The University of Reading is embarking on a significant project to ensure that its disaster recovery capabilities are robust and reliable, by testing the failover capabilities of its Nutanix-based infrastructure. This initiative aims to enhance the institution’s preparedness in the event of a catastrophic failure within its primary data center. As head of operations Kevin Mortimer explained at Nutanix’s .Next 2025 event, the university is transitioning to the supplier’s NC2 cloud services while planning to conduct a hands-on test to validate its disaster recovery (DR) processes.
Transitioning to NC2 Cloud Services
Since becoming a Nutanix customer in 2017, the University of Reading has leveraged Nutanix’s Enterprise Cloud Software deployed on Dell EMC XC Series hyper-converged infrastructure, utilizing the Nutanix AHV hypervisor. The university boasts an impressive array of more than 50 research centers supporting fields like agricultural, biological and physical sciences, as well as meteorology. With around 5,000 faculty members and 20,000 students, the institution generates substantial data that necessitates a reliable and scalable infrastructure.
The imminent transition to Nutanix’s NC2 services signals a strategic decision to incorporate a hybrid cloud model, which offers flexibility and cost-effectiveness. According to Mortimer, moving critical workloads to public cloud providers would impose exorbitant costs—around five or six times greater than maintaining an on-premise data center. “If on-premise was £100,000, public cloud would be £1m,” Mortimer stated. “But NC2 is kind of in the middle of that, so you’re getting the benefit of some cloud and it does cost you more, because cloud is generally more expensive.”
Disaster Recovery Testing Strategy
One of the critical milestones in this transition is to conduct a thorough disaster recovery test. Mortimer and his team are keen to test their preparedness by simulating a failure scenario. “That’s something that is always quite scary to an organization, but it’s something I’m really keen to do,” he remarked. Their plan involves deliberately taking the primary data center offline to evaluate the effectiveness of the NC2 failover system. The testing is slated to take place during off-peak times—either in summer or around the Christmas holiday—to avoid disruption for users.
To execute the test, Mortimer foresees involvement of about 60TB of data, which will require close synchronization with Recovery Point Objectives (RPO). “We can turn it off. We know the processes. We’ll let it run from the cloud for a week beforehand so it’s not all last-minute, and we can fail it back,” he explained. This proactive approach aims to ascertain whether the systems can manage seamless transitions between operational states.
Key Steps Towards Successful Implementation
In preparation for the disaster recovery test, Mortimer identified several crucial steps. “Once the platform’s all stood up and connected, we need to make sure we can move workloads between the two clusters,” he outlined. This entails thorough validation of network connectivity, particularly for essential services such as DNS and Active Directory. “But once we’re confident that networking works for those test cases, and if everything’s been rebuilt out from scratch against those principles, then it should be just a case of pull the plug and fail over,” he added.
Historically, the university transitioned from VMware to AHV upon implementing Nutanix. This shift not only improved their virtualization capabilities but also encouraged self-service resource provisioning for academic staff. Currently, the university operates approximately 600 virtual machines across eight nodes in its data center, running around 60 applications. With tools like Nutanix Files and the Prism user interface, the institution optimizes its hybrid cloud management with additional frameworks such as Nutanix Calm.
Future Implications and Institutional Preparedness
The successful execution of this disaster recovery test can have far-reaching implications for the University of Reading, particularly in establishing confidence in their digital infrastructure and enhancing operational resilience. In a recent study by Gartner, it was noted that organizations that regularly test their disaster recovery plans are significantly more likely to recover quickly from disruptions.
Moreover, integrating hybrid cloud solutions like Nutanix NC2 could serve as a model for other educational institutions, illustrating how effective resource management and modern infrastructure can bolster operational continuity. The University of Reading’s initiative to “pull the plug” serves as a proactive measure against potential data loss and disruption, emphasizing the importance of preparedness in today’s data-driven landscape.
Quick Reference Table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Infrastructure | Nutanix-based on Dell EMC XC Series |
| Estimated Data for DR Test | 60TB |
| Key Transition | Nutanix NC2 Cloud Services |
| Expected Cost Savings | £100,000 (on-premise) vs. £1m (public cloud) |
| Test Timing | Summer or next Christmas |
| Number of VMs | Approximately 600 |
The University of Reading’s proactive approach towards disaster recovery aims to set a benchmark for resilience and preparedness in the face of technological challenges, reinforcing the critical role of robust cloud solutions in higher education.