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Abstract
A strategic project aimed at migrating legacy, out-of-support EMC VNX servers to a high-availability NetApp MetroCluster infrastructure. This case study highlights the complex management of a vendor lock-in on outdated systems and the subsequent implementation of a modern storage solution, ensuring zero operational interruptions and minimal downtime for over 100 business-critical applications.
The Client
A leading Italian energy company of global relevance, with an annual turnover of tens of billions of euros. Its IT infrastructure is vital for daily operations and the management of strategic assets internationally. The need for a resilient and high-performing storage system was crucial to support its growth and 24/7 operations.
The Challenge: The Urgent Need for Modernization
The client was facing a critical situation: the storage infrastructure based on 4 legacy EMC VNX arrays was no longer supported by the vendor. This obsolescence represented a significant risk to the stability and security of the over 100 dependent business applications.
The main challenge was not only data migration (over 1,500 paths) but also managing the architectural complexity and application dependencies. Furthermore, the business criticality imposed strict constraints on downtime, requiring meticulous planning for an application freeze period.
The Solution: NetApp MetroCluster and DataDobi Migrate
Our strategy focused on migrating to NetApp AFF A800 MetroCluster, a cutting-edge solution that offers:
- High Availability (HA): Stretch cluster architecture that ensures unprecedented resilience against site-level failures.
- Elevated Performance: Flash storage for an exceptional increase in I/O performance.
- Scalability and Agility: Storage-ready platform for future business needs.
Project Duration
3 years, from the initial discovery phase up to post-migration verification completed in September 2025. The duration, longer than usual, reflects the significant complexity and criticality of the infrastructure, as well as the dependencies associated with the client’s numerous applications. An additional business constraint was guaranteeing and planning the adequate downtime window: an application freeze period for over 100 business applications.
3 Main Migration Phases
| Phase | Main Focus | Key Objectives |
| Phase 1 – Strategy & Pilot | Planning and validation | Assessment and definition of procedures (NFS, CIFS, MIXED), alignment of governance and workflows. |
| Phase 2 – Scale-out | Massive execution | Mass migrations for large data volumes, activities focused on managing high-density datasets. |
| Phase 3 – Completion | Finalization and Cutover | Migration of complex workloads, final verification and validation activities, reporting and documentation. |
Technical Notes: Automation with DataDobi Migrate
The migration was carried out with DataDobi Migrate, an essential tool for managing complexity and minimizing risk. The tool allowed for the discovery and analysis of data paths and automated the main phases of the migration, such as:
- Correct application of ACLs and permissions.
- Recreation of the same share names.
The main functionalities of the tool include the creation of migration workflows, the initial baseline, and the scheduling of incremental copies. It also allows for testing and simulating the cutover before executing the actual migration, ensuring the goal of RPO (Recovery Point Objective) equal to zero.
Strategic and Technical Results
The implementation was a measurable success, with an immediate impact on the client’s operational efficiency and security.
| Metric | Result Achieved | Details |
| Data Transfer | 100% of data transferred | Over 1,500 paths successfully migrated. |
| RPO (Data Loss) | Zero operational interruptions (RPO = 0) | No data loss thanks to the near-zero downtime methodology. |
| Effective Downtime | 10 minutes | Cutover executed in an extremely reduced window for over 100 applications. |
| Decommissioned Infrastructure | 4 legacy VNX arrays decommissioned | Complete removal of obsolete technology with over 20 VDM. |
| New Infrastructure | NetApp AFF A800 MetroCluster successfully implemented | HA, resilient, and ultra-high-performing platform. |
| Performance Increase | Application performance 10 times higher | Direct result of switching to NetApp all-flash storage. |
Client Feedback
The success of the project was confirmed by the directly involved party, who highlighted the positive impact on performance and long-term strategy:”It was an impeccable transition and an exceptional performance increase for us! A secure foundation for the future as well, with greater resilience and agility, application performance 10 times higher, and an infrastructure ready for the future.” [Confidential Client Name]
Conclusion
This case study demonstrates how meticulous strategic planning combined with the use of automated migration tools (DataDobi Migrate) and the implementation of market-leading storage solutions (NetApp MetroCluster) can solve even the most complex migration challenges, ensuring operational continuity and laying the foundation for the company’s future digitalization.