Gencom Enhances Able's Server Infrastructure
Wednesday February 5, 2025 18:01
NEWS RELEASE: Gencom Enhances Able's Server Infrastructure.
In response to the growing demands on its IT infrastructure, Able has partnered with Gencom Technology to implement a major upgrade to its server environment. This strategic move addresses the increasing load on the existing VMware host while introducing disaster recovery and backup measures to ensure long-term stability and reliability.
The Challenge: Supporting Growth in a Digital Age
Over the past year, Able has experienced a significant increase in the number of virtual machines (VMs) needed to support its operations. While the existing server infrastructure has proven reliable, the additional load has put considerable strain on resources. Recognizing the need to maintain high performance and reliability, Able worked with Gencom to develop a forward-thinking solution.
This project is about ensuring Able’s infrastructure remains not only stable but also scalable. It’s not just about addressing today’s needs but preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.
The Business Need for Increased Visualization
Able's adoption of new technology is aimed at improving its ability to make media more accessible for New Zealanders. This includes delivering live captioned programming, using automated speech recognition tools to assist their professional captioning team for offline content, and adapting to technology changes at the broadcasters to enable them to continue the seamless delivery of accessible content.
The Proposed Solution
Gencom’s plan centred around the introduction of a second VMware host and a shared storage system. The solution allows virtual machines to be migrated between hosts. This means that in the unlikely event of a server failure, operations can continue uninterrupted on the second host.
What This Means for Able
The addition of a second host and shared storage represents a fully redundant system, designed to eliminate the risk of downtime. Virtual machines can now be "shared" across the two hosts, ensuring operational continuity even in the face of hardware failure.
This upgrade transforms Able’s infrastructure into a highly resilient and scalable system. By leveraging shared storage and live migration, we’re ensuring zero downtime and maximum efficiency.
The Benefits of the Change
The upgraded infrastructure offers several advantages:
- Improved Reliability: The dual-host system distributes workloads evenly, ensuring consistent performance as Able’s operations expand.
- Full Redundancy: Shared storage and failover capabilities eliminate the risk of outages, even if a server fails.
- Enhanced Disaster Recovery: The solution includes robust backup and migration capabilities, safeguarding critical business data and operations.
- Seamless Maintenance: Live migration of virtual machines allows for maintenance without service disruption, ensuring uninterrupted uptime.
- Future-Ready Scalability: The infrastructure can support additional virtual machines and increased business demands with ease.
Able's Vision and Mission
Able's vision is for a New Zealand where everyone has equal access to audiovisual media. That includes the 880,000+ members of the Deaf or hard-of-hearing community, the 180,000+ people who are blind or have low vision, and those who rely on subtitles to help improve literacy or navigate English as a second language.
Looking Ahead
With this upgrade, Able is not just addressing its current needs but positioning itself for the future. The new infrastructure provides peace of mind, knowing that the business is protected against potential disruptions while maintaining high performance.
This strategic partnership between Able and Gencom demonstrates the importance of proactive IT management in today’s digital landscape. By investing in advanced solutions, businesses can ensure that their infrastructure evolves alongside their growth.
For more information about Gencom’s managed IT services and virtualization solutions, visit here.
About Gencom Technology
Gencom Technology is Oceania’s leading system integrator specialising in broadcast and media solutions. With decades of experience, Gencom is renowned for its innovative designs and exceptional service, helping clients worldwide stay ahead in an ever-evolving industry.
