DataCore Partner Red Level Networks Adds DataCore Storage Virtualization to Transform Xiotech SAN appliances into Cloud Storage for the District
SAGINAW, Michigan and FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida July 27, 2010 – DataCore Software, a leading provider of software-based virtualization solutions empowering storage, today announced that Saginaw Intermediate School District (ISD) has replaced a legacy storage area network (SAN) and fully embraced virtualization in its centralized data center built on DataCore, VMware and Xiotech. Moreover, Saginaw ISDs VMware- DataCore-based cloud for servers and storage serves as both a centralized data center and a hosting service for the majority of school districts in the county.
A Centralized Data Center and Cloud-based Hosting Service Built on DataCore, VMware and Xiotech
The implementation at Saginaw ISD is one that incorporates DataCore for storage virtualization, VMware for server virtualization, and Xiotech as the hardware platform providing the actual storage. DataCores SANmelody storage virtualization software powers two SANs that comprise DataCore software and Xiotech servers at two separate data centers, five miles apart, which are configured to mirror to each other. The data pool consists of 10 TBs on each end of the remote configuration. “Our goal was to virtualize everything and have that supported by storage,” states Jeff Johnson, Director of Technical Services, Saginaw Intermediate School District.
Saginaw ISD has deployed seven (7) VMware ESX boxes in the VMware farm all running on HP servers. These hosts service 35-40 VMs, which span everything from a utility machine running Windows XP to five SQL servers. For replication purposes, the mirrored site has three ESX boxes that also make up the VMware cloud between the two sites. DataCore is at the heart of the virtualized infrastructure, powering the VMware cloud in Saginaw ISDs virtual, private data center.
“At this point we are currently serving 30-40% of the county by way of staff and students, and that number continues to grow,” notes Johnson. “Recently, we had a meeting with another school district, and, within one hour of talking about server costs and replacement costs, the district made the bold decision to move everything out of their data center this summer and into ours. They see that costs are just so much less when we can consolidate and put all the servers in our VMware, DataCore and Xiotech environment for them.”
The solution at Saginaw ISD encompasses local high-availability and fault-tolerance, as well as offsite disaster recovery (DR) capabilities. In terms of delivering high-availability, Saginaw ISD serves as the central hub for most of the school districts in Saginaw County, and Saginaw Township Community Schools serves as a “sister site” for remote replication ensuring redundancy and uptime.
Thirteen local school districts in the county currently rely on Saginaw ISD for Internet services and other technical services needs for instance, maintaining back-ups for other school districts on Saginaw ISDs system, as well as desktop imaging and housing utility servers. Moreover, five of these districts now rely on Saginaw ISD for all of their tech-services needs.
Including their own, Saginaw ISD is the “Tech Dept.” for six data centers. In addition to serving as the centralized data center for five districts, whereby their data assets are now being run out of Saginaw ISDs data center as part of its VMware cloud, Saginaw also hosts the servers of three additional districts that are still providing their own technical services, but are not hosting their own servers. Because the school districts are connected via fiber, Saginaw ISD can provide storage to all of the schools, simply by presenting storage domain servers to the fiber connections. Adds Johnson, “The bottom-line is that we do not have to deploy multiple copies of SANs at each individual school. Instead, our virtualized infrastructure serves as the central hub and we provide the IT services other district schools need.”
When DataCore partner Red Level Networks engaged with the customer, Saginaw Intermediate School District (ISD) in Michigan was a legacy Xiotech customer, with a five-year-old Xiotech Magnitude Storage Area Network (SAN). Looking to expand its storage capacity and IT services county-wide, Saginaw ISD submitted a RFPpotentially looking for a Xiotech upgrade. However, it received multiple responses from vendors offering hardware SAN solutions, as well as those offering storage virtualization appliances.
“We saw an opportunity to introduce storage virtualization through DataCore Software, while building on Xiotechs appliances and high-performance disks, which are part of their back-end storage solution,” explains David King, president & CEO, Red Level Networks. “It seemed like a good fit and was ideal for Saginaw ISDs requirements.”
Because the existing Xiotech SAN had become one that was unsupported by the vendor, and because Saginaw ISD was facing both server sprawl (the Xiotech SAN had 14 servers attached to it) and capacity constraints, the path of virtualization made sense to both partner and customer, alike.
Both school employees and students are now benefiting from the system, meaning that roughly 10,000 students and 2,000 school staffers are using the virtualized infrastructure without even knowing it.
For a complete Case Study on Saginaw ISD, please go to www.datacore.com/saginaw.
Red Level Networks Hosts Education Focused Seminar
Educational leaders from across Michigan will gather together on Thursday, July 29 at 1 pm for an informational seminar and networking opportunity with Saginaw Intermediate School District to learn cost-effective ways of managing their IT needs. Red Level Networks will host the event in an effort to provide educators and IT technicians the knowledge needed to increase performance, eliminate downtime and discover cost saving initiatives.
The event is also sponsored by DataCore Software and Xiotech and will feature Jeff Johnson, Director of Technical Services at Saginaw ISD, discussing how his team transformed Saginaw ISD into a private Cloud for the school district. Working with Red Level, DataCore and Xiotech enabled Johnson to create cost efficient practices for Saginaws schools.
The event, which will feature prizes such as iPads and netbooks along with a cocktail hour, will be held at Four Points by Sheraton, located at 4960 Towne Centre Road in Saginaw, at 1 pm. As seats are limited, please register to attend by going to our website at http://www.redlevelnetworks.com/saginaw/ and filling out the necessary contact information.
About Red Level Networks
Red Level Networks is a full service advanced infrastructure solutions company which designs, install and provides ongoing network support for small, mid-sized and enterprise businesses and the educational markets. Red Level Networks is a Gold Certified Microsoft Partner in the specialty of Advanced Infrastructure Solutions and has the technical experience providing solutions in the area of advanced network infrastructure serving its impressive client base since 2001. Red Level ensures clients have reliable and efficient technology at their fingertips. Red Levels experience and past successes give customers the confidence that they have exceptionally reliable personnel who will be able to solve all their problems as a result of one call. Please call 248.412.8200 for more information or visit www.redlevelnetworks.com.
About DataCore Software
DataCore Software develops the storage virtualization software needed to get the highest availability, fastest performance and maximum utilization from storage resources in physical and virtual IT environments. It provides the critical 3rd dimension on which the success of server and desktop virtualization projects hinge, regardless of the models and brands of storage devices used. For more information, call (877) 780-5111 or visit www.datacore.com.
DataCore, SANmelody and the DataCore logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of DataCore Software Corporation. Other DataCore product or service names or logos referenced herein are trademarks of DataCore Software Corporation. All other products, services and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Media Contact Red Level Networks:
Red Level Networks
Lenore Mazurek
248-412-8200
lmazurek@redlevelnetworks.com
Media Contacts DataCore Software:
Red Nine PR
Stuart Smith
336-896-1874
ssmith@redninePR.com
— or —
DataCore Software
publicrelations@datacore.com