SARDINA SYSTEMS and GRASS-MERKUR
A Strong Partnership
FishOS from Sardina Systems is a cloud management platform based on OpenStack, Kubernetes, and Ceph that has been providing reliable cloud infrastructure to customers in the financial sector, the public sector, and research across four continents since 2014.
As an official reseller, we at GRASS-MERKUR rely on HAN-CLOUD—which is built on this very technology—to offer companies a European, vendor-independent alternative to VMware and the major U.S. hyperscalers.
Background
Between Cost Pressure and Vendor Lock-in
Sardina Systems implemented this project independently of GRASS-MERKUR, with on-site support in Indonesia from PT Pan Solusi Indodata (PSI). We present it as an example of FishOS in practice.
The Indonesian financial services provider FIFGROUP, part of ASTRA Financial Services, operated its virtualized infrastructure on VMware. At the end of 2023, a significant price increase for VMware subscriptions intensified the need for action. Added to this were the company’s dependence on a single vendor and increasing requirements for availability and business continuity.
The company was looking for an open, scalable cloud platform that could be introduced initially as a pilot project without posing any risk to ongoing operations.
Our Areas of Expertise
- Costs: Switching to the OpenStack platform replaces VMware subscriptions and frees up financial resources.
- Independence: As an open-source solution, FishOS eliminates dependence on a single vendor.
- Fast transition: The FishOS Move It migration tool automates the switch from VMware to OpenStack, even for complex VMs.
- Low risk: A pilot cluster instead of a “big bang” approach, with operations continuing uninterrupted throughout.
- Minimal effort for the IT team: The migration requires only minimal involvement from the customer; the platform is intuitive to manage.
- Scalable: Additional workloads can be added step by step.
Your Added Value
- FishOS as an official reseller: We offer the technology through HAN-CLOUD, operated in the ISO 27001-certified data center in Hanover.
- VMware Migration Consulting: We assess your environment in light of the Broadcom license changes and present options for migration, optimization, or phasing out the solution.
- Managed Services: Upon request, we can take over the operation of your environment.
- Compliance: We assist you with DORA and NIS2 requirements.
Solution
Entire Cluster Migrated to FishOS in Just Four Days
Together with its local partner, PT Pan Solusi Indodata, our technology partner Sardina Systems relied on FishOS, a cloud platform based on OpenStack, Kubernetes, and Ceph.
FishOS Move It, a migration tool specifically designed for moving from VMware to OpenStack, was used for the migration. Following a test migration with a single VM, the entire pilot cluster was migrated in just four days, including VMs averaging 300 GB and root partitions spread across multiple disks.
FIFGROUP deliberately started with a smaller cluster as a pilot project. The effort required on the customer’s side was minimal: shutting down VMs, verifying functionality, and adjusting IP addresses—all with the assistance of a single cloud administrator. Today, FIFGROUP is using the new environment in production for development and testing and plans to expand it gradually.
The platform is easy to manage and intuitive; the training required was minimal.
Results
The entire pilot cluster was migrated to FishOS over the course of four days. The work was deliberately staggered so that FIFGROUP’s day-to-day operations could continue uninterrupted.
The switch to the OpenStack-based platform eliminates the need for expensive VMware licenses. This gives FIFGROUP the financial flexibility to continue expanding.
As an open-source solution, FishOS eliminates dependence on a single vendor. Going forward, FIFGROUP will make its own decisions regarding technology, costs, and the roadmap.
Existing hardware and software could be integrated into the new environment without any disruptions. Investments remain protected, and the IT team can continue working without a lengthy training period.
The highly available cloud infrastructure is already up and running for development and testing. FIFGROUP can gradually add additional workloads.
Contact
Let’s Talk About Your IT Operations
Tell us about your project — we will get back to you with a concrete assessment.
Direct Line
GRASS-MERKUR GmbH & Co. KG
Rothwiese 5
30559 Hannover
