The Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing operates within the scientific research industry, specializing in understanding the mechanisms of aging. Located in Cologne, Germany, it serves as a hub for innovation, attracting collaborations with scientists worldwide. The institute’s strategic position fosters a culture of scientific excellence and groundbreaking research.
The institute conducts advanced research into molecular genetics, metabolism regulation, and brain aging. It utilizes state-of-the-art equipment, including high-resolution microscopes and advanced imaging tools, to produce and analyze vast, complex datasets with precision. Their groundbreaking work aims to uncover innovative strategies to effectively mitigate or prevent serious age-related diseases.
With the increasing volume of data generated by ongoing research, the demand for storage space is constantly growing. Scientists need a storage solution that can scale with their data requirements.
Ensuring data security and compliance with German data sovereignty laws is paramount. The institute must guarantee that data is stored securely and is regularly backed up to prevent loss.
The institute requires a storage solution that is reliable and not dependent on single vendors, ensuring continuous access to data without being affected by third-party support discontinuations.
Managing the costs associated with large-scale data storage, while ensuring high performance, reliability, and long-term scalability, is a key consideration for many organizations today as well as for the institute.
The Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing chose Ceph for its reliable, scalable, and open source storage solution. Ceph's flexibility supports independent expansion, meeting growing data needs without single-vendor reliance. Its self-healing capabilities ensure data integrity, making it ideal for the institute. Transitioning to Ceph required detailed planning and collaboration with expert engineers. Despite initial knowledge gaps, comprehensive support facilitated a smooth migration and optimized storage setup. The adoption established a foundation for improved data management.
The collaboration featured strong communication and support from Ceph engineers, crucial for resolving issues and optimizing storage configurations. This ensured the IT infrastructure met current and future demands. The successful partnership established a foundation for ongoing research endeavors. By working closely with engineers, the institute efficiently overcame challenges. This collaboration allowed the institute to fully leverage Ceph’s potential, supporting its mission to advance scientific research. The partnership highlights the importance of expert consultancy in technology transitions.
Following the migration, the institute observed significant improvements in both system performance and reliability. By consolidating storage mounts, metadata handling was optimized, reducing the number of mounts. This enhancement led to improved overall cluster performance and shorter data reload times, which are crucial for the institute’s research activities.
The institute’s experience underscores the importance of selecting scalable and reliable storage solutions, particularly for research organizations handling vast datasets. The consolidation and optimization of their storage infrastructure, along with expert consultancy and emergency support, proved invaluable in ensuring smooth operations and effective data management.
The collaboration with 42on has been instrumental in the success of the Ceph implementation. Matthias Nikel, server administrator at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, shared his positive experience, emphasizing the consistent, efficient support provided by 42on. Despite starting with no knowledge of Ceph, Matthias felt confident and comfortable thanks to the thorough and patient assistance he received.
Looking ahead, the institute has plans to expand its Ceph cluster next year, potentially doubling its size to meet the growing data demands of its research projects. The expansion will focus on maintaining high standards of data security, reliability, and compliance with regulatory requirements, ensuring continued support for both current and future scientific endeavors.
42on supports Ceph teams with the complete operation of Ceph clusters by providing Consultancy, Training, Emergency Assistance, and Managed Services.
Why choose 42on as your partner for your open-source infrastructure?
42on's passion for open source, particularly Ceph, is not just a statement but a core ethos. Actively engaged in the Ceph and related open source communities, our contributions to GitHub, tech blogs and events showcase our enthusiastic involvement
We avoid vendor lock-in and work together with clients that use open source or subscribed Ceph. This vendor-agnostic approach ensures clients have the freedom to choose their preferred vendor while benefiting from 42on's expert support and guidance.
We understand that every business has unique needs. Therefore, we provide a range of services that allow you to customize your level of control. You can choose to maintain complete control or delegate tasks as you see fit.
