Revving Up Reliability: Silverstone Circuits Overhauls Server Infrastructure with Synology

We were looking for high performance in a solution that was economical, streamlined and efficient, also providing a Disaster Recovery feature that was reliable and easy to manage, and a Synology solution seemed to address these requirements.

Steven Ward - Head of I.T. - Silverstone Racetrack

The Challenge

Need for a scalable, high-performance server solution with an efficient and reliable disaster recovery feature

Silverstone Racetrack had inherited a server platform that had been outgrown by the organisation. The Disaster Recovery solution was difficult to manage, and needed human intervention to run properly. We were looking for high performance in a solution that was economical, streamlined and efficient, also providing a Disaster Recovery feature that was reliable and easy to manage, and a Synology solution seemed to address these requirements.

The request was for something scalable; fit to meet the requirements of the organisation now; and for several years to come. Minimising downtime in the event of a problem was a key requirement for them. They also needed a Disaster Recovery solution that was dependable and effective.

The Solution

Synology selected for virtualized server and storage platform for Silverstone Circuits to offer backup efficiecny and scalability

Analysis of the existing infrastructure showed the limitations of the network as well as identifying disk performance as key performance bottleneck. Based on the results of this analysis, a solution was proposed by Serveline, Synology's premium partner, to provide a virtualised server and storage platform with high availability in place.

The new storage platform was built on Synology RS2416RP+, in conjunction with all-flash based SAN to power the virtualisation environment.

This solution offered to Silverstone Circuits provided many advantages. Synology's RackStations are fully VMware certified and come with regular software updates so ensure users like Silverstone Circuits can leverage the latest technology offered by VMware. If one physical server needs repairing or upgrading, the integration between the Synology and VMware solutions allows for the live migration of a Virtual server without any downtime. Virtualisation reduces the number of physical servers required by the organisation, reducing maintenance and energy costs. Virtual servers are managed, modified and multiplied much more easily than physical servers are, so that the new infrastructure can easily continue to support the organisation as it grows and changes.

Silverstone Topology

Silverstone Topology

The Benefits

Rapid and full automated backup protection to ensure data integrity and recovery

The new Disaster Recovery solution, is a rapid and fully automated backup solution, protecting the organisation's data. Utilising the multiple server room locations at the 800-acre Silverstone site, a remote, automated backup target with real-time file replication was configured. The data is now stored in the main building, and replicated to the secondary server location, to provide rapid recovery in the event of fire, flood or theft.

Silverstone Circuits are now enjoying the benefits of a robust, high performing, high-availability server platform with room for expansion as the organisation grows, and an improved, reliable Disaster Recovery solution which is hassle-free.

The Customer

Silverstone is built on the site of a World War II Royal Air Force bomber station, RAF Silverstone, which opened in 1943. The airfield's three runways, in classic WWII triangle format, lie within the outline of the present track.

Silverstone Circuit is a motor racing circuit in England located next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the towns of Northampton and Milton Keynes very close by.

Silverstone is the current home of the British Grand Prix, which it first hosted in 1948. The 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone was the first race in the newly created World Championship of Drivers. The race rotated between Silverstone, Aintree and Brands Hatch from 1955 to 1986, but relocated permanently to Silverstone in 1987.

The circuit also hosts the British round of the MotoGP series.

Silverstone