Dell and Oracle Corp. today announced that Orange, one of the
leading telecommunications providers in the United Kingdom, has
deployed a standards-based computing Red Hat Linux platform,
powered by Intel-based processors, to support up-to-the-minute
multimedia and SMS services to mobile phone customers in the United
Kingdom.
The platform consists of four Dell PowerEdge servers running an
Oracle9i Database with Real Application Clusters and Red Hat Linux
Advanced Server using Intel Xeon processors MP. It is the result of
close work between Dell, Intel and Oracle, and it has enabled
Orange to significantly increase overall service and performance
while reducing total cost of ownership.
The new cluster replaces a proprietary RISC-based platform and
supports the content delivery and subscriber databases critical to
Orange services. With the capability to store the user preferences
for over 13 million Orange customers, the subscriber database
allows targeted information from thousands of different topics,
such as sports and horoscopes, to be delivered directly to mobile
phones. Content is delivered through the company’s portfolio of
information portals which include website, WAP, SMS, MMS, audio and
video content services.
The combination of an increasing number of multi-media users and
the variety of information portals through which content can be
accessed meant that a high performance, reliable and stable
solution was imperative. Because the number of users and
applications it supports is anticipated to grow, Orange chose the
Dell/Intel/Oracle platform due to its ability to easily and rapidly
scale out based on demand, without increasing the overall
complexity of managing the system.
Paul Thompson, head of technical operations for Orange
Multimedia Operations, explained further: “Intel technology was a
key factor in our choice of platform. Oracle database clusters,
powered by Intel processors and Dell servers, are not only some of
the most cost effective and highest performing systems available,
they are based on market leading technology. In addition, as we
upgrade the system, we will be able to take advantage of the latest
Intel processor enhancements.”
Oracle Consulting played a pivotal role in ensuring the system
achieved optimal performance before going live. As Paul Thompson
continued: “With the help of the Oracle Consulting team we were
able to deliver twice the performance, with a single Intel-based
processor design, over our previous dual-processor RISC system.
After further optimization, and with the new system consisting of
four dual-processor nodes, the system has achieved up to 10 times
the performance at a reduced cost.”
Rick Skett, director, Intel UK and Ireland, added: “This is
truly a best of breed solution. The combination of Intel processors
and Dell servers delivers outstanding power and flexibility. Add
this to the stability of Oracle9i Database with Real Application
Clusters and Orange has a high performance system that delivers
excellent scalability and uptime at a price that makes perfect
sense.”
With multi-media messaging placing extra demands on existing
infrastructures, and with users accessing information 24/7, high
availability and system performance is integral to success. John
McLevy, vice president of Oracle Enterprise Technology in Europe,
Middle East and Africa commented: “Oracle continues to evolve our
technology offerings to meet our customers’ requirements for
delivering enterprise class solutions on Linux. We are seeing more
customers like Orange using Linux-based Oracle9i Database with Real
Application Clusters on Dell and Intel to achieve highly reliable,
high performance solutions for customers at an attractive price
point.”
The cluster deployed by Orange MMO consists of four Dell
PowerEdge 6650 servers connected to a Dell/EMC FC4700 system.
Oracle9i Database with Real Application Clusters is running on Red
Hat Linux Advanced Server.