Server consolidation plus backup solution equals greater security

In mid-1999, LB Kiel started thinking about fundamentally changing the IT environment of its investment banking division. System operation had to face new technological challenges yet at the same time maintain a high level of operational reliability and stability in production. Server consolidation was therefore the ideal way of retaining what was a familiar, innovative IT structure.

Even more crucial for being able to use large servers such as the Sun Enterprise 10.000 (known in the trade as the E10K) at a later date, was the fact that a risk management system was to be set up with the SEM (Strategic Enterprise Management) module from SAP. The high computing power required led ultimately to a decision in favour of a large server system. At the end of 1999, COMPAREX in cooperation with Sun Microsystems was given the contract to install two Sun Enterprise 10.000 servers. The E10K project kicked off in March 2000 with the presentation of a draft concept by advisors from COMPAREX Global Services. The server solution essentially incorporated the needs of the SEM sector, and at the same time - in view of the intended consolidation - took account of the investment banking sector's IT environment. The decision went in favour of  COMPAREX, since the systems integrator boasts an outstanding track record in the large server sector and is Sun's new key partner in the Solaris environment. What's more, COMPAREX was able to provide LB Kiel with a complete solution covering everything from business management and security to backup and restore concepts.

Risk management and trading applications

At the start of the project, top priority was given to implementing the SAP SEM system. The application comprises three instances that are mapped physically by means of three domains. At LB Kiel, these domains were implemented over two buildings. For redundancy reasons, the two servers were set up a considerable distance away, in a secure computer centre environment.

Further migration stages towards server replacement

The next stage in the migration process towards replacing earlier multi-server-based systems on both Sun servers was the "bridge" project (now Moneyline Telerate). It was in this sector that the consolidation effect was the most pronounced, since it was possible to replace some 30 servers. The final step involved coordinating the trading applications with the SEM risk management system. Because this required the transfer of data, an Oracle database instance (the Mercator Staging Area) located on the E10K was split over the two systems in a redundant configuration.

More complex applications, but easier maintenance

Initial feedback from the field has confirmed that the choice of Sun servers was the right one. The internal services are now distributed over just a few servers. The server applications have become somewhat more complicated as a result. In production, however, it is evident that fewer servers means a lot less maintenance too. At the Landesbank, we have a secure operating environment which is distributed over two buildings, is designed with redundancy built in and is also failsafe".

Simple monitoring

The advantages have become patently clear over the last year, especially when working with the new servers. "Machine monitoring", confirms the project team, "has become a lot easier, since we have far fewer components to take care of". The resulting significant reduction in server numbers has meant that the internal security solution could be simplified too. Access rights for the most part are now transparent.

Two TB data volumes and several hundred users

The project involved creating a total storage solution for the E10K environment, since the total volume of data at LB Kiel amounts to around 2 TB gross, and this figure is rising steeply. Together with COMPAREX, a backup solution was developed based on "NetBackup" from Veritas. The backup supports cascading. If the data volume grows - as in LB Kiel's case - the libraries simply have to be enlarged. The topology essentially remains the same. All in all, several hundred LB Kiel users access all kinds of applications on the servers now integrated into the computer centre infrastructure. The Landesbank Kiel system is operational 5 x 11, i.e. eleven hours a day, five days a week. "We were only able to achieve this with the help of the equipment manufacturer Sun and our partner COMPAREX", confirms the project team.

Backup solution: Support from COMPAREX

Astonishingly, the backups were able to run on the same day that the servers were set up - thanks to the motivation of the people involved in the project. In view of the fact that multiple generations of data are stored and that backups need to be created at the end of each month along with an end-of-year backup in December, the "How to do it?" was crucial. COMPAREX's Global Service staff set out, among other things, the following points in a backup solution: What is to be backed up? How long are the backup tapes to be kept for? How are the technical and legal requirements met? What must be done, and in what order?

COMPAREX has also contributed significantly to the remote connection of both servers and to the backup solution by supplying, configuring and commissioning key network components in the Fibre Channel and Fabric sectors. All in all, the Global Service team at COMPAREX's Hamburg branch has supplied a comprehensive package of services spanning all project phases - from concept consulting to handover to the production team. Also of note are COMPAREX's contributions to the implementation, design (security, backup, operation), administration, change management, production handover after project completion and - very importantly - know-how transfer to the Landesbank staff, plus the creation of an extensive computer centre manual which meets auditing criteria.

Further projects in LB Kiel

Sun provides a scalable platform. Future growth can be catered for by retrofitting system boards. "We've seen", says the project team, "that we can achieve excellent consolidation. The servers are extremely scalable and easy to monitor and, with Sun and COMPAREX, we've got two outstanding partners".

LB Kiel - Bank of the north

The Landesbank Schleswig-Holstein Girozentrale, LB Kiel for short (www.lb-kiel.de), has a consolidated balance sheet total in excess of Euro 135 billion (30.6.2001) and employs a workforce of around 2400 at the 15 largest banks in Germany. LB Kiel focuses on its native region of Schleswig-Holstein, but also takes in northern Germany and the Baltic coast area. It is also active internationally, where it specialises in particular in specialty products and niche markets. LB Kiel focuses on the sectors of transport, real estate, energy and infrastructure, and is currently one of the world's leading shipping financiers.