CompaqStorageWorks SAN and NovellNetWare 5.1 come together in a life-support platform for the R1.5 billion GrandWest Casino - the first of several Sun International casinos that will benefit from this world-first solution.
GrandWest Casino recently had a problem. Mission-critical data was clogging up the technology arteries that fed from the casino cash desk and the gaming floor, to the Casino Management System (CMS) at the heart of the operation. Customer service suffered, staff morale was aggravated and critical data was lost. Then a R2.2 million investment in Compaq StorageWorks SAN came to the rescue - working in unison with Novell`s superior NetWare 5.1, it is the first solution of its kind in the world.
The information technology platform at the heart of GrandWest Casino is made up of two distinct components. One is the database housing important player-tracking information for most valued guest (MVG) cardholders - the CMS. Two is the Crystal Web System which maps the pathway that feeds relevant information from the cash desks, slot machines, gaming tables and retail outlets to the CMS.
Not too long after the opening of GrandWest, it became obvious that the previous hardware installed did not have the capacity to cope with the volume of mission-critical data streaming through the system. The result was frequent system crashes on busy nights which in turn led to long queues of patrons lining up for cash-desk service and the necessity for IT specialists to work overtime. "The team was clocking eight-hour shifts to keep the system up and running," says Wendy Kaufer, SunIT facilities manager in the Cape.
Integrating NetWare 5.1 with Compaq StorageWorks SAN presented the solution. StorageWorks was purchased off-the-shelf from Compaq reseller Eclipse, installed and hailed as the Casino`s answer to a troubled past.
Sun International has always relied on Novell`s expertise to meet its intensive networking needs - from the first release of NetWare several years back to the latest 5.1 version. There was no question that the vendor`s product would be a crucial component of the GrandWest Casino`s IT solution.
"Sun International`s Casino Management System has been successfully serviced by NetWare for more than 10 years. The Novell/Compaq solution reinforces our long-term commitment and success. Novell and Sun International have grown their partnership into a mutually beneficial net services strategy over the years. This solution is intended to simplify the complexities when extending Sun International`s business. Simply put, the solution supports an environment in which all types of networks - the Internet, intranets and extranets, corporate and public, wired and wireless - work together to simplify e-business complexities and provide the power and flexibility that organisations need to succeed in the Net economy," says Justin Foxcroft, Novell business manager.
In the competitive casino industry, as in most others, success relies on the performance of these critical business applications. The applications must run around the clock with mission-critical data that is growing at exponential rates. Storage area networks have become the preferred way to satisfy the challenges imposed on the storage infrastructure. However until now, the extent of connectivity, scalability and degree of integration that vendors could support was limited to SAN Islands.
The Compaq StorageWorks SAN establishes an industry milestone by supporting the enterprise SAN. The larger SAN configurations are needed to solve today`s most challenging problems and demonstrate the enterprise level commitment to manage data needs. StorageWorks SANs deliver extraordinary flexibility to support current environment and future growth and seamless integration within heterogeneous corporate computing environments.
Among numerous benefits, the new GrandWest solution eases backup, which is done through offline cloning technology. "Previously backup was a complicated task - it was done live and temporary files were created online and then merged back into the system," says Graeme Katzin, IT Facilities Manager at GrandWest Casino. As a result of time lags and high volumes of data, the server would often come to a standstill. "With the new system, we make use of what is called a clone. The database is synchronised on the clone section of the SAN. The link is then broken just before backup time and the clone itself is backed up. No temporary files or break in service is required," says Katzin.
Another significant benefit of Compaq StorageWorks is its six channels that feed data through the system towards the storage disks allowing real-time data processing. In comparison, the previous system had only one channel - this created a bottleneck of data and resulted in the frequent system crashes.
Although monetary benefits are impossible to calculate at this stage, the GrandWest technology solution streamlines the process of data running through the system and to the database and ultimately this means a faster and more stable environment - in turn, speedier service. The return on investment therefore lies in improved customer service, improved integrity of the database and improved staff moral - both in the IT department and at the cash desk on the casino floor.
Realising the recompenses, Sun International plans to roll-out the same solution at Carnival City in three months and at the Boardwalk later this year. Other technology plans include an upgrade of NetWare 5.1 to the latest 6.0 release.
Share
Novell, Inc is a leading provider of Net services software that secures and powers all types of networks - intranets, the Internet and extranets; corporate and public; wired to wireless - as one Net, across leading operating systems.
Editorial contacts