CASE STUDY Introduction of FlexFrame™ for SAP® plus centralized backup and restore functionality:
ElringKlinger takes the fast track to performance-driven IT »Thanks to FlexFrame for SAP from Fujitsu, our everyday IT activities deliver precisely the kind of performance we targeted in our original checklist.« Harald Ohnesorg, IT Manager, ElringKlinger AG, Dettingen/Erms
The challenge High availability with a lean infrastructure – The client wanted to set up a new system environment and keep complexity to a minimum High-performance problem-free SAP operation – Another goal was to migrate SAP applications to SAP ERP 2005 without interrupting ongoing operation and at the same time expand to 8 systems Uniform security – Reversal of the previous decentralized security architecture to improve backup and restore functionality
The solution A driving force in the future-driven automotive technology industry, ElringKlinger AG used FlexFrame for SAP from Fujitsu to transition to Dynamic Data Center capability. This international supplier to the automobile industry decided to adopt technology based on virtualization and automation of system resources instead of the “conventional” solution offered by our competitors. The company’s spruced-up SAP applications now deliver problem-free performance around the clock on a configuration ElringKlinger AG is an internationally active development partner and OEM supplier of cylinder head gaskets and other specialty gaskets as well as plastic and metal modules and shielding systems for engines, transmissions and exhaust systems. Virtually all carmakers in Europe as well as in North and South America and many Asian automobile manufacturers rely on technology from ElringKlinger. More at www.elringklinger.de
of PRIMERGY rack servers from Fujitsu. Although the infrastructure has been significantly streamlined, it presently serves some 750 users instead of the previous 450. The customer started out by taking advantage of a series of design workshops and system inspection services to dimension the new solution during the preliminary phase.
Solution components
Customer benefits
FlexFrame for SAP 3.2b
High availability of SAP applications
System components:
Smooth, problem-free 24/365 operation
2x PRIMERGY RX300 S2s as control node
Fast offline backup window, 15 minutes every Sunday
8x PRIMERGY RX300 S3s
Fast switch to other systems in the event of a problem
1x PRIMERGY RX600 S3
High level of flexibility for test applications
NetApp FAS3040c
Expansion of system platform as a function of needs
Operating system: Linux SLES 9
Good price-performance ratio
Application: Migration from SAP 4.6C to SAP ERP 2005 Database: Oracle 10.2
The project
A record of success
ElringKlinger’s IT department wanted to update its technology and
The new IT platform in ElringKlinger AG’s data center is running
consolidate its SAP environment. The company’s IT decision-makers
smoothly and reliably. A total of 750 users now benefit from problem-
decided not only to modernize the system platform, but also to migrate
free operation of SAP applications following migration to SAP ERP
the company’s SAP applications from SAP 4.6C to the SAP ERP 2005
2005. IT personnel also benefit from FlexFrame for SAP. For example,
version at the same time. The ElringKlinger IT team chose Fujitsu as
administration is much simpler – in the event of a serious problem,
its project partner. This choice was based on positive experience with
programs can be quickly allocated to a new server source so that opera-
Fujitsu in the context of ongoing projects on the one hand was well as
tion is not interrupted. Another advantage is that a test machine that
on the leading European hardware vendor’s reputation for innovative
can be operated parallel to the productive system is available at all times.
products and solutions on the other hand. And FlexFrame for SAP,
This independence for everyday activities will also facilitate future
which is available exclusively from Fujitsu, is a typical example. The
integration of new SAP modules such as BI, for example. The FlexFrame
customer formulated its IT objectives and expectations in the form of an
infrastructure has already proven itself in the context of the integration
IT checklist prior to the launch of the project. Essentially, ElringKlinger
of GTS for customs declarations, which will become mandatory in 2008.
wanted a high-availability solution for the long term that would require minimum hardware, permit load-balanced allocation of resources and centralized storage with fast backup and short recovery times and enhance overall SAP application performance. Obviously, careful preparation was required during the preliminary phase in order to
Contact Fujitsu Technology Solutions Email: expert.sap@ts.fujitsu.com
achieve all of these objectives. And that’s where the Fujitsu project team proved to be a source of valuable support. Strategy workshops also proved to be just as valuable, as was the use of our SAP System Inspection Services, which make it possible to custom dimension the FlexFrame infrastructure as a function of customer needs. The installation update of FlexFrame for SAP on the basis of PRIMERGY servers and NetApp filers was completed in only four weeks, and the customer then handled migration of the SAP systems to the virtualization and automation platform on its own. Finally, a certified SAP specialist from Fujitsu signed off on the new platform.
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