Acceleration Through Standardization
Vanderlande, a global leader in logistic process automation, sought to improve the reliability and efficiency of baggage handling systems across multiple international aiports. To achieve this, they required a robust Linux infrastructure capable of supporting critical applications that manage the routing and transportation of conveyor systems.
Facts and Figures
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Highly Available Solution: Corosync used for clustering.
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Database integration: supports Oracle databases
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Operational Impact: delays risk financial penalties and reputation damage
The situation
Faced with the challenge of building and maintaining a stable Linux environment, Vanderlande’s internal team encountered resource constraints. This gap threatened to delay the deployment of essential infrastructure for airport operations, where meeting deadlines is crucial. The urgency was heightened by the need to construct Linux infrastructures for several airports simultaneously, each consisting of numerous servers running databases and applications essential for conveyor system management. Technologies are employed for data replication, cluster communication, and resource management to ensure availability and reliability.
The impact
Any delays in deploying the Linux infrastructure could have led to significant operational disruptions, potentially affecting new airport or new terminal opening dates. Missing critical deadlines might have resulted in financial penalties and damage to Vanderlande’s reputation as a reliable partner in airport logistics.
"When we have a challenge with our Linux solutions, I call SUE right away! For many years, we have been using SUE's Consultancy Services with great satisfaction. SUE is a reliable partner for us who keeps their promises."
The solution
To bridge the resource gap, Vanderlande engaged a consultant from SUE, to provide interim support. SUE’s expertise ensured the seamless construction and configuration of the Linux infrastructure within the existing bare-metal or VMware environments prepared by another department. The deployment utilized SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) clusters with Corosync for high availability, supporting Oracle databases and integrating with Windows Active Directory for authentication. The process involved deploying standardized OS images, followed by updates and configurations tailored to each airport’s specific requirements, such as naming conventions, domain integrations, firewall settings, and application linkages. All hardware was initially set up in Veghel before being shipped to the respective airports, ensuring compliance with security protocols that prohibited internet or cloud connectivity.
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