美國 Okaley Union Elementary School District 採用 ESVA 儲存設備打造大型資料儲存空間，用來進行資料備份，並提供資料快照 (snapshot) 及遠端複製 (remote replication) 等多種資料保護措施

美國 Okaley Union Elementary School District 採用 ESVA 儲存設備打造大型資料儲存空間，用來進行資料備份，並提供資料快照 (snapshot) 及遠端複製 (remote replication) 等多種資料保護措施

The Oakley Union Elementary School District in California has a long track record of providing quality education to children living in Oakley. Operating seven schools at different locations around the city, the school district handles large amounts of data. As an educational institute, data needs to be properly protected in order to preserve student records and other vital information.

The data backup configuration that was being used by the school district was inefficient and costly, and was no longer able to meet data backup demands. The school district commenced a search for a new solution, and after a careful selection process it decided to adopt Infortrend’s iSCSI-host ESVA solution.

The Challenge: Achieve Efficient Data Backup for All Vital School Data

Originally, the school district was using a complicated configuration to create backups of server data. It used other server hardware and software to back up data for each server, which proved to be an expensive proposition as the cost of each server acquisition was further increased by the need for extra hardware and software for backup operations.

With this setup, it was also difficult for the district to centrally manage the data backups, causing the district’s IT team to spend a considerable amount of time making sure data was backed up properly. Therefore, the school district decided to look for a storage solution that could simplify its data backup operations – and reduce costs at the same time.

The Solution and Its Benefits: Infortrend’s iSCSI-host ESVA Solution

Oakley began a careful assessment of available solutions. The school district was introduced to Infortrend’s storage solutions with the help of Infortrend’s Western Regional Sales Manager in the US. Following a thorough evaluation, the school district, led by its Director of Technology Jay Dunn, decided to adopt Infortrend’s iSCSI-host ESVA solution.

The ESVA solution is connected to the school servers through a dedicated 1GbE iSCSI switch. Data from all servers can now be directly backed up on the ESVA solution through this SAN (Storage Area Network) configuration.

Advanced Protection Features on ESVA Add Extra Layer of Security for Data Backups

One of the main advantages of Infortrend’s ESVA system when compared to Oakley’s existing servers is its RAID technology. This technology helps protect data even in the event of disk drive failures in the system. In addition, the ESVA solution includes data protection features such as snapshot, volume copy/mirror and remote replication, allowing the school district to create duplicates of the backup data. Combined with redundant hardware design that ensures system availability, the school district can be sure of its data integrity and security at all times.

Simple Management Increases Efficiency

The SANWatch management software that comes with the ESVA system provides an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that allows for centralized management. RAID level configuration, capacity allocation and data protection can be completed in a few simple clicks. This enables the school district to save valuable time when managing data backup operations.

Easy Installation

The school district was especially impressed by the easy installation of the ESVA solution. The Oakley team had previously worked primarily with server equipment, and did not necessarily have much experience with specialized storage systems. Nonetheless, the Oakley team was able to complete the installation quickly and easily. The Quick Reference Guide provided with the product was sufficient to guide the team through the process. The SANWatch software helped the team to quickly configure the system with its easy-to-use interface and helpful instructions.

Affordable Price Points

Cost was also an important consideration for the school district. The existing setup was costly, and the district aimed to significantly cut costs by adopting a new solution. The competitive prices of the ESVA solution helped swing the balance in Infortrend’s favor, especially in view of ESVA’s expansion capabilities that offer increased return on investment.

ESVA Storage Array Can Be Easily Expanded to Meet Future Growth

Currently, the storage needs of the Oakley Union Elementary School District can be met by the ESVA solution. If the school district experiences data growth in the future, the ESVA solution can be easily expanded for extra performance and capacity with scale-out and scale-up technologies. This provides significant flexibility for the school district, allowing them to grow well into the future with the newly purchased storage solution.