Seamless Virtualization Transition and Storage Optimization for a Engineering MNC

Introduction:

A leading global technology solutions provider was at a turning point in its IT strategy. Licensing constraints with VMware vSphere prompted the need to transition to Microsoft Hyper-V, but this shift had to be executed without disrupting ongoing business operations. Simultaneously, the organization was challenged with managing a large volume of stale file data, which was consuming valuable storage resources and increasing costs.

To tackle both objectives—virtualization migration and storage optimization—the company partnered with Indus Systems and Services. The goal was to deliver a seamless, cost-efficient solution that ensured uninterrupted operations, improved infrastructure efficiency, and established a more scalable and future-ready IT environment.

Challenges: 

The customer needed to modernize its IT landscape while controlling rising licensing costs and optimizing storage.

• Licensing Pressure: 

  Rising costs and licensing constraints with VMware vSphere created the need to migrate to Hyper-V.

• Complex Workloads: 

  Business-critical applications, including domain controllers, file servers, tally, shared database servers, and licensing servers, had to be migrated without impacting daily operations.

• Storage Inefficiencies:

  Nearly 60% of file server data was stale, consuming valuable primary storage space.

• Business Continuity Risks:

  The migration and archival process needed to be executed with minimal downtime and zero service disruption.

These issues necessitated a comprehensive solution that would address current limitations while future-proofing the IT environment.

Our Solution: 

Indus Systems and Services deployed a robust migration and storage optimization strategy leveraging Commvault technology. The approach ensured a smooth virtualization transition and effective data offloading while maintaining service availability.

Key Solution Components:

• VM Migration: 

  Utilized Commvault’s backup restore and synchronization capabilities to migrate all virtual machines from VMware vSphere to Microsoft's Hyper-V with minimal downtime.

• Data Archival:

  Implemented Commvault’s archival features to identify and move 60% of stale file server data to Network Attached Storage (NAS).

• Application Coverage:

  Successfully transitioned critical workloads such as domain controllers, file servers, tally applications, database servers, and licensing servers.

• Service Assurance:

  Planned and executed the migration in phases to avoid disruption to users and ensure continuous business operations.

Implementation Highlights: 

Indus Systems and Services executed the migration and archival initiative with precision, ensuring smooth operations and long-term efficiency. With careful planning and expert execution, the team delivered a seamless transition across platforms and storage environments, maintaining data integrity and business continuity throughout.

• Complete Virtual Machine Migration:

  All virtual machines were migrated from VMware vSphere to Microsoft Hyper-V, covering domain controllers, file servers, and databases. The process ensured zero data loss and uninterrupted workload availability, keeping business operations fully intact.

• Archival of Stale Data:

  About 60% of stale file server data was securely archived to NAS storage without affecting live data access. This freed up valuable primary storage and set the foundation for future archival and tiering strategies.

• Uninterrupted Business Applications:

  Critical applications, shared databases, and licensing servers remained fully operational during the migration. A phased approach and proactive monitoring minimized downtime risk and preserved productivity.

• Integrated Archival Policies:

  Well-defined archival policies were embedded into the environment, automating the identification and movement of inactive files. This reduced storage costs and minimized manual IT intervention.

Business Impact: 

The project not only streamlined the IT environment but also delivered significant operational and financial advantages. By combining virtualization migration with smart data management, the customer achieved stronger efficiency, resilience, and scalability—setting the stage for long-term growth.

• Cost Efficiency:

  By transitioning from VMware vSphere to Microsoft Hyper-V, the organization eliminated the recurring burden of VMware licensing overheads. This provided immediate cost savings while ensuring the platform remained sustainable and adaptable to evolving business needs.

• Optimized Storage:

  Archiving nearly 60% of stale file server data to NAS freed up large portions of primary storage capacity. This improved system responsiveness, reduced unnecessary backup cycles, and enabled faster access to active, business-critical datasets.

• Business Continuity:

  The migration and archival process was executed with negligible downtime and zero disruption to ongoing services. Core applications—including financial, database, and authentication systems—remained available throughout, ensuring uninterrupted business operations.

• Future-Ready IT:

  The solution established a scalable and cost-effective virtualization environment complemented by efficient data lifecycle management. This foundation empowers the customer to adapt seamlessly to future workloads and evolving technology requirements.

Conclusion: 

Through meticulous planning, execution, and the use of Commvault’s powerful migration and archival features, Indus Systems and Services enabled the client to transition seamlessly from VMware vSphere to Hyper-V and optimize storage utilization. The result was a future-proof IT infrastructure that balanced cost-effectiveness, operational continuity, and storage efficiency—supporting the client’s long-term digital transformation journey.

Contac Us for a Tech Audit