Backup systems for the mainframe, UNIX and Windows environments, a tape library, two disk subsystems and telecommunication lines with backup lines were installed at the emergency computer centre. The centre also included ready-to-use workstations for securities and forgein exchange dealings so that the most important business can continue in the case of a disruption at the head office. The contract with INFO AG additionally secures the operation of the main systems.


Backup computer centre with additional effect
The rising number of systems to be secured, particularly in the UNIX environment, and the increasing demand for electric and air conditioning led to problems and shortages regarding space and climate control in the backup computer centre. To begin with, the computer centre was moved to a different location in the same building. Following the events of 11th September 2001, the bank decided to find a new location for a computer centre that should serve as both a backup centre as well as a  fully functional second production location. It was important that this computer centre was located away from the main production computer centre and to ensure that, in the case of a system failure at the main computer centre, systems can be restored quickly using central disk mirroring, Parallel Sysplex and cluster systems. Load sharing should continue to take place using the Parallel Sysplex.

Expandable capacities
We evaluated various alternatives in a preliminary study. The results showed that the most cost-effective solution was to relocate to one of our computer centres which offered the expandable capacities that were necessary. We had already successfully restructured the main computer centre - another reason for the bank to trust INFO AG with relocating the backup computer centre. Our team was already familiar with the computer centre, it rules, procedures and employees. After a short familiarisation period we began with the preparation.

Preparation
We began planning in June 2002. The team was made up of employees from the bank, with the bank's backup coordinator Ulrich Simon as the team leader, and two employees from INFO AG. Our first task was to plan the structure of the new location. Major changes were called for at the Notkestrasse location to accommodate the necessary infrastructure and sealed area requirements. Dividing the various security areas mirrored the set-up in the production computer centre. The first steps we had to complete were: structuring the network centre, integrating a second computer centre in the network backbone of HSH Nordbank, setting up the cables between the computer centre rooms and the emergency backup room centre, and the telecommunication connections. A INFO AG location was integrated in the HSH Nordbank network by implementing fibre optic cables. The tape library was included and integrated in the production process to make sure the data media were migrated by the date for relocation.

Extra security
The aim of the project was the store all systems and telecommunications connections in our computer centre. We decided to create a new StorageTek library instead of using the existing tape libraries at both computer centres. We integrated both locations with one another using fibre optic connections and multiplexer systems to ensure sufficient bandwidth and number of connections.

Smooth relocation
The prerequisites for the actual relocation were all met. The telecommunications providers were required to guarantee system operation in advance by means of parallel component installations. In collaboration with the bank's system technology specialist, the hardware specialists, the project team and the removal firm, we developed a detailed schedule. It was important that the Hitachi disk subsystem, which is accessed by a large number of server systems, was operational particularly quickly. Just how successful the cooperation between HSH Nordbank AG, INFO AG, the telecommunications providers, the hardware manufacturers and the employees from the removal company had been was demonstrated on the first weekend in December 2003: the relocation ran without a hitch. On Friday morning, we began with setting up the emergency room and moving all of the systems that were not urgently necessary for live operation. The majority of systems were moved on the Saturday. On Sunday, we started to run the new backup computer centre and test specific functions. On Monday, all systems were running as required at the new location.