Managed a complete data center move involving over 200 servers in multiple locations and implemented mobile support and increased security systems. Schwab Designed and developed single sign-on entry systems for retail customers with integration to 20 legacy back office systems.
About CNET
CNET is a tech media website that publishes news, articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks’ acquisition in 2008. CNET originally produced content for radio and television in addition to its website and now uses new media distribution methods through its Internet television network, CNET TV, and its podcast and blog networks.
Challenge
Because of their explosive growth, CNET made a decision to relocate to a new custom built facility housing corporate offices and a state of the art data center. Plans for the data center included significant infrastructure upgrades as well as acquisition of new hardware. The new facility was designed to house all production and non-production equipment as well as room for future infrastructure growth. This represented a significant improvement to the current location where because of space limitations in the data center, services and that most of the equipment was scattered throughout the building.
DWR needed to relocate more than 200 servers and devices to the new location over a holiday weekend beginning after the close of business day on Saturday and returning the data center to normal operations by Sunday afternoon. Approximately 80% of the devices had to be relocated and fully operational in a twelve hour move window.
Solution
In the 45 days preceding the move, Netswitch developed a detailed inventory, Visio drawings, documented the desired physical Network Infrastructure and the logical application linkages for all devices as identified through our planning process and design plan. The implementation plan included rack layouts and data center cable plans, and a comprehensive list of task to be completed in advance of the day of move and developed a DOM plan.
The DOM plan included hour by hour tasks, owners and prerequisites. The detailed DOM plan identified three move groups to reduce down time and limit risk. The risk management strategy included utilization of the Netswitch disaster recovery center to maintain the required 24×7 core business operations during the actual move event.
In addition, the new location was integrated into the overall network infrastructure so that all network capabilities were able to be tested in advance of the move. As much equipment as possible was installed in advance, and all cabling was prepositioned to reduce actual downtime on the day of move.
Netswitch provided complete project management for the entire move and coordinated the installation for the circuits, cabling, server room, and all hardware and software including voice/ data switches, routers, servers, wireless access points / controller, ups backup power, and server cabinet. Netswitch also implemented a new and fully integrated One World IT Infrastructure platform which included embedded security protection, a Virtual Private Network for secured access for mobile devices and a secure firewall to protect their network from unauthorized internet access.
Value
Through Netswitch’s IT Relocation services, CNET was able to execute the physical relocation of their critical IT resources, while providing uninterrupted publication and distribution along with immediate and complete access to their computing facilities for all journalists and broadcast employees. As a by-product of the move, CNET upgraded their mobile support for all employees and implemented a new and improved Internet and data security scheme.
Topics: Managed IT Services, Network Infrastructure and Integration
