References

VMware as platform for migration of the WebSphere Portal

Rudolf Wöhrl AG, Nürnberg

Rudolf Wöhrl AG places the highest demands on its internal processes. It was only last year that FRITZ & MACZIOL tailored an efficient process portal solution using IBM WebSphere for this Bavarian fashion and sports article retailer. The existing portal was now to be migrated into a new version which called for a restructuring of the hardware environment. The solution developed and implemented by FRITZ & MACZIOL is based on the build-up of a virtual infrastructure with VMware Virtual Infrastructure 3 and VirtualCenter as a platform for the migration of the WebSphere’s Portal.

By using VMware as a virtual infrastructure and platform for the new portal, not only is the best scalability achieved but also a strategic platform for all Intel systems. Moreover, the connection to the existing Enterprise Storage for the zSeries facilitates a centralised data management. The integration in the existing TSM back-up environment was also part of the suggested solution. In use since June 2007, the efficient performance of the configuration has rightly confirmed the original decision. For example, when carrying out maintenance of a single server during operations, virtual systems may be shifted onto the remaining ESX-hosts with VMotion. There is no need to allow for any downtime for the portal environment.

A further concrete and positive change in operations is granted by simple backups including disaster recovery of complete servers. Meanwhile, on the six physical servers used, VMware has taken on the task of a central infrastructure on which all Windows-based server services are made available. Further servers were ported in the VMware environment after the successful portal migration by way of P2V process and use of the VMware Converters, e.g. the central Content Management Server. Newly required services, such as a central Microsoft SQL 2005 server, were also placed at everyone’s disposal.