Client Challenges

As one of the oldest SAS users, the client had iteratively developed multiple models and applications that leverage SAS Software. To meet demand, the client had developed and deployed an in-house custom built solution for SAS software. This solution was built using legacy server technology (Sun Sparc) and open source tools. While this solution met the client’s needs at that time, it was not scalable and could not meet performance demands. It created a high total cost of ownership due to constant upkeep and maintenance requirements. Due to overstretched client resources, the system was never upgraded and became obsolete.

Stratacent's Solution

Stratacent designed and deployed a new SAS Grid solution to achieve high availability on three tiers of grid (Web, metadata and compute). Stratacent also implemented a backup and archive solution that streamlined storage costs.

Despite the obstacles presented by such a complex situation, over 500 TB of data were migrated from the old environment to the new environment over the course of 6 months.

Stratacent saved the client significant costs by completing the migration ahead of schedule and creating a heterogeneous grid to optimize license cost, which eliminated the need to renew obsolete software licenses.

A passive disaster recovery environment was set up with automation to recover the SAS grid environment with a Recovery Time Objective (RTO) of 8 hours.

  • Multiple environment (dev/test/prod) were set up to facilitate the business testing.
  • Linux based intel hardware used instead of Sparc.
  • SAS Grid instead of N1 Grid

Technologies Used: SAS Management Console, SAS 9.2, SAS 9.4, SAS Enterprise Guide, SAS Information Map Studio, PC SAS, SAS OLAP Cube Studio, SAS Web Report Studio, SAS Stored Process, SAS BI Dashboard, Platform LSF Sun Solaris, Linux, Windows, Teradata, Oracle, Db2, Hadoop, Sybase, and Vertica

Results

Design of a high-performing, scalable environment that included higher uptime with a more stable system and met new demand with an upgraded software stack.