My Role:  Chief Technology Officer

Problem:  On an impossible deadline, a startup company required deployment of a high-performance, high-capacity system with "infinite scalability" in an existing data center lacking an appropriate front end. In the same timeframe, the application had to be developed.

Solution:  My first step was to obtain my client's assessment of the short and long-term capacity and performance requirements, from which I built an evolutionary sizing model. Once the client signed off, I provided guidance regarding the unrealistic deadline and proceeded to develop an overall system design that included provisions for 31 development, QA, and production servers.

Because the data center did not have an e-commerce rated network front end, I hired a network development sub-contractor to assist me with the network design. I then chose the vendors for all the equipment, hired a systems administrator, cleared space in the data center, and contracted for electrical work. The deadline was still tight, so I obtained delivery commitments from all the vendors and rode herd on those promises. Due to space limitations in the provided data center space, I chose a blade server solution to provide a minimal-footprint growth path.

Outcome:  Most of the systems equipment was delivered within 30 days, enabling my team to build, configure, and test within the next 30. An outside development firm I hired and supervised was able to move its work onto the new system during the second month. The system was fundamentally ready to go in 90 days although content and design work on the Web site created additional delays.

Towards the end of the engagement, I assisted management with the search for a permanent development manager, replacing myself.

Document:  Physical System Organization. Click on the image below to view or right-click to download an Adobe PDF (40KB) of the drawing.

 

 

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