Adrian Howard

Role Summary: Lead a dynamic Level 3 support team (comprising 1 onshore and 6 offshore members) responsible for managing and enhancing a high-performing reporting application ecosystem. The application integrates IBM WebSphere, Postgres, and Monet databases, hosted across DEV, QC, UAT, and PROD environments on Azure.

Key Responsibilities:
Provide leadership and technical guidance to ensure seamless support and development for reporting applications.

Drive innovation by proactively developing scripts to monitor application loads and query Postgres database tables for performance insights.

Oversee system telemetry and performance monitoring using Nagios.

Design and implement automation solutions, including scripted configuration updates for Postgres databases.

Collaborate with the Infrastructure team to optimize the upgrade process, leveraging Azure Pipelines with parameterized Bash scripts, reducing manual effort, and ensuring repeatability and scalability.

Manage and support over 100 Linux servers, ensuring their reliability and performance align with business needs.

Key Achievements:
Successfully improved application performance through proactive monitoring and automation.

Streamlined upgrade processes, achieving significant time savings and operational efficiency.

Enhanced system stability and scalability across multiple environments.

Role Summary: Serve as the onshore technical lead in an Agile team, collaborating with colleagues in Poland and India, to execute seamless workload migrations of virtual and physical on-premise Linux/Unix servers to the appropriate processing tiers, managed data centers, or private/hybrid cloud environments.

Key Responsibilities:
Led workload migration projects using Agile Kanban techniques to prioritize and manage tasks effectively.

Installed and configured Storsimple NAS devices, enabling local file sharing with Azure cloud caching.

Consolidated multiple storage devices into a unified on-premise system by deploying and configuring Lenovo v5030 storage solutions.

Provided critical support during the COVID-19 pandemic as an essential worker, utilizing broad technical hardware knowledge to assist in firmware upgrades across UK client offices.

Utilized advanced troubleshooting techniques to analyze and resolve root causes of issues in storage systems, servers, network devices, and tape libraries.

Kept technical skills current and forward-looking by studying Hybrid Cloud technologies, including Kubernetes, Containers, and Python.

Currently expanding expertise in WebSphere Application Server administration.

Key Achievements:
Enhanced team efficiency through effective workload prioritization and Agile practices.

Significantly improved system reliability and storage optimization across on-premise and cloud environments.

Demonstrated versatility and leadership in providing critical support during a national crisis.

Role Summary: Spearhead consolidation initiatives to optimize client data centers, ensuring efficient management of extensive storage and server environments across multiple sites.

Key Responsibilities:
Led the consolidation of five client data centers into two primary sites, managing 1 petabyte of storage and 1,500 servers (physical and virtual).

Utilized Ctera onsite appliances with cloud backend archiving to streamline client file data management.

Acted as lead engineer for the closure of two West London CoLo data centers, coordinating hardware disk wiping, secure disposal, and disassembly of 50 network devices, 500 physical servers, and 500TB of SAN storage.

Assisted with the seamless migration of network subnets to support consolidation efforts.

Designed and implemented a robust backup solution to replicate data between data centers, incorporating long-term tape retention for reliability.

Collaborated as the onshore member of a project team to install Lenovo v5030 storage systems at primary data center locations.

Partnered with third-party vendors to test disaster recovery (DR) plans for critical client applications.

Conducted a bare-metal installation, restoring 21TB of data, including a 5TB Oracle database, by building a Linux server equipped with EMC Networker backup software and a 14-drive tape library.

Key Achievements:
Delivered significant cost savings and operational efficiencies by consolidating infrastructure into fewer, more efficient data center sites.

Improved data management and reliability through innovative backup solutions and cloud integration.

Demonstrated leadership and technical expertise in executing complex infrastructure projects within tight timelines.

Role Summary: Delivered seamless migration of critical data and architected advanced storage solutions to optimize performance, ensure reliability, and support high-value operations for key clients.

Key Responsibilities:
Successfully migrated 40TB of critical data from an aging EVA8100 storage system to an HP 3PAR 7200, ensuring zero downtime during the process.

Developed and implemented scripts to replicate HP-UX production data onto LUNs for HP-UX development systems.

Utilized Adaptive Optimization (AO) across three storage tiers (SSD/FC/Nearline), with nearline storage dedicated for backup snapshots.

Led the migration of a legacy datacenter for a key Kantar operating company (£100M revenue) to a CoLo site, designing and deploying a 53TB storage solution integrated with Brocade switches.

Replicated data locally across two IBM v7000 storage systems, utilizing EasyTier technology to balance storage performance across SSD and FC disks, with nearline disks used for backup and archive.

Maintained and upgraded the environment, including SAN infrastructure and Brocade switch firmware. Managed 40 ESX v5.5 servers supporting 480 Windows 2012 R2 hosts, including four SQL clusters.

Employed NetBackup to back up data to a ProtecTIER VTL gateway, which interfaced with a v7000 SAN. Designed and maintained a global replication setup across two data centers for enhanced disaster recovery.

Oversaw a quantum tape library with 14 drives partitioned into three segments, ensuring optimal resource allocation.

Leveraged system reporting tools to identify and resolve storage bottlenecks, optimizing performance for MS Exchange and Symantec Enterprise Vault environments.

Key Achievements:
Delivered a fully operational, highly resilient storage solution to meet critical business needs.

Achieved uninterrupted system availability during major data migrations and upgrades.

Enhanced backup and disaster recovery strategies with advanced replication and storage solutions, ensuring data integrity and business continuity.

• Easytier across SSD & FC disks with Nearline disks used for backup & archive data
• Maintaining the environment, upgrading the SAN, Brocade switch firmware
• The environment consisted of 40 ESX v5.5 servers supporting 480 Windows 2012 R2 hosts including 4x SQL Clusters
• Netbackup was used to back the data up to a ProtecTIER VTL gateway backed off to a v7000 SAN
• The SAN used Global replication to a 2nd data centre with a v7000 SAN & ProtecTIER gateway
• A quantum tape library with 14 drives in 3 separate partitions
• Using system reporter to identify storage bottlenecks on a T400 used for MS Exchange data & Symantec Enterprise Vault

Role Summary: Provided strategic leadership and hands-on technical expertise to optimize data management, improve infrastructure reliability, and implement innovative storage and backup solutions across multiple data centers and remote sites.

Key Responsibilities:
Led a team of six staff (onshore and Hyderabad-based), mentoring and cross-skilling team members in VMware, Linux, storage, and backup disciplines.

Documented processes with regular annual reviews to ensure operational efficiency and compliance.

Scheduled and executed six-monthly maintenance windows for firmware updates across storage and server hardware in five UK data centers.

Installed and configured a centralized Nagios server to monitor 20 Linux servers running Oracle databases and developed shell scripts for SMS and email alerts to on-call staff.

Designed and implemented scalable SAN solutions, including successfully managing a project for a £100M revenue-generating division of TNS requiring 2TB of initial SAN storage, scaling to 10TB without performance degradation, while adhering to strict budget constraints.

Deployed a Pillar Axiom solution, integrating it with a 3-node VMware cluster to provide UAT environments for software developers.

Designed and implemented new storage area networks (1TB–4TB capacity) across three London-based offices, configured Windows 2003 servers for file sharing, and centralized backups using Legato Networker v7.1.

Migrated 12 Windows 2003 servers from EMC CX500 Clariion storage to VMware ESX 3 environments connected to a Pillar Axiom with 80TB of storage.

Transitioned applications from SCO OpenServer to Enterprise Suse Linux 10, attached to the Pillar SAN, and meshed this with an existing HP StorageWorks SAN comprising 160 ports.

Commissioned an HP EVA81000 with 15TB storage, expanded storage across three sites to 155TB using three vendors, and attached/configured an ADIC I2K tape library with 8 drives and 100 slots within the SAN fabric.

Key Achievements:
Enhanced storage infrastructure by migrating and consolidating systems, leading to a robust 155TB of total storage capacity across three sites.

Spearheaded disaster recovery planning, tested and implemented recovery plans for Tru64 clusters and Windows servers, ensuring resilience for key production servers.

Implemented innovative file archive policies using Northern Storage Suite and Zantaz FAS to migrate older data to cost-effective ATA storage.

Optimized email archiving for UK-based personnel through Zantaz EAS solutions in collaboration with vendors.

Centralized remote site backups using Snap Appliance NAS hardware with SureSync software for replication, backed by tape backups via Legato Networker.

Additional Contributions:
Refreshed SAN fabric infrastructure with 6 Brocade 4900 and 4100 switches, configured Brocade SAN HealthCheck for automated weekly reports.

Evaluated and implemented Veritas NetBackup for smaller remote sites with locally attached tape drives for backups.

Utilized EMC DPA to report backup success/failures and System Reporter to identify storage bottlenecks.

Role Summary: Led critical infrastructure projects to reduce support costs, improve system resilience, and optimize operations by rationalizing server environments, implementing highly available UNIX clusters, and coordinating global rollouts and offshoring initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:
Rationalized Digital Alpha servers to reduce support costs, consolidating operations at the Hanger Lane head office by migrating applications from Alpha Server 2100 to Alpha Server 8200 and Compaq ES40 servers (Jan–Aug 2000).

Designed and implemented a V5.0 Tru64 UNIX Cluster on ES40 systems, working closely with suppliers and Compaq to define hardware requirements.

Built a standalone V5.0a machine in collaboration with ICM Computer Systems and TCS Resources and subsequently constructed a 2-node ES40 Cluster integrated with StorageWorks SAN.

Utilized LSM technologies to stripe data across HSG80 disk controllers and enhanced cluster resilience using memory channel hubs and dual KGPSA host controllers after completing a Tru64 Cluster course.

Wrote and implemented failover scripts to manage six Oracle databases (Oracle V7.3.4 and V8.1.6), ensuring seamless operations during system failures.

Configured the cluster for backups using Alpha ES40 running Legato Networker v5.5 and later expanded it into a 3-node cluster by integrating an additional ES40.

Developed additional Tru64 clusters, including one for Oracle Financial Applications, deploying software as a highly available service. This included an Apache web-based front-end on an ES40 and a back-end database on an ES45 as part of a global rollout, collaborating with international peers.

Created shell scripts to manage cluster service dependencies and administrative tasks, along with online Oracle "hot" backup scripts for zero-downtime backups.

Worked with senior management to off-shore UNIX operations to TNS offices in Hyderabad by identifying suitable tasks, conducting candidate interviews, and assisting in training efforts.

Key Achievements:
Reduced operational costs and enhanced server efficiency through successful server rationalization and migration projects.

Strengthened system resilience and disaster recovery with resilient UNIX cluster designs, including failover scripting and backup automation.

Enabled global operations by delivering high-availability solutions and collaborating with international teams for seamless rollouts.

Supported cost-effective and seamless offshoring of operational tasks, ensuring no impact on UNIX services.

Role Summary: Led critical infrastructure projects to reduce support costs, improve system resilience, and optimize operations by rationalizing server environments, implementing highly available UNIX clusters, and coordinating global rollouts and offshoring initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:
Rationalized Digital Alpha servers to reduce support costs, consolidating operations at the Hanger Lane head office by migrating applications from Alpha Server 2100 to Alpha Server 8200 and Compaq ES40 servers (Jan–Aug 2000).

Designed and implemented a V5.0 Tru64 UNIX Cluster on ES40 systems, working closely with suppliers and Compaq to define hardware requirements.

Built a standalone V5.0a machine in collaboration with ICM Computer Systems and TCS Resources and subsequently constructed a 2-node ES40 Cluster integrated with StorageWorks SAN.

Utilized LSM technologies to stripe data across HSG80 disk controllers and enhanced cluster resilience using memory channel hubs and dual KGPSA host controllers after completing a Tru64 Cluster course.

Wrote and implemented failover scripts to manage six Oracle databases (Oracle V7.3.4 and V8.1.6), ensuring seamless operations during system failures.

Configured the cluster for backups using Alpha ES40 running Legato Networker v5.5 and later expanded it into a 3-node cluster by integrating an additional ES40.

Developed additional Tru64 clusters, including one for Oracle Financial Applications, deploying software as a highly available service. This included an Apache web-based front-end on an ES40 and a back-end database on an ES45 as part of a global rollout, collaborating with international peers.

Created shell scripts to manage cluster service dependencies and administrative tasks, along with online Oracle "hot" backup scripts for zero-downtime backups.

Worked with senior management to off-shore UNIX operations to TNS offices in Hyderabad by identifying suitable tasks, conducting candidate interviews, and assisting in training efforts.

Key Achievements:
Reduced operational costs and enhanced server efficiency through successful server rationalization and migration projects.

Strengthened system resilience and disaster recovery with resilient UNIX cluster designs, including failover scripting and backup automation.

Enabled global operations by delivering high-availability solutions and collaborating with international teams for seamless rollouts.

Supported cost-effective and seamless offshoring of operational tasks, ensuring no impact on UNIX services.

Role Summary: Ensured the high availability, performance, and reliability of DEC Alpha machines and UNIX-based systems, supporting over 200 concurrent users. Delivered hardware and software configurations, streamlined upgrades, and provided expert advice on UNIX environments for local and international operations.

Key Responsibilities:
Maintained and optimized DEC Alpha machines running Digital UNIX to support 200+ concurrent users, ensuring high system availability and reliability.

Configured and installed hardware from scratch, including RAID disk arrays and third-party software, to meet business needs.

Installed and configured Oracle v7 RDBMS and other server software on DEC Alpha servers, as well as Oracle client/server software on client PCs.

Supported and configured multiple SCO UNIX systems, providing expert assistance on UNIX-related issues for both local and international company sites.

Planned and executed hardware and software upgrades with minimal user disruption, proactively alerting management when additional resources (e.g., disk drives, memory) were required.

Designed and implemented shell scripts to streamline system auditing and manage user environments effectively.

Advised on environmental requirements for computer rooms, including UPS systems and air conditioning, ensuring optimal hardware performance.

Evaluated and recommended software/hardware solutions in collaboration with suppliers to meet future company requirements within budget constraints.

Configured and managed TCP/IP networking for UNIX systems, including NFS, DNS, and NIS on servers and client PCs.

Stayed informed on the latest developments in UNIX hardware/software to ensure the company remained up to date with technological advancements.

Key Achievements:
Successfully maintained uninterrupted operations for 200+ users across critical systems.

Improved system administration efficiency by developing custom shell scripts for auditing and user management.

Played a key role in strategic planning and execution of system upgrades and expansions, ensuring scalability and reliability.