The Challenge

Inception Technologies was operating on a legacy Cat5 cabling system that could not support modern bandwidth demands. Their server room was disorganized, with sprawling, unlabeled cables creating a high risk for network failures and prolonged downtime. The need for an upgrade was critical, but the project posed a significant challenge: the entire network was live and in production, meaning any work had to be completed without disrupting their daily operations.

Our Solution

ONYX 316 executed a meticulously planned, phased upgrade:

1. Comprehensive Audit: We began with a full assessment of the existing infrastructure to map all connected nodes and identify critical pathways.

2. Phased Nightly Work: To achieve zero downtime, all physical work was scheduled and executed during night shifts (“touch shifts”).

3. Infrastructure Upgrade: We removed the outdated Cat5 cabling and replaced it with high-performance, future-proof Cat6 cabling throughout the facility.

4. Server Room Reorganization: We completely redesigned and re-racked their systems, which included:

   • Two 42U standing racks

   • One 9U auxiliary rack

   • Implementing meticulous cable management with proper labeling and color-coding.

5. Seamless Cutover: New nodes were staged and pre-configured. The final cutover was scheduled for a single, minimal-impact window, bringing the entire new network online seamlessly.

The Results

• Zero Operational Downtime: The entire upgrade was completed without a single interruption to the client’s production environment.

• Enhanced Performance & Reliability: The new Cat6 infrastructure provided significantly higher speeds, reduced latency, and a robust foundation for future growth.

• Optimized Maintenance: The transformed server room now allows for easy troubleshooting, modifications, and scaling, drastically reducing future maintenance time and costs.

• Professional Aesthetic: The chaotic “spider web” of cables was replaced with a clean, professional, and industry-standard installation.

“ONYX 316 transformed our chaotic server room into a model of efficiency. Their ability to execute a complex upgrade without taking our network down was impressive.”
— IT Director, Inception Technologies Inc.