About:

Cheriton Primary School, located in Cheriton, UK, recently faced a critical challenge with its ageing IT infrastructure. With a legacy server that was no longer supported or under warranty, the school needed a cost-effective and reliable solution. We partnered with the school to deliver a successful server migration using existing equipment, ensuring continuity, reliability, and peace of mind for the school’s IT operations.

Background:

Cheriton Primary School is a dedicated primary education institution focused on delivering high-quality learning experiences to its pupils. The school places a strong emphasis on integrating technology into the classroom to enhance both teaching and learning.

Recognising the growing importance of a stable and modern IT infrastructure, the school identified the need to upgrade its ageing server system, which was no longer supported or under warranty. However, with budget constraints typical of many educational institutions, Cheriton Primary School needed a solution that would not only improve performance and reliability but also remain cost-effective.

Challenges & Solutions

Cheriton Primary School faced several key challenges with its existing IT infrastructure. The school was operating on an outdated server that was no longer supported, significantly increasing the risk of system failure and limiting available support options. Additionally, the server’s expired warranty meant that any hardware malfunction could result in extended downtime and costly repairs. Compounding these issues were strict budget constraints, which required the school to find a cost-effective solution that leveraged existing infrastructure. To address these challenges, we implemented a virtualisation strategy by creating a new Hyper-V virtual machine on the school’s existing Dell PowerEdge admin server.

The legacy physical server was then virtualised and migrated to this new environment, ensuring that existing configurations and data were preserved. To enhance system performance and resource allocation, we also upgraded the server’s RAM. The implementation process began with a thorough audit of the school’s network and devices to identify risks and ensure compatibility. We then configured the necessary network settings to integrate the new virtual machine into the existing curriculum network. A series of test logins was conducted to validate connectivity and server functionality, and the final deployment was completed smoothly with minimal disruption to staff and students.

Timeline:

Five-week server migration timeline for Cheriton Primary School, showing: Week 1 – Initial consultation and network audit; Week 2 – RAM upgrade and virtual machine configuration; Week 3 – Migration of existing server to VM; Week 4 – Network integration and testing; Week 5 – Project completion and follow-up support. Each step is represented by coloured arrows with relevant icons.

An image that says testimonial.

“The migration process was well-planned and executed without disrupting our daily operations. The new virtual environment has improved our system’s reliability, and the support from European Electronique was outstanding.”

— Mrs. J Page, School IT Manager

Results:

Quantitative Outcomes:

  • 100% Use of Existing Equipment: Achieved migration without purchasing new servers.
  • Zero Downtime During School Hours: Migration conducted outside school hours to avoid disruption.
  • Improved Performance: Upgraded RAM improved server response and capacity.

Qualitative Outcomes:

  • Peace of Mind: Reduced the risk of system failure due to ageing hardware.
  • Future proofing: The virtual environment offers greater flexibility and easier upgrades.
  • Customer Satisfaction: School staff experienced a smooth transition and improved system reliability.

Conclusion

By taking the time to understand our customer’s requirements and budget, we were best placed to help and facilitate what was needed. For us, it’s not all about new, bright, and shiny kit—our solutions need to work, and our customer must be happy with the outcome.