The Challenge
Maindec, an IT support and services provider with over 35 years’ experience, approached Technimove to undertake a UK based critical Data Centre migration.
- Fully managed migration of 220 devices
- 15 hour downtime window to migrate the equipment
- Northamptonshire to Newport, Wales
The Solution
Planning and Project Management
We offered a great deal of support to Maindec in the run up to the project, assigning a Project Manager at the discovery phase. Technimove’s expert input at every stage of the migration process was fundamental in ensuring a successful outcome, to identify several potential issues and to ensure the 15 hour downtime window was achieved.
Maindec’s client had placed several stipulations on the project, the main two being that the project had to commence over the weekend, to be completed by midday Sunday, and secondly, due to the critical nature of the equipment, it was to be split across three separate vehicles, ensuring they were not travelling together.
The Migration
On the day of the migration, Technimove engineers arrived onsite 30 minutes prior to the start time of 19:00, to sign in and prepare packaging material. The devices were due to have been shut down ahead of Technimove’s arrival, however upon arrival, Maindec informed Technimove that they were experiencing some issues which delayed them shutting down the equipment.
Once the equipment was shut down ready for Technimove to begin, it was 21:30, 2 hours after the scheduled start time, thus eating into the 15 hour window time frame issued by Maindec. Despite the delay, Technimove began the project, De-Racking and wrapping all devices in anti-static bubble wrap for protection, before placing them into purpose built, foam lined, server flight cases.
The flight cases were secured in three separate, pre-fuelled GPS tracked Mercedes Sprinters before travelling directly to the destination site via the safest and shortest pre-planned route.
Once at the destination site in Wales, the equipment was unpacked and installed in line with the destination rack plans.
Technimove undertook final checks before handing the equipment back over the client for the testing to commence ahead of schedule.
The Result
Despite the two and a half hour delay, working through the night our team managed to rack the final device at 08.00am, a full 4 hours ahead of the scheduled hand over time.
Our wealth of experience in similar situations meant that we were able to adapt to the initial delay and as a result we delivered above and beyond expectations by:
- Completing the migration well within the 15 hour window
- Regardless of last minute changes out of our control, we adapted to them making sure downtime was not affected
Maindec were extremely impressed with both the pre-project planning and the smooth execution and continue to utilise Technimove as their migrations partner.
IT / Server Migration / Professional Services / Project Management / Technology /
Project Management – Server Migration