Fuel and Energy

Design of Disaster-Tolerant Backup System

Project Objectives: Provision of business continuity and protection of information from natural and technological disasters.

In 2006, CROC thoroughly audited Irkutskenergo’s existing information systems, consulted with the customer on IT issues, and started system design. CROC took into consideration the wide geographical distribution of the customer's infrastructure, production software applications, backup data volumes, and data recovery requirements in the case of complete server software reinstallation.

Key Customer Benefits

• Implementation of effective disaster-tolerant backup system
• Upgrading of existing data storage system
• Reduction in probability of data loss
• Faster search and recovery of information

Project Objectives: Foundation of a unified IT infrastructure at OGK-4 wholesale power-generating company.

In 2008, all IT assets within the customer's enterprise were logically integrated, the same software versions were installed, and common operating rules were introduced under the project. Directory Service migration caused no adverse impact on the company's business processes. All required service interruptions were scheduled in advance.

Key Customer Benefits

• Centralized infrastructure management
• Proactive problem solving
• System expansion forecasting and planning

Corporate Portal

Project Objectives: Creation of the largest integrated enterprise web-portal in Russia for the Russian Unified Energy System.

In 2006, CROC successfully employed IBM Tivoli Access Manager as an e-Business technology, developed the largest integrated enterprise web-portal in Russia for RAO UES, and replaced inefficient standalone legacy applications with a highly productive software environment based on the collaborative use of integrated data. The portal’s server platform supports over 2,000 concurrent users and incorporates almost 30 strategic integrated applications including:

• Corporate Intranet Data Portal
• Internet and External Search Engines
• Legal Reference Resources
• Industry Monitoring
• Performance Review
• Procurement
• Public Relations
• Technical Support

Consolidation of various information sources enabled streamlined and accelerated data search, improved decision-making processes, and increased overall company performance.

Key Customer Benefits

• Significant increase in the productivity of over 10,000 RAO UES employees
• Streamlined data search
• Improved management decision making
• Improved company performance

Project Objectives: Server resource consolidation and IT infrastructure cost cutting. In 2008, fault-tolerant virtual machine platform wasbuilt using НР hardware and VMware software. The solution utilizes Microsoft Active Directory for user authentication and identification and network services for domain name support and IP address distribution.

Key Customer Benefits

• High availability of IT services
• Data backup options
• IT infrastructure monitoring
• Protection from unauthorized access and actions

Integrated enterprise communications system implementation in 66 geographically-distributed dispatch units

Project objectives: Creation of a unified transport infrastructure for all of SO UES’ information systems; development of a unified application environment for the integration of applications deployed in the company’s affiliates and branches in recent years; and the streamlining of interaction between SO UES and wholesale generating companies via the engagement of open methods and interfaces.

New hardware-and-software system was installed in SO UES’ main dispatch center in Moscow and all of its 66 affiliates (i.e. united (ODU) and regional (RDU) dispatch units).

“The corporate integration-and-transport system (CITS) is a key element of SO UES’ technical platform. The new system is capable of providing a solution for a wide range of workflow optimization and interaction tasks with electric power market players. CITS implementation will significantly improve information exchange as part of Russian Unified Energy System’s management and power energy market operation,” says Mikhail Abramenko, IT Director and SO UES Board Member. CITS is based on IBM WebSphere DataPower XI50 and SUN and Microsoft products were also used in the project.

CROC started to deploy CITS in 2007, with the project being performed in two stages:

The first stage was put into commercial operation in 2008 and involved the deployment of transport infrastructure based on IBM SystemX; development and implementation of a guaranteed message delivery system based on IBM WebSphereMQ; the installation of a file adapter system on all CITS nodes; and the implementation of tools for CITS monitoring, administration, and configuration within SO UES affiliates and united (ODU) and regional (RDU) dispatch units. The solution allows for message exchanging between applications over HTTP, MQ, and SMTP formats while information exchange unification is ensured via XML format compatibility.

The second stage of the project (completed in April 2010) involved the implementation of a gateway system to enable information exchange with electric power market players. External user account and access rights management is provided through the use of a Sun Corporate Directory Server. In addition, an IBM DataPower based message processing subsystem was deployed for comprehensive application integration and applied process management.

“The creation of IT infrastructure to interact with third-party applications requires paying close attention to information security and reliability. The project performed by the customer represents the first WebSphere DataPower implementation in a geographically-distributed system in Russia and demonstrates the capacity that IT solutions have for protecting data transmitted over public channels and ensuring high fault-tolerance,” said Igor Nikulin, IT Department director, CROC. In April 2009, this project was awarded the Annual National IT Leader Prize.

Project Objectives: Optimal conditions for the most efficient planning and control of electricity power systems in Moscow and the Moscow Region. The project implemented in 2007 involved the integration of 36 engineering and information systems.

Key Customer Benefits

• Enhanced dispatch control reliability
• Multiple engineering systems integrated using limited electrical power resources
• The building satisfies all applicable construction standards and regulations

Upgrade of Directory Service and e-mail System

Project Objectives: Enhancement of IT infrastructure through improved reliability, manageability, performance, and scalability of TVEL's main information services: directory service and e-mail system.

In 2007, CROC upgraded TVEL's main information services and implemented an e-mail system based on Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.

• Key Customer Benefits
  Reliable and high-performance platform
  Stable and manageable system
  Scalability with regard to future information system upgrades and/or new system implementations
  Decreased risk of system downtime
  50% reduction in IT infrastructure maintenance costs