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About Us | Case Studies
| Client: Dart Group PLC |
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REQUIREMENT: IT TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME
When the Dart Group PLC decided to relocate their business operation from Bournemouth to Leeds the whole IT infrastructure needed to move also. Dart Group searched for an external IT services provider to manage this complex relocation, enhance their internal system and the Jet2 flight booking system. Blue Chip was selected to lead this transformation programme and take on the future management of Dart Groups' IT system.
>> The Client
Dart Group PLC is an aviation services and distribution group specialising in the operation of low cost and charter air services throughout Europe and the distribution of fresh produce, temperature-controlled and ambient products to supermarkets and wholesale markets throughout the United Kingdom.
Dart Group owns two trading subsidiaries - Jet2.com and Fowler Welch-Coolchain.
The Dart Group has 2200 users across 50 UK sites connected by an MPLS WAN infrastructure.
>> The Client Situation
In order to accommodate this large number of users and sites, The Dart Group's infrastructure was spread over 120 servers, failing to provide the level of business continuity required.
Furthermore, the Jet2.com website which offers online bookings and reservations for over 90% of Jet2.coms customers was required 24hours a day, 7 days a week. Dart Groups existing IT infrastructure failed to support this heavy demand.
>> Solution
Blue Chip used its experience in key enterprise technology areas to deliver a solution providing 100% system availability, high performance and the scalability to meet the ever growing demand of the Dart Groups businesses.
This included:
1. Virtualisation: Using VMware virtualisation technology, the servers were consolidated from 120 to 16 and distributed across 2 data centres.
2. Storage Area Networking: All data, applications and virtual server images are stored on three EMC CLARiiON CX3-40 Storage Area Networks (SAN). Two SANs are located at the primary data centre with clustering software replicating data between the two. The third SAN is located at a secondary data centre to provide site failover should the primary data centre be unavailable.
3. Business Continuity: Using a combination of virtualisation and replication technologies, including server clustering, virtual machine snapshotting and real time data replication. The whole infrastructure is able to withstand the loss of any core element as all systems are built on an n+1 model. This includes the facilities, servers and SANs through to switches, routers and firewalls.
4. Citrix Application Delivery: All users access the core servers via Citrix XenApp using a full published desktop. Users can move between offices with secure, controlled access to all the required information.
5. Microsoft Server Applications: The entire Dart Group Infrastructure is built on Microsoft Server technology and applications including Windows Server 2008, Active Directory 2008, Exchange Server 2007, SQL Server 2005 and IIS 6.0. This core suite of applications provides for cost effective network management and interoperability.
6. Security: As the network is so critical to the Dart Group business, gateway security was improved with Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) deployed. The ASAs now provide intrusion prevention, anti- X services and firewall services across the whole network
7. Web Site Development: The Jet2.com web site was developed with the application and IIS servers virtualised to provide full system resilience. The SQL 2005 database servers are clustered and data is replicated to the secondary data centre.
>> Implementation Success and Company Benefit
The solution was implemented over a six month period with the Jet2.com booking and reservations system going live in February 2008. As of June 2008, Jet2.com officially became the most frequently visited retail website in the North of England. In addition, the 'spend' per visitor increased by 13% and since its launch the web site has had 100% uptime.
Dart Groups server consolidation is now providing tangible savings in management time and power utilisation. Initial estimates suggest a £20,000 per annum saving in electricity from the servers alone.
Blue Chip also provides an on site Service Desk, full-time systems administrators, procurement services, project services and web site management for Dart Group.
Paul Salmon, IT Director, Jet2.com comments "We selected Blue Chip as they had the local presence, capability and capacity to handle our critical systems. The ongoing relationship has proved to be very successful and we are delighted with the positive changes made to our business. The Dart Group now has an IT infrastructure that provides the stability, resilience and performance required to meet our future business plans."
Technical Solution
- 3 x EMC CLARiiON CX3-40 SANs
- 2 x HP C7000 Blade Chassis'
with BL460c and BL680c Blades - VMware Virtual Infrastructure 3
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
- 4 x Cisco ASA 5540
- Citrix XenApp™
This transformation programme won the Channel Network Awards 'Enterprise IT Solution' 2008.
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“REQUIREMENT: IT TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME
When the Dart Group PLC decided to relocate their business operation from Bournemouth to Leeds the whole IT infrastructure needed to move also. Dart Group searched for an external IT services provider to manage this complex relocation, enhance their internal system and the Jet2 flight booking system. Blue Chip was selected to lead this transformation programme and take on the future management of Dart Groups' IT system.
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