VAR Insight UK and distributor Interface Solutions have implemented IBM’s eServer BladeCenter H Chassis at a Hull-based secondary school and sixth-form college.

The duo claim the roll-out has allowed Withernsea High School to decrease the power consumption of its server room by 65 to 70 per cent.

The BladeCenter has allowed the school to slash its network of Dell servers from 27 to just three and consolidate two server rooms into one to power the school’s network of 1,000 pupils, teachers and staff.

Its six blades use less power and require less cooling and physical space than the school’s previous set-up and has VMware virtualisation software operating on four blades to boost the school’s server count by 20 virtual servers.

Rob Hardy, network manager, Withernsea High School, said: “Insight’s in-depth understanding of our requirements is reflected in its innovative BladeCenter solution which enables us to continue operating our entire school network but at lower cost, using significantly less power, with less cooling requirement and taking up less physical server room space.

“Kit delivery, implementation and configuration of the BladeCenter solution by Interface was quick – just three days – ensuring the entire project was complete before pupils returned from a half-term holiday. Informal telephone support by both companies ensures the solution continues to operate without major problems.”

Paul Bolt, at Insight UK, said: “Withernsea High School is a pioneer of the green IT agenda in education establishments.

“The School has made a financial investment in a new innovative environmentally friendly server solution in order to benefit the School and reduce its effects on the environment now and in the future.”

Rob Tomlin, sales director of Interface, said: “The implementation is based around commercially available, industry-leading, tried and tested products, which makes implementations quick, simple to operate and simple to manage.

“The benefits of the implementation for the School and the environment are clear.”