Keeping the IT one step ahead of the expanding University
It is vital that IT delivers an infrastructure platform enabling the University to meet the requirements today and in the future. This platform is based on Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) server and storage technologies and VMware Virtualisation software technologies.
To meet the needs of 23,000 students, 5,000 staff and plans for continual growth in the University’s data and services, the University chose us to refresh and expand their core Storage Area Network (SAN) infrastructure utilising the latest HPE 3PAR storage and providing a dual-site, replicated highly available platform.
Increasing the capacity, resilience and performance of IT
In order to respond to the increasing demands being placed on such a large institution, the University’s new technology solutions need to have high capacity, resilience and performance.
The University needed to replace an existing HPE 3PAR T800 that was due to be decommissioned, and also update software on their existing HPE 3Par V400 array enabling cross-functionality between arrays. At the same time, the University also needed to implement a new SAN fabric into the newly commissioned data centre which would support current and future requirements.
The new environment, utilising hardware, software and the SAN Fabric had to connect the existing HPE based infrastructure, providing a dual site, highly available and resilient platform.
One of the challenges that the project faced was that it needed to be invoiced by December but
could not take delivery until the following March. As part of our commitment to excellent service
delivery, we provided a secure bonded warehouse facility at our St Albans Head Office to store the
19 pallets of HPE infrastructure for four months at no additional cost to the University.
Working in partnership with HPE and XMA the University was able to deliver the project on-time and
on-budget.
A tailored solution meeting current and future requirements
The project commenced with a workshop discussing the requirements in detail with Warwick University’s IT Services, HPE and XMA working together, in partnership. It was clear that the requirement was for a tailored solution maximising the investment in existing HPE and VMware infrastructure whilst also being able to meet current and future requirements and expanded to a dual-site deployment.
The University was already using HPE ProLiant Server and 3Par storage, with VMware vSphere virtualisation software delivering a highly virtualised infrastructure which worked.
This made the decision to expand the environment using HPE technology an easy one and the
University decided to expand to a dual-site, replicated environment utilising:
• HPE ProLiant DL560 Servers
• HPE 3Par V400 StorServ Storage
• HPE SAN Fabric Switches
• HPE 3Par StorServ Replication Suite, including Peer Persistence
• VMware vSphere Virtualisation Software
This enabled the University to maximise existing investment and knowledge, reduce risk and provide
a highly available and resilient infrastructure platform to meet current and future needs.
Moving Warwick University into their future IT Infrastructure
The highly available, saleable and manageable infrastructure based on HPE Server and Storage and
VMware Infrastructure has enabled Warwick University to achieve their goal of expanding IT
Services to support today’s requirements as well as future growth and demands.
