Hostworks deploys Quest Software infrastructure management tool for Elastic Cloud

Hostworks, an Australian web hosting company, has implemented a systems monitoring and infrastructure management tool to help improve delivery of its Elastic (Cloud) Computing Platform (ECP).

The company provides large websites to high-profile corporate customers including Australia Post, Grays Online, Network TEN, SEEK, Ticketek and Vodafone. In 2008, Hostworks started its Future Service Delivery (FSD) program. This involved a review and change of processes and procedures, reinvestment in core systems and investment in new automation tools to better service its customers and facilitate growth.

The program involved fundamental changes to its systems management environment and provided the impetus for the company to seek a way to monitor its ECP.

ECP can rapidly deploy additional environments as demand grows, as well as scale back when necessary. ECP helps Hostworks automate its systems management and keep tight control of the computing environment.

Adrian Britton, Hostworks’ General Manager Technology, Strategy and Innovation, said, “At the time, we were looking for a monitoring solution that could integrate with our current environment.”

The company implemented Quest Management Xtensions (QMX) - Operations Manager to monitor its ECP. QMX formed a component of the monitoring layer of ECP. This layer comprised two components - the utility, or base, workload and the on-demand computing platform component.

With the solution, Hostworks was able to achieve monitoring and alerting, and was able to proactively address issues before they impacted the organisation. They could manage the entire infrastructure with a single tool.

Britton said the solution “played a key part in helping us monitor the fundamental changes taking place in our systems management environment”.

QMX lets Hostworks monitor its ECP in real time to improve online service delivery for its customers.

ECP is able to automatically gauge and respond to any peaks in online activity. It is designed to handle unpredictable workloads, which decreases the risk of error.

Britton said, “When our customers are planning big events that drive traffic to their websites, there is no real way to predict the exact increase.

“As an example, SBS came to us to deliver online coverage of the World Cup 2010. As the audience grew, we were able to provision additional machines as needed - thanks in part to QMX - to ensure optimum service delivery for viewers.”