Storage Assessment Service
Service Description:
A storage assessment provides a roadmap to achieving an optimal storage solution that leverages existing resources to the fullest while providing solution recommendations including products and technologies that can scale with future storage requirements in order to meet overall business objectives. A storage assessment identifies all of the contributing factors to inefficiencies, poor utilization, performance constraints, and low availability and provides specific recommendations for remediation while minimizing operating costs and maximizing ROI.
Scope of Service:
A storage assessment is performed on-site by one of ITS’s certified storage experts and is comprised of the following phases:
Discovery
This is the information collection phase where details about Customer’s IT environment are identified. The Discovery phase includes:
- Data Monitoring and Collection at a granular level including storage capacities, utilization, performance, and file/folder access histories
- Creation of a topology map of the storage systems employed in the current environment
- Interviews with key technical personnel and IT management to capture a prioritized list of issues, concerns, and any plans that may exist to address them in the future
- Customer business/financial review that gathers data about total operating costs related to the current storage environment for later use in demonstrating cost savings and ROI for the solutions that will be proposed
Documentation
The customer’s current storage environment is captured in the form of detailed reports and topography maps.
Design
All collected information is analyzed and solutions are defined to address issues identified during the Discovery phase. The design phase includes:
- Data analysis
- Solution definition where one or more solutions (including alternatives as appropriate) are defined
- Quotation creation that includes all of the costs related to implementing the proposed solution(s)
Proposal Delivery & Review
A meeting is setup with the customer’s stakeholders (key IT personnel and executive management) where the proposal is presented and discussed. Deliverables for this meeting include:
- A description of the current storage environment
- A description of the issues identified in the Discovery phase
- An executive summary as well as a detailed description of the proposed solution(s) including quotation
- Financial justification report that details the ROI/TCO of the proposed solution(s)
- Next steps, follow-up items, and timeline for solution implementation are discussed as appropriate
Out of Scope: Installation of any hardware or system software
SAN- Health Check Service
Service Description:
Storage Area Networks (SANs) require periodic health checks to perform at maximum efficiency. ITS’s SAN Health Check service provides in-time snapshot of the SAN to assess performance, identify software and firmware versions, and review the current SAN configuration and topology. ITS’s storage consultant help clients optimize their current SAN environment by providing comprehensive recommendations for updates and improvements.
Scope of Service:
The SAN Health Check service is conducted by ITS technical consultant experienced in SAN configuration and installation. By assessing the SAN environment with a unique perspective and understanding of storage issues, which includes:
Discovery Process
Gathers information about the Client’s SAN environment and extracts SAN-related host information for analysis, including event and configuration logs for the storage processor, fibre switch and storage configuration, operating system and service pack information, HBA driver and firmware versions, failover software and path status information, and all event logs.
Performance Assessment
The data gathered during the Discovery Process is analyzed and a thorough review of the SAN configuration is conducted. The SAN performance is evaluated and compared against benchmarks to assess areas requiring improvement. Unsupported software and firmware versions are identified.
Documentation & Recommendation
The findings from the performance assessment are documented and a written SAN Health report is delivered to the client. A detailed diagram of the current SAN topology, updated SAN documentation and a SAN Optimization Plan is included in the report. A meeting will be conducted with the customer to discuss the SAN Health Report , explain the findings of the assessment, discuss recommendations, and assist with establishing a plan for implementing.
Out of Scope: Installation of any hardware or system software
SAN - Design and Implementation Service
Service Description:
SAN is a cost-effective storage solution but it must be designed, deployed, and managed properly in order to maximize its benefits. Because our storage consultants are experienced in a broad array of storage and general network related disciplines, we take a holistic approach to SAN design and implementation. We understand that all components in a network, regardless of size and complexity, must work together at an optimal level and SANs are certainly no exception.
Scope of Service:
Our San design and implementation services will ensure that our customers are purchasing the right solution for their needs now and as their businesses continue to grow.
We design SANs that are:
- Robust
- Cost-effective
- Integrated with or complementary to existing storage resources
- Scalable
- Manageable
Designing the proper SAN solution is only half the battle. Deploying the solution correctly is critical to meeting the design goals and maximizing the customer’s ROI. During the implementation phase, our consultants will:
- Establish a comprehensive SAN Implementation plan
- Install and configure the hardware and software
- Integrate any existing storage arrays into the SAN
- Validate the firmware revisions of all SAN-related components
- Conduct thorough (functional, stability, and performance) testing to ensure full adherence to the design specifications
- Transition and release the implementation into the production environment
- Provide documentation and on-site training as needed to enable the customers IT staff to properly manage the SAN on a daily basis
Out of Scope: Installation of any hardware or system software
|