Learn on Demand Systems Using Cluster-in-a-Box From DataOn Storage

Learn on Demand Systems entrusted DataON Storage to provide a highly available and easy to manage Microsoft-defined datacenter.

Cluster-in-a-Box appliance CiB-9224

In order to deliver performance and online training solutions to training centers, ISV’s and enterprises, Learn on Demand Systems was formed by merging holSystems and Terillian Technologies. This company inherited a second data center with multiple ‘self-built’ server and legacy self-direct hosted storage, lacking manageability and modern storage features, such as clustering and shared storage-leveraging SSD tiering.

DataON recommended a Microsoft certified Cluster-in-a-Box appliance (CiB-9224) to deliver end-to-end 12Gb SAS device performance in a dual node appliance architecture running Windows Server 2012 R2 and Storage Spaces. This resilient-tuned platform thrives in tiered SSD and HDD storage deployments to provide enterprise performance for Scale-Out File Serving (SOFS).

“I had someone who’d never seen one of these appliances before stick it in the rack and turn it on for me, sight unseen,” said Ted Carter, director, infrastructure services, Learn on Demand Systems. “Using remote management, a couple of button clicks and 30-60 minutes with the DataON wizard, and the storage cluster was ready for internal testing. The CiB-9224 V12 was in production within two hours.“

Learn on Demand Systems hosts tens of thousands of VMs for classes and labs, with hundreds of VMs constantly spun up and taken down during each training session. The build times must be fast no matter what, so the company implemented about a third of its storage capacity as HGST Ultrastar enterprise SSDs for a hot tier and deduplication was initiated via Microsoft’s Storage Spaces to experience up to a 95% savings.

Thanks to an established trust and Microsoft certified hyper-converged solutions from DataON, Learn on Demand Systems envisioned that the simplicity of the Cluster-in-a-Box was appealing and reduced number of layers to manage compared to legacy solutions. One future aspect that Learn on Demand Systems is especially excited about adopting in the future is SAS coupling DataON CiBs together to provide linear scale-out growth; it’s a path that matches up well with some forward looking features Microsoft has in 2016.