SkiBig3 Replaces Hyper-V with VergeIO Instead of VMware
Why a Banff ski destination chose VergeOS over VMware and the public cloud
Summary
SkiBig3 needed to replace Hyper-V with infrastructure that was more scalable, more cost-effective and more resilient against hardware failures and ransomware. The board asked IT Manager Mitch Matula to weigh VMware and the public cloud. VergeOS won on capability, data resiliency and cost, and now runs every SkiBig3 service on a two-node cluster.
Behind a stress-free ski vacation sits a platform built to protect it.
About SkiBig3
SkiBig3 works for three ski resorts in Banff National Park: Banff Sunshine, the Lake Louise Ski Resort and Mt. Norquay. The organization showcases everything this winter destination has to offer and makes organizing and booking a Banff ski vacation easy and stress-free.
That promise depends on IT. SkiBig3 sells passes to all three mountains, and the systems at the bottom of the runs verify those passes. The infrastructure behind them has to work flawlessly.
Replacing Hyper-V
When Mitch Matula joined SkiBig3 as IT Manager, his first task was to replace Hyper-V with more scalable and cost-effective data center infrastructure software. SkiBig3 also wanted stronger data protection to make the organization more resilient to hardware failures and data loss events such as ransomware.
Matula had prior experience with VergeIO, so he brought the SkiBig3 board a proposal to move from Hyper-V to VergeOS. The board asked two questions. Why not VMware? And why not the public cloud?
Why Not VMware?
Matula explained that VergeOS is a hardened environment with a more robust snapshot capability. VergeOS snapshots are immutable and do not slow performance the way VMware snapshots do. With VergeOS, Matula can retain snapshots indefinitely, a key ingredient in recovering from ransomware attacks or accidental deletion by users. VergeOS also cost significantly less than VMware.
Why Not the Public Cloud?
The board also asked Matula to consider the public cloud. His research showed that a one-year VergeOS software license cost less than one month with a public cloud provider. The cloud provider also had snapshot limitations similar to VMware’s. Most cloud snapshot functions make complete copies, not delta changes, which would push the monthly bill even higher.
VergeOS Wins on Capability, Resiliency and Cost
The board asked Matula to bring in external consultants to compare VMware with VergeOS. In the end, SkiBig3 selected VergeOS over both VMware and the public cloud. It offered better capabilities and better data resiliency at a lower cost.
SkiBig3 is confident VergeOS is a platform that will last for years, improve its data resiliency and help the organization deliver the stress-free vacation it promises Banff visitors.
Ease of Use and Support
Matula has used VMware in past jobs and holds a VMware certification. He sees a clear difference in day-to-day operations.
“VMware is so complex, you must be certified to have a chance of operating it. VergeOS, by comparison, is so easy to use you can figure out most tasks by clicking around in the GUI or going through the self-paced training on the VergeIO website. It is just one package instead of a never-ending list of add-ons.”
Mitch Matula, IT Manager, SkiBig3
The VergeIO Customer Success team has also made an impression.
“They are always available and quick to jump in to to help resolve any issues that arise, even if it isn’t a problem with VergeOS.”
Mitch Matula, IT Manager, SkiBig3
Start Small, Grow Fast
VergeOS let SkiBig3 start small and grow. The initial installation is a two-node cluster with flash drives. It runs all of SkiBig3’s infrastructure services, including Active Directory, DNS and the firewall, along with several Windows applications built on MS SQL.
Those MS SQL applications are mission-critical. If they stop, customers cannot get on the lift. Performance matters too, since the applications can handle hundreds of validations per hour on a busy ski day. VergeOS handles application availability. If one node fails, the VMs restart on the other node.
Layered Protection
Matula uses VergeOS snapshots for data protection, taking a snapshot every hour and keeping a daily snapshot for one month. He uses Veeam to back up those snapshots for longer-term retention.
| Area | Before | After: VergeOS |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Microsoft Hyper-V | VergeOS on a two-node all-flash cluster |
| Snapshots | Limited protection against ransomware | Immutable, hourly, retained as long as needed |
| Availability | Single points of failure a concern | VMs restart on the surviving node |
| Cost versus cloud | Public cloud option, billed monthly | One-year license under one month of cloud |
| Operations | Add-ons and certification-level complexity | One package, learnable through the GUI |
| Disaster recovery | None | Planned site with deduplicated replication |
Looking Ahead
SkiBig3’s goal for the coming year is a disaster recovery site. The team will use VergeOS global inline deduplication and replication to move data to the remote site quickly.
Matula’s first month at SkiBig3 was challenging. With VergeOS in place, he now has a platform that protects the organization and can scale quickly to meet its continued growth.
See What VergeOS Does for Your Environment
SkiBig3 replaced Hyper-V with VergeOS and gained immutable snapshots, high availability and lower cost than VMware or the public cloud. Talk with a VergeIO engineer about your environment.