Sports Industry- Peoria Server Setup and SCCM Decommission Project Case Study
About the company
The organization, also a professional baseball team with a commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to support its operations, embarked on a critical IT infrastructure upgrade and decommissioning project. This project, conducted in Peoria, aimed to enhance the performance and reliability of their server environment while decommissioning outdated systems. The scope of the project included configuring a new ESXi Host Server, promoting a new Domain Controller VM while decommissioning the legacy DC VM, and decommissioning the System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) from the domain.
CHALLENGES
The project presented several key challenges:
Compatibility and Configuration: Ensuring the new ESXi host server was compatible with existing network versions and optimized for performance.
Network Integration: Properly configuring networking and storage to ensure seamless integration and communication across the network.
Domain Controller Transition: Safely promoting a new Domain Controller and decommissioning the legacy DC without disrupting network services.
SCCM Decommissioning: Carefully decommissioning SCCM to avoid any impact on the management and deployment of software across the organization.
Data Integrity and Security: Maintaining data integrity and security throughout the transition and decommissioning processes.
ASsessment and solution
To address these challenges, a phased approach was implemented by Pm2net:
Phase 1: Configure New ESXi Host Server
a. Configuration of the New Host Server: Ensured the new server supported the same version of ESXi as the other hosts in the network. Installed the OEM-optimized version of ESXi via the iDRAC console on the new Dell server.
b. Network and Storage Configuration: Configured the networking and storage for the host and ensured the management network was pingable across the network.
c. VLAN and VM Setup: Coordinated with the client to configure VLANs for VM access and loaded the Windows Server 2019 ISO onto the host for VM creation.
Phase 2: Promote New Domain Controller (DC) VM/Decommission Legacy DC VM
a. Building the New Domain Controller: Built a domain-joined Windows 2019 Server VM on the new ESXi host, providing the necessary IP/Host Name.
b. Backup and Preparation: Backed up DHCP scope settings from the legacy DC and prepared the VM for DC promotion.
c. Promotion and Validation: Promoted the VM to Domain Controller and validated full replication functionality and AD site membership.
d. DHCP Configuration: Configured DHCP Server services and restored DHCP scope settings onto the new server, validating proper DHCP server settings and scope functionality.
e. Decommission Legacy DC: Demoted the legacy DC, uninstalled DHCP and DNS roles, disjoined the domain on the legacy DC, and powered off the legacy VM, making it ready for deletion from the legacy ESXi host.
Phase 3: Decommission SCCM from Domain
a. Assessment and Decommissioning: Assessed the current state of the SCCM environment and decomposed secondary distribution sites, if applicable.
b. Uninstallation: Decomposed the primary site and uninstalled the SCCM agent from Windows PCs/Servers via NinjaOne process or script (or both).
c. Server Decommissioning: Decommissioned all SCCM-related servers.
Advantages
The successful execution of this project provided several significant advantages:
Enhanced Performance and Reliability: The new ESXi host server provided improved performance and reliability, supporting the Padres' IT infrastructure more effectively.
Seamless Transition: The careful promotion of the new Domain Controller and decommissioning of the legacy DC ensured a seamless transition with no disruption to network services.
Simplified Management: Decommissioning SCCM streamlined the management and deployment of software, reducing complexity and freeing up resources for other critical tasks.
Improved Security and Data Integrity: Throughout the project, data integrity and security were maintained, safeguarding the Padres' valuable information.
Future-Ready Infrastructure: The updated and optimized server environment positioned the San Diego Padres for future growth and technological advancements.
This project underscored the importance of meticulous planning and execution in IT infrastructure upgrades and decommissioning efforts, highlighting Pmnet’s ability to deliver complex IT solutions effectively.