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BACKGROUND <br /> A virtualized server infrastructure configures and hosts multiple virtualized servers on a <br /> single physical host server. Each Virtual Machine (VM) runs as a separate independent <br /> system with its own operating system and applications. The benefits of a virtualized <br /> environment including offering efficient resource utilization by sharing a single physical <br /> server, leading to lower hardware costs and reduced power consumption. Additional <br /> flexibility is that VMs can be easily moved between other physical servers, providing the <br /> ability to balance workloads and perform maintenance without affecting users' access. <br /> Also of benefit is improved disaster recovery. VMs can be backed up and restored <br /> quickly, reducing downtime and data loss in the event of a catastrophic failure. <br /> The City first introduced virtualization in 2012, migrating many servers due for <br /> scheduled replacement to introducing new servers deployed at that time. In 2016, the <br /> City needed to scale up the infrastructure to host the soon-to-be-implemented Tyler <br /> Munis ERP system; at the time, IT procured the now legacy SAN equipment from Tegile <br /> Systems to provide additional and higher-performance storage for the Virtualized <br /> Infrastructure. In 2017, Western Digital acquired Tegile Systems and sold it to Tintri, a <br /> DataDirect Networks (DDN) division. Most recently, DDN shuttered Tintri, and the Tegile <br /> solution went straight to end-of-life and quickly to end-of-support. With this, City staff <br /> currently has no technical support resources for technical engineers or parts for the <br /> SAN equipment. <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> The City's existing on-premise servers, including critical production systems, are now <br /> operating on equipment for which there are no support resources to employ in case of <br /> system issues, security vulnerabilities, or complete equipment failure. In this regard, the <br /> City has limited survivability in the event of a significant outage with the redundancies <br /> that have been built into the VM infrastructure; however, the system would be <br /> oversubscribed and no longer have fault tolerance if the failing equipment could not be <br /> returned online. <br /> Information Technology staff met with multiple manufacturers and resellers to discuss <br /> and analyze solutions in the Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) space. Using <br /> specifications and criteria that most met the immediate and long-term needs of the City, <br /> staff determined the Dell vSAN HCI equipment is the most preferred solution. <br /> Supporting factors were procuring from a proven and stable leader in the server <br /> infrastructure market. Positive experiences with a Dell vSAN deployment that hosts the <br /> City's SCADA server infrastructure also factored into the decision. <br /> Keep IT Simple (KIS), a Dell Authorized Reseller, and virtualization solutions consultant <br /> with proprietary knowledge of the City's incumbent legacy solution, designed the <br /> proposed configuration congruent with City specifications and requirements. The <br /> procurement will utilize a cooperative purchase agreement bid by the State of California; <br /> KIS is named on CMAS contracts for Dell, VMware, and professional services related to <br /> virtualization solutions implementors. <br /> Page 2 of 3 <br />