Core Infrastructure Modernized with Hyper-V, Network, and SAN Storage

Challenge

An organization preparing for expanded virtualization workloads needed to modernize its core infrastructure with a more resilient, manageable, and scalable environment. The project required multiple technical layers to be configured together — network switching, firewall services, SAN storage, Hyper-V hosts, clustering, live migration, and virtual machine management — with careful coordination because core network changes involved planned downtime and access to multiple infrastructure components.

Approach

Safari Micro delivered a structured infrastructure configuration project covering network, security, storage, and virtualization. The team configured two Extreme Networks switches and a Fortinet FortiGate firewall (including WAF), set up a Lenovo ThinkSystem DE SAN storage array, installed Windows Server 2019 Datacenter on four physical hosts with Hyper-V, configured virtual switches, live migration, failover clustering with quorum disk and Cluster Shared Volumes, and migrated one physical server to a virtual machine. The engagement concluded with validation testing, instructional documentation, and hands-on training for the client's team.

Results

• Modernized Hyper-V platform running on four clustered Windows Server 2019 Datacenter hosts
• Shared SAN storage configured for virtualization workloads
• Live migration capability enabled to support workload mobility
• Failover cluster with Cluster Shared Volumes and quorum configuration for resiliency
• Fortinet FortiGate firewall and WAF deployed with updated network switching
• Physical-to-virtual migration completed for initial workload transition
• Documentation and operational training delivered for day-to-day Hyper-V management