WESTPORT is embarking on a server consolidation project that costs RM5 million to provide the port additional computing power of almost 200 times.

The project involves consolidation of Sun Microsystems’ Sun Fire 12000 server and Sun StorEdge SAN system, under a single operating system architecture.

Previously, Westport’s applications and databases ran on a combined Solaris, Linux, and other multi-tier platforms.

Suman Menon, chief technology officer of Makmal Consulting Sdn Bhd which undertakes the computerisation project, said the Sun Fire has 12 domains which could handle as many as 54 processors, compared to the earlier machine which could only handle eight processors.

He added that the project to roll out the Sun Solaris operating system and a back-up storage solution from Veritas had been completed. Westport spends more than RM10 million a year on hardware and software, placing a high degree of importance in the adoption of information technology (IT) in its march to achieving world-class productivity.

Its container volume grew from 21,000 containers in 1996 to 2.1 million last year. This year, Westport is aiming for a higher volume of 2.5 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers.