Aeroflot upgraded the main DPC

Kirill Bogdanov: The new DPC was unrolled rapidly

The deputy CEO for IT in Aeroflot-Russian Airlines company Kirill Bogdanov told CNews about construction of modular data center, a pilot project on virtualization and creation of a private cloud and also explained, than creation of IT infrastructure in airline is similar to similar tasks in retail, a telecom and banking sector.

Project Development

On September 19, 2016 the companies "Aeroflot" and "Technoserv" announced project completion data processing center of the organization (DPC) on a hardware platform HPE.

Prior to the beginning of this project Aeroflot located two DPCs: the basic located in the building of office complex in Melkisarovo and reserve modular DPC in the territory of a flight complex Aeroflot. The implementation project of the last was executed in 2013.

DPC of Aeroflot, (2016)

Making use of experience of creation and operation reserve data center, the airline selected option of installation DPC of the basic, modular as expansion of power data center. Contractors of the project the customer selected the companies HPE and "Technoserv".

Contractors proposed the solution - modular DPC IT Crew and IT infrastructure on a hardware platform of HPE.

Project Progress

Construction of DPC is executed on the basis of pre-fabricated modular constructions with the engineering systems installed on manufacturing plant. In its structure:

• server blocks for installation of the computing equipment,
• engineering blocks for smooth operation of active equipment,
• dispatching block
• warehouse block
• corridor block
• ladder and lift block.

Server and engineering blocks are located vertically — in two tiers. At this configuration the capital engineering equipment is placed on the first tier, computing infrastructure — on the second. When joining server blocks the uniform technology premises for installation of active equipment are formed. Similar implementation provided to airline economy of the area in the conditions of urban development.

The engineering systems of modular DPC Aeroflot are expected the round-the-clock smooth operation. When choosing a system of cold supply special attention was paid to an industrial art, compact placement of the equipment and respect for normative values of noise.

The capital equipment of cold supply is installed in three blocks of the first floor of DPC. Only water-cooling towers on a roof are outside placed. For cooling of machine halls and engineering blocks a double-circuit system the chiller-fankoil (chiller-fancoil), with four independent beams is used. Scheme of reservation of the N+1 cooling system. At shutdown of one item of equipment consolidation of beams in a single system is possible, it creates redundancy of other components.

The accumulative tank containing the coolant reserve sufficient for independent operation more than 10 minutes is a part of each beam. Two additional circuits of ambient cooling are composition. Transition to the mode of partial ambient cooling is made with t +20 °C. At decrease in outside temperature to +11 °C the DPC passes completely to ambient cooling.

Power supply of DPC in the normal mode is made from two independent external sources of power supply and DGU as reserve power capability. Unceasing work of DPC at the switching moments between sources of power supply is guaranteed by no break power supply system reserved according to scheme 2N. UPS battery life from a set of rechargeable batteries — more than 10 minutes at a full load of DPC. Each rack and all capital engineering equipment are provided with power supply on two independent lines.

Project Results

IT infrastructure should satisfy to business needs, submit and react flexibly to external and, especially, internal changes in the company and processes M&A. Rapid business development, increase in the plane park and volumes of transportations, and with them – implementation and expansion of use in the company of new IT solutions and services, demanded significant increase in computing powers of Aeroflot and its affiliated enterprises. Proceeding from it, in 2015 we made the decision on increase in power of the main DPC of the company by deployment of new modular data center. Kirill Bogdanov, deputy CEO for IT of Aeroflot company

The project became organic continuation of effective cooperation of Aeroflot, HPE and Technoserv. We were faced by a serious problem — to consolidate IT resources of Aeroflot on a single platform and to provide high reliability of infrastructure. Besides, the customer made demands for speed of deployment, compactness and esthetics of an object as the DPC had to enter into the existing ensemble of office complex Aeroflot organically. Sergey Korneev, president of Technoserv company

This project we once again showed to all market our opportunities for creation of modern effective DPCs. First, I will note accomplishment terms: usually more time is required even to equip DPC in already existing building, and here it was talked of construction of DPC practically "in the clean floor". Secondly, keeping up to date and implementing the innovation approach "IT as service", we not just delivered to the customer our flagship products, but also provided their financing. At last, I will emphasize that we with our partner handed over this DPC in leasing as a uniform hardware and software system. I think, this project can be considered exemplary. Alexander Shcherbina, the CEO of NRE in Russia

The term of delivery and start of data center in operation - six months. In the integrated machine hall of DPC with a total area of 175 m ² 78 10 kW server buildings on everyone are placed. It allowed airline to increase the power of the main DPC by 2.5 times.