Softenger

Softenger India Pvt. Ltd. Logo

Migration of Virtual Workloads Between Data Centers

  • Client Industry: Insurance

Engagement Details

  • Project Name: Virtual Workload Migration from Singapore and India Data Centers to a New India-Based DC
  • Technology Used: VMware Hypervisor, vSphere Replication, VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM), IBM MaaS360, Backup & Restore Mechanisms

Business Need

  • A top general and life insurance company underwent a demerger from its global entity. This required the migration of critical IT workloads from globally managed Singapore and India-based data centers to new India-based facilities.

    Key objectives included:

    • Isolating IT infrastructure to comply with IRDA regulations.
    • Migrating 250+ virtual machines and 12 physical servers with minimal business downtime.
    • Maintaining disaster recovery (DR) readiness for customer-centric applications.
    • Implementing mobile device management for over 300 iOS devices.

Project Objective

  • Transition workloads to India-based entities without disrupting operations.
  • Use vSphere replication for migration, with connectivity of 1 Gbps between Indian DCs and 250 Mbps between Singapore and India.
  • Build standalone DNS servers and additional domain controllers for Business Units (BUs) being separated.
  • Implement VMware SRM for DR readiness and IBM MaaS360 for secure mobile device management.

Challenges

  • Data Migration Over Limited Connectivity:
    • Singapore-India connectivity (250 Mbps) was also used for active business operations, restricting replication bandwidth.
    • Solution: Migrated data on tape to target DCs in India and used seed copy replication to sync data, saving time and avoiding business impact.
  • DNS Migration Complexity:
    • The existing infrastructure lacked AD-integrated DNS, requiring standalone DNS to be built and DNS records updated for non-disruptive services.

Softenger’s Contribution

  • Migration Infrastructure Setup:
    • Designed and implemented a 5-node VMware HA cluster with vSphere replication appliances for Pune and Bangalore DCs.
  • Phase-Level Workload Migration:
    • Migrated workloads from Singapore DC using a backup and restore method to reduce downtime.
    • Enabled seed copy replication with vSphere to maintain data synchronization until the go-live phase.
  • Authentication & DNS Isolation:
    • Built additional domain controllers for the required BUs.
    • Established standalone DNS servers and updated DNS records to ensure uninterrupted service post-migration.
  • Disaster Recovery Implementation:
    • Configured VMware Site Recovery Manager and conducted DR drills to ensure readiness for customer-centric applications.
  • Mobile Device Management:
    • Deployed IBM MaaS360 to secure 300+ iOS devices for mobile workforce management.

Results

  • Compliance Achieved:
    • Isolated IT infrastructure in compliance with IRDA regulations, avoiding penalties.
  • Efficient Migration:
    • Seamlessly migrated 250+ VMs and 12 physical servers with minimal downtime.
    • Maintained data synchronization until go-live using vSphere replication.
  • Enhanced Disaster Recovery:
    • Enabled robust DR readiness through VMware SRM, ensuring business continuity for customer-centric applications.
  • Improved Mobile Security:
    • Implemented IBM MaaS360, securing 300+ iOS devices for the organization.

Key Takeaways

  • Seamless Large-Scale Migration: Overcame data migration bandwidth constraints by innovatively combining backup/restore methods and seed replication techniques.
  • Infrastructure Modernization: Delivered standalone DNS and DR-ready architecture to support the demerged entity.
  • Operational Efficiency: Achieved minimal business impact and ensured continuity during and after migration.

Take the Next Step for Future-Proof Your IT Infrastructure

Get in touch today! 🚀

More Impactful
Case Studies

Take the Next Step for

Future-Proof Your IT Infrastructure

Exceptional Expertise and Support

Customer Success Stories

Explore Case Stuides
Scroll to Top