This article is part of the December 2011 issue of The realities of virtualised data centres

Exeter-based airline Flybe had native backup and replication software that couldn’t support a growing virtualised infrastructure or the company’s key business operations. Flybe needed a scalable backup tool for its virtual machines (VMs) that would run critical applications, such as aircraft maintenance apps. “We needed a flexible solution with low support overhead,” said James Richards, Flybe’s virtualisation and server specialist. “It had to have recovery options for applications like [Microsoft] Active Directory and Exchange, and we wanted the ability to automatically test our restores.” Flybe's IT infrastructure includes 268 physical and virtual servers and desktops. Its VMs run its website (which processes flight searches and reservations) and business applications. “Each of these virtual machines is critical for day-to-day operations that drive revenue, so downtime is not an option,” Richards said. That’s why the company launched a disaster recovery strategy. Issues of native backup and replication software Its existing backup and replication software ... Access >>>