completing a capacity planning exercise using the tool Platespin Power Recon. The workload of all the servers was monitored over a calendar month. Armed with this information, the Freestyle team could then demonstrate how it could consolidate 54 physical servers down to just three. In addition, the team could highlight those services that were not suitable for virtualisation.

A design workshop followed, involving the council’s ICT Team. This enabled Freestyle to precisely refine the features and functionality required from the new infrastructure in view of the council’s budget.

Freestyle’s consultants then presented a final design and recommendations
with a suggested project plan. The solution would use the council’s preferred hardware platform, Dell Poweredge and EqualLogic SAN, coupled with VMware vSphere V4.0.

The design and project plan was accepted.

Freestyle’s lead consultant then spent six days working with the council to complete installation, set-up and configuration. Next, council services were migrated successfully from physical to virtual servers (P to V) with minimal disruption to end users.

Freestyle also provided the council with detailed documentation and training – so the inhouse ICT team were well-equipped to take over management of the virtual infrastructure.

Discover more

Contact Freestyle IT today on 01256 760922 or by email at
sales@freestyle-it.co.uk

Key Features & Benefits

Virtual infrastructure with scope for scalability
Agile test environment and easier provision of new services
More coherent management tools and significantly reduced support costs
Lower capital costs through a reduction in hardware
Enhanced in-built disaster recovery and high availability features
Significantly reduced power consumption and improved environmental credentials

The Results

The project was completed successfully, on time and within budget.

The council now benefits from a flexible virtual infrastructure that is scalable, has an agile test environment and allows for the easier provision of new services.

Management has been simplified. Tools are more coherent and support costs have been reduced significantly. Meanwhile, capital costs are now lower, thanks to a reduction in hardware.

The new solution has also resulted in significant reduction in power consumption, boosting the local authority’s environmental credentials.

In addition, the council now has greater in-built disaster recovery and high-availability features.

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