HP StorageWorks MSL Tape Library DUMMSLTL Merkblatt
Produktcode
DUMMSLTL
2
arrive with a complete and accurate load, on time.
AmeriPride matches its service to each customer’s
needs, and the result is the complex information
system that every night generates the load lists the
drivers pick up every morning before heading out to
cover the dozens of stops on their routes before the
day is over.
AmeriPride matches its service to each customer’s
needs, and the result is the complex information
system that every night generates the load lists the
drivers pick up every morning before heading out to
cover the dozens of stops on their routes before the
day is over.
In a business driven by employment trends and
economic swings, maintaining a competitive edge
and profitability depends on efficient operations.
“We are a quality supplier in a commodity business,”
says Joe Jansen, AmeriPride’s Director of Information
Services. “That demands great flexibility, and the key
to flexibility is information.”
economic swings, maintaining a competitive edge
and profitability depends on efficient operations.
“We are a quality supplier in a commodity business,”
says Joe Jansen, AmeriPride’s Director of Information
Services. “That demands great flexibility, and the key
to flexibility is information.”
Evaluating new storage solutions
At the end of 2007, AmeriPride’s Hitachi storage
system was coming to the end of its lease – and its
life cycle. To support significant data growth and new
applications, AmeriPride needed a state-of-the-art
storage system with large capacity, easy scalability
and efficient manageability.
At the end of 2007, AmeriPride’s Hitachi storage
system was coming to the end of its lease – and its
life cycle. To support significant data growth and new
applications, AmeriPride needed a state-of-the-art
storage system with large capacity, easy scalability
and efficient manageability.
“In evaluating new storage solutions,” says Jansen,
“capacity was an issue. But we were also looking for
greater flexibility. The Hitachi tool set for moving data
from disk to disk was clunky. As space got tighter, it
became more difficult to move data. That was critical
as we were making major changes in our most
important business processes.”
“capacity was an issue. But we were also looking for
greater flexibility. The Hitachi tool set for moving data
from disk to disk was clunky. As space got tighter, it
became more difficult to move data. That was critical
as we were making major changes in our most
important business processes.”
HP delivers flexibility and savings
AmeriPride’s short list of vendors included Hitachi
and EMC – plus HP, already a trusted supplier for
servers. Working with HP partner Works Computing,
AmeriPride chose the HP StorageWorks XP24000.
“XP24000 Thin Provisioning was a big selling point,”
AmeriPride’s short list of vendors included Hitachi
and EMC – plus HP, already a trusted supplier for
servers. Working with HP partner Works Computing,
AmeriPride chose the HP StorageWorks XP24000.
“XP24000 Thin Provisioning was a big selling point,”
says Jansen. “Thin provisioning gives us flexibility in
allocating storage resources. That was the thing that
tickled the fancy of our storage administrators.”
allocating storage resources. That was the thing that
tickled the fancy of our storage administrators.”
XP24000 tiered storage capability was another big
factor. Jansen says, “We see the potential to save big
by using cheaper disks for older or less critical data,
providing cost appropriate data storage with a single
point of management. That’s key. We don’t know
exactly what we will need, but the ability to manage it
with a single source is fantastic.”
factor. Jansen says, “We see the potential to save big
by using cheaper disks for older or less critical data,
providing cost appropriate data storage with a single
point of management. That’s key. We don’t know
exactly what we will need, but the ability to manage it
with a single source is fantastic.”
Big migration is a smooth trip
Just as important, HP and Works Computing showed
AmeriPride a proof of concept for a simple migration
path from their existing storage array to the HP
XP24000 array, a path that would take them forward
with low risk and without disrupting operations. HP
Services provided technical support for the migration,
using HP External Storage software to connect the
Hitachi array to the XP24000 and seamlessly move
the data to the new environment.
Just as important, HP and Works Computing showed
AmeriPride a proof of concept for a simple migration
path from their existing storage array to the HP
XP24000 array, a path that would take them forward
with low risk and without disrupting operations. HP
Services provided technical support for the migration,
using HP External Storage software to connect the
Hitachi array to the XP24000 and seamlessly move
the data to the new environment.
Recalls Jansen, “From the time we placed the order
until the last bit was moved, we migrated more
than 15 TB [terabytes] of data in just three months.”
AmeriPride accomplished this massive migration
without interrupting day to day production. “For
our mental health,” says Jansen, “we executed the
first system migration over a weekend. But after
that first weekend, we knew it works as advertised.
Normally, you have to schedule a SAN migration far
in advance, to get users off the system for a whole
weekend. We did not have to kick the users off the
system, and we did not have to work nights and
weekends.”
until the last bit was moved, we migrated more
than 15 TB [terabytes] of data in just three months.”
AmeriPride accomplished this massive migration
without interrupting day to day production. “For
our mental health,” says Jansen, “we executed the
first system migration over a weekend. But after
that first weekend, we knew it works as advertised.
Normally, you have to schedule a SAN migration far
in advance, to get users off the system for a whole
weekend. We did not have to kick the users off the
system, and we did not have to work nights and
weekends.”
Delivery-route tracking is mission critical
At the same time, AmeriPride began implementation
of a new route accounting system from ABS Laundry
Business Solutions. The company uses this system for
service management, customer billing management,
tracking thousands of delivery routes and production
planning. It is the heart of their business. Previously,
route accounting was distributed across 50
branch offices in the United States and Canada.
The company is consolidating this function to its
headquarters.
At the same time, AmeriPride began implementation
of a new route accounting system from ABS Laundry
Business Solutions. The company uses this system for
service management, customer billing management,
tracking thousands of delivery routes and production
planning. It is the heart of their business. Previously,
route accounting was distributed across 50
branch offices in the United States and Canada.
The company is consolidating this function to its
headquarters.
“All route accounting data is stored on the XP24000
SAN. With the XP24000, we can move data flexibly
and allocate storage easily,” Jansen explains. His
team staggers the branch conversions so they are not
competing for the same resources. “The XP24000
gives us the extreme flexibility and speed, plus
capacity, to juggle all those pieces, to be able to
create and constantly refresh these environments as
SAN. With the XP24000, we can move data flexibly
and allocate storage easily,” Jansen explains. His
team staggers the branch conversions so they are not
competing for the same resources. “The XP24000
gives us the extreme flexibility and speed, plus
capacity, to juggle all those pieces, to be able to
create and constantly refresh these environments as
“XP24000 Thin Provisioning was a big selling point.
Thin provisioning gives us flexibility in allocating
storage resources. That was the thing that tickled the
fancy of our storage administrators.”
Thin provisioning gives us flexibility in allocating
storage resources. That was the thing that tickled the
fancy of our storage administrators.”
− Joe Jansen, Director, Information Services,
AmeriPride Services