Avinash Mall

Summary

• Extending L3/L2 support to the client, GHQ of Armed Forces, managing the Storage, Oracle Database, Oracle Applications and Servers. 
• Mentoring Operations Team and providing guidance, instruction, direction to the team for daily operations as well as new projects.
• Ensuring maximum uptime and security for all applications in data center along with ability to manage disaster.
• Translating technical information to the higher management and bridging gap between technical team and management with focus on transforming and modernizing the infrastructure.
• Evaluating products, POCs, technology solutions and providing feedback to the management.
• Troubleshooting escalated issues, if required co-ordinating with the vendor support to resolve the issue in a timely manner.
• Recommending/Designing the Storage/Servers/Database and Application infrastructure for the client along with the vendors and driving to a successful implementation of the project.
• Python and Shell Scripting to automate multiple tasks like deployments and also to generate daily reports. Develop inhouse monitoring and operations platform using Python and Django.
• Code upgrade / Firmware Upgrade / Patching for the systems (DB, Apps, Storage) for bug fixing, feature enhancement.
• Documentation of The Infrastructure, updating RunBooks, Documenting processes to standardize them and documenting activities to keep a log.   

Storage and Backup Administration Routine Tasks: 

• Various types of Lun allocation (e.g. through active-active vplex setup, Recoverpoint replicated, direct through VMAX, VNX etc.) 
• Disaster Recovery Setup and Testing (end to end setup i.e. from f5 load balancer(another team), web servers, application servers, database, solaris and storage) 
• FileSystem Allocation (CIFS, NFS over VDMs with replication)
• Cloning and Snapshot(Symclone/Symmir/Symsnap) of systems (e.g cloning and reconfiguring Oracle RAC database from storage to the database level) to provide development team for testing.
• Configuring Avamar Backups (Oracle DB with RMAN and Catalog Server, File Systems with NDMP for VNX using Accelerator Node, VMWare using Proxies, Windows VSS) and Tape Out with Avamar Extended Retention.

Database Administration Routine Tasks: 

• Database Creation, Schema Creation, RAC Configuration, User Administration, Database Objects creation and monitoring, writing basic triggers, functions and procedures using toad.
• Database Link Setup between two databases and assisting developers with database activities.
• Database export/import (tables/schemas) using data pump, and recovering database using backups, archive logs etc.
• Patching/Upgrading database, Troubleshooting various Issues
• Performance Monitoring and Tuning using various tools (e.g. Enterprise Manager, Dynatrace, generating execution plans, creating indexes, tuning queries)
• Database Security using Auditing and active response by DBProtect, and recording and monitoring using Arcos PAM.

Application Administration Routine Tasks: 

• Various Oracle Applications Troubleshooting, Load Balancing, Clustering, Deploying Applications, Performance Tuning and Maintenance, Configuring SSL and HTTPs etc.
• Weblogic: Create, configure and tune weblogic domains/applications/managed servers for performance, tune java heap, managing and troubleshooting java ear file deployments, security, adding cluster nodes, restarting services, scripting for deployments etc., failover and failback, creating and configuring ohs as webserver with weblogic, creating connection pools etc.
• Siebel: Install/Manage/Troubleshoot Siebel Servers and its components, Deploy SRF files, setting up Siebel tools, client for developers, Integrating OBIEE with Siebel, Creating/Configuring Oracle iPlanet Web Server for Siebel.
• Oracle EBS: Starting, Stopping Application and Concurrent Managers, Deploying Forms, Reports and LDTs.

Server Administration Routine Tasks: 

• Creating Virtual Servers, Ldoms, Virtual Switches and Installing Solaris.
• Adding vdisks to the servers, cloning and reconfiguring the servers, Patching and installing packages.
• Managing networks, interfaces, hba, cpu and memory for the servers with server performance tuning and troubleshooting, creating and managing zpools, managing printers, managing services, fault management, hardware replacement, scheduling tasks.
• User management, Group Management, Security management, Capacity and Resource Planning, Creating scripts to monitor and email status reports and incidents, centralized log configuration on DBProtect SIEM.
• Opening ticket with vendor to resolve issues in timely manner, uploading relevant logs/core dumps.

Summary

• Extending L3 support to multiple clients such as, Abu Dhabi Marine Authority, Abu Dhabi Airport Authority, Dubai Airport Authority, NCEMA, Education Council, Abu Dhabi Municipality, Etisalat etc. for dedicated support with regard to pre-installation site planning, layout, upgrades, and servicing of all EMC hardware equipment. 
• Developing solution design based on multi-vendor approach, in line with client’s objectives. Developing a customized service delivery plan to ensure specific support requirements of the clien are met.
• Proactively supporting both preventive and remedial actions that may be needed to support the client.

Notable Highlights:

• Improving Existing backup infrastructure, thereby bringing down the licensing costs and improving manageability. 
• Improving Performance of their business-critical databases on EMC storage boxes. 
• Designing optimal Disaster Recovery Solution.
• Handled the successful implementation of SRDF for DMX and Snapmirror for Netapp for business continuity. Created scripts for ensuring consistent replications of the Oracle database.
• Served as an effective point of escalation for all storage related issues put forth by the client. Provided weekly case updates, monthly support reviews and handled critical incident reporting.
• Daily Monitoring and day to day Administration tasks such as LUN provisioning, Share creation etc.

Summary

• Engaged in project for FOX Entertainment Group.
• Handled DMX, Clarrion and Netapp Filer & Brocade Fabric administration with remedy tickets.
• Extended L3 Support to 16×5-production environment and managed the track.
• Managed the installation & setup activities for the infrastructure including upgrade, code upgrade, adding to domain, and Firmware Licence Upgrade.
• Executed administration tasks including creation of Raid Groups & Hot Spares, Bind LUN, Host Integration, Storage Provisioning, Performance Management, Reclaim Space, License Management, Load Distribution between Units.
• Monitored and managed hardware level failures. Following up with vendors if needed.
• Accountable for Documentation & Procedure Management with regard to vendor SLA, support for escalation matrix, naming conventions, inventory and connectivity layout.

Summary

• Handled responsibilities with regard to EMC & Netapp Storage Administration:
• Establishing end to end host connectivity and data backup and recovery through Avamar and Networker solutions. 
• SRDF, clone and snap operations. 
• Rendering critical support to end-users on time by raising HPOV tickets and logging the case with EMC for addressing critical issues.
• Wrote Shell scripts to automate various tasks such as Replication Cycles and Snapshots.
• Involved in Mapping, Masking and Zoning (Brocade) for space allocation and de-allocation.

Summary

• Involved in Sun Server and EMC Storage Administration activities. Rendered 24×7 support to the data centre, with responsibilities covering migration and upgrade activities as well.
• Managed the creation and deletion of devices (Meta, BCVs, etc.); installation of symcli software and gatekeeper configuration. Maintained end to end physical connectivity between Host & EMC DMX Box.
• Oversaw SRDF Operations entailing DR site creation and data replication using SRDF & Symmetrix Automated Replication (SAR Cycles).
• Engaged in Power-path Management & defining policies, Q-Logic HBA Card installation/ updation/ configuration of fcode on Solaris, Brocade Switch Zoning, Mapping & Masking activities.
• Wrote Shell scripts to automate SAR cycles and report generation. Ran EMC Grab and generated & analysed HEAT reports as per requirements.
• Monitored system performance parameters using iostat, vmstat, fine-tuning and performance tuning. 
• Installed and Managed Veritas Volume Manager, Veritas File System and Veritas Maintenance Pack, DG creation, Volume Creation, Vxfs file system Creation & mounting the same, Scanning Disks, Disk Initialization and bring them in VERITAS control. Carried out the troubleshooting of VERITAS errors & Daemon control.
• Installed and Managed Veritas Net Backup Package & Basic Client. Activities included development of backup policy, Media Volume Pool creation, scheduling of jobs & manual Backup, Catalogue Backup & managing Catalogue volume.
• Solaris OS with other activities including initial configuration, Swap Management, User Management, troubleshooting of Solaris OS & monitoring system logs, configuring network file system & their mounts.
• Efficiently carried out Tape Library configuration with tpconfig, robtest, tape drive visibility on Master & Media Hosts using Zoning.
• Planned and took Oracle Database Offline & Hot Backup, Oracle Redo Logs Management & Recovery of Oracle DB using Archive Logs, Informix Database Log Backup, OT Backup & Informix Database Recovery, SAP Application Start & Stop Procedures, and Transports Requests in SAP DV QA PD Environment.