Arista Networks > Case Studies > RACSA Implements Arista Switches for High-Performance Cloud Computing in Costa Rica

RACSA Implements Arista Switches for High-Performance Cloud Computing in Costa Rica

Customer Company Size

Large Corporate

Region

America

Country

Costa Rica

Product

Arista 7100 Series Switches
Arista EOS
F5 Load Balancers

Tech Stack

10GbE Networking
Virtual Servers
Containerized Data Centers

Implementation Scale

Enterprise-wide Deployment

Impact Metrics

Energy Saving
Customer Satisfaction
Productivity Improvements

Technology Category

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Computing
Networks & Connectivity - Ethernet
Networks & Connectivity - Network Management & Analysis Software

Applicable Industries

Telecommunications
Software

Applicable Functions

Business Operation
Facility Management

Services

Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
System Integration

About The Customer

Radiográfica Costariccense S.A. (RACSA) is the leading Internet Services Provider (ISP) in Costa Rica, offering commercial and residential internet services. As a public service of the Costa Rican government, RACSA is responsible for developing and offering new technologies to the public, including telephony, wireless services, and distributed applications. Among its latest initiatives is providing cloud-based application services for corporate and residential customers. For a monthly subscription, customers can use virtual servers and desktops configured with applications and storage for personal or business use. RACSA's commitment to innovation and technology advancement is evident in its efforts to provide high-quality services while adhering to government energy mandates and environmental considerations.

The Challenge

RACSA faced the challenge of designing a cloud computing architecture that was both high-performing and energy-efficient. The need for high bandwidth access and reliable data center performance was crucial to offset the lower performance of client PCs used by subscribers. Additionally, government energy mandates required the design to be as energy-efficient as possible, which was challenging given the cooling demands in Costa Rica's tropical climate. RACSA opted for containerized data centers to minimize the carbon footprint, but this introduced the requirement for high performance in a compact space. Storage systems were already compact, limiting options for higher density or performance, but RACSA was committed to implementing the best-performing and most efficient technologies in their cloud applications solution.

The Solution

RACSA implemented Arista's 7100 series switches to meet the high-performance and energy-efficiency requirements of their cloud computing architecture. The Arista switches provided non-blocking, wire-speed 10GbE on all ports, offering the flexibility to leverage existing infrastructure. The solution was cost-effective and high-performing, meeting RACSA's needs for scalability and reliability. The switches' compact size and high density were ideal for the containerized data centers, which required efficient use of space. RACSA also utilized Arista's open extensible Operating System (EOS) for network management, alongside F5 for load balancing, Checkpoint for firewalls, and Juniper for transit routing. This combination of technologies ensured that RACSA's virtual applications data center could serve thousands of corporate and residential subscribers effectively.

Operational Impact

RACSA's cloud computing subscriber service successfully launched in April 2009, catering to both corporate and residential subscribers.
The service has been interruption-free since its launch, demonstrating the reliability of the Arista switches.
Arista's switches provided the necessary bandwidth for scalability and performance in the data center.
The compact and high-density design of the switches was beneficial for the containerized data centers.
Plans are underway for a new data center to accommodate future growth in RACSA's subscriber base.

Quantitative Benefit