In the fast-paced landscape of modern IT, businesses face the challenge of efficiently managing their infrastructure while keeping up with evolving technologies. One such challenge was presented to us when a client approached our team, seeking comprehensive solutions to enhance their infrastructure management. Let’s delve into the case study to understand the intricacies of the project and the solutions we implemented.
The challenge
Our client’s infrastructure was previously managed by another service provider, resulting in a setup with limited monitoring capabilities and manual management processes. They had three key requests: to extend monitoring to all infrastructure components, hand over infrastructure management to our company, including Kubernetes management via Cluster API, and automate Windows virtual machine provisioning in Azure.
Solutions and Project Work
Infrastructure Handover
We initiated by setting up a new Cluster API infrastructure and migrated all existing AKS clusters. This involved extensive research and participation in GitHub discussions to address issues specific to Azure clusters.
Monitoring Enhancement
Leveraging the Kube-Prometheus stack, we provisioned Prometheus with CRDs, Alertmanager, and Grafana, enabling comprehensive monitoring across the infrastructure. We deprecated outdated authentication methods in favor of mutual TLS and deployed application exporters for targeted monitoring.
Application Migrations
We undertook various application migrations, such as transitioning Minio to a highly available setup, migrating Thanos to a Helm chart, and refactoring Loki into a microservices architecture. Additionally, we revamped TLS certificate management practices using Certmanager and Let’s Encrypt.
Virtual Machine Automation
With Terraform and Ansible, we automated the creation and configuration of Windows virtual machines in Azure. This included the installation of custom applications, all orchestrated through GitLab CI pipelines.
Disaster Recovery Project
We collaborated closely with the client to devise and implement a robust backup strategy, ensuring minimal Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO). This involved backups of various resources, including PostgreSQL and Minio data, without relying solely on persistent storage.
Routine Tasks
We streamlined routine tasks such as Kubernetes cluster upgrades and application updates for GitLab, Loki, Thanos, and Prometheus.
Issues and Solutions
We encountered several challenges throughout the project, including mTLS issues with nginx ingress controllers, Thanos compactor and retention problems, Minio lifecycle policy issues, and Grafana performance bottlenecks. Each challenge was meticulously addressed with tailored solutions, ensuring the stability and efficiency of the infrastructure.
Business Achievements and Benefits
- Enhanced monitoring capabilities, ensuring better visibility and proactive management.
- Implemented best practices and automated solutions, streamlining operations and reducing manual overhead.
- Strengthened disaster recovery capabilities, minimizing downtime and data loss risks.
- Modernized infrastructure and applications, paving the way for future scalability and innovation.
In conclusion, this case study exemplifies how strategic planning, innovative solutions, and meticulous execution can transform infrastructure management, enabling businesses to thrive in today’s digital ecosystem. If you’re seeking similar enhancements for your infrastructure, don’t hesitate to reach out to our expert team.