BACKGROUND
Calderdale College is the largest provider of further education (post 16) courses and work-based learning (Apprenticeships) and the sole
provider of higher education awards in Calderdale, a Metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire.
Calderdale College required additional data storage capacity in order to support the ongoing development of IT systems in the College.
It was deemed that expanding the current storage solution was not an effective way to achieve the additional volume required. This was
influenced in particular by the college’s future re-development plans and the need to ensure investments made now in IT can be expanded and
reutilised in a potentially significantly different IT infrastructure in the future.
SOLUTION
SICL has a long history of work in the Education sector having been a key supplier to many schools and colleges over a number of years.
In particular SICL has long standing relationships with Park Lane College and Education Bradford.
SICL worked with Calderdale College on demonstrations of the EqualLogic storage solution and other solutions for server virtualisation
and WAN Optimisation. Following this Dell EqualLogic was determined to be the most appropriate solution for the College, providing
capacity, performance, and manageability in a cost effective solution that would also be scalable and flexible for the future.
SICL also recommended the deployment of a Storage VLAN into which the array and attached servers would be connected. This enabled the
deployment of features such as ‘Jumbo Frames’, which enhance the performance of the SAN.
In addition to installing the array and the storage network for Calderdale College SICL also provided knowledge transfer to assist
Calderdale College in maintenance of the array and adding/migrating servers to the array.
RESULT
Easier management of Calderdale College’s server estate, with reduced space and power required. Additional virtual servers can be
deployed quickly with minimal disruption or delay to everyday operation.
“Calderdale College has worked with SICL through a successful completion of the project which has created greater flexibility
and expandability for the college’s IT infrastructure.”
Shane Agnew
ICT Manager
Calderdale College