Shannon Aerospace has agreed a deal for new IT systems worth €1m as the company plans to roll out a storage area network and an online database of aircraft information.
The contract, which went to a national tender, was awarded to Dell. The company will provide all hardware and support services, as well as technical account management and software architecture.
Shannon Aerospace said that the new systems would help to drive efficiencies within its aircraft overhaul business. The systems will be used for data storage and providing email, aircraft manuals and variety of databases. Following the completion of the upgrade, staff at Shannon Aerospace will have instant online access to an extensive database of aircraft manuals, aircraft parts and logistical information.
The contract also covers round-the-clock support services from Dell, with a promised four-hour response time. A technical account management team has also been assigned to the project. This element will be provided by Dell’s EMEA Expert Enterprise Support Centre based at Cherrywood, Co Dublin.
The storage system comprises a Dell-EMC storage area network (SAN), Dell PowerEdge servers, back-up systems along with a range of software and peripherals.
Shannon Aerospace’s full system will consist of the Dell-EMC CX400 enterprise-class SAN with full backup, as well as Dell PowerEdge servers in a cluster running Microsoft Windows Server 2000, Exchange 2003, Office 2003. Commvault Galaxy software will handle centralised backup and recovery functions.
Dell is also designing and implementing the Microsoft Architecture based on Windows Server 2003 and will deliver and install new PCs to every individual workstation.
Patrick Kelly, data centre manager at Shannon Aerospace, said: “We needed to invest in critical IT infrastructure to allow consolidation of data into a more manageable environment. Dell was able to provide exactly what we needed with the right level of support and at an affordable price.”
By Gordon Smith
