Continent 8 recently made a significant switch in its virtualization environment, moving from VMware to Nutanix. This shift wasn’t just about adjusting to new VMware licensing terms; it reflected a broader transition to hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) and a growing partnership with Nutanix.
The majority of Continent 8’s infrastructure now operates on Nutanix HCI, specifically using Acropolis Hypervisor for its internal IT and customer cloud services. Previously, the company relied heavily on Cisco UCS converged stacks until those became outdated.
Continent 8 specializes in providing regulated managed cloud environments for clients in the online gaming and betting sector, including well-known names like Bet365, 888, and PokerStars. With a global network of 106 data centers, they run cloud services from 35 of these locations.
The decision to focus on Nutanix began gaining traction in the second half of 2023, but it really stems from a relationship that started back in 2017. Over the past few years, Continent 8 has consolidated its technology partners, trimming down from around ten to just two or three, according to Chief Technology Officer Edward O’Connor.
Nutanix now plays a central role in Continent 8’s operations, supporting between 1,500 and 3,500 virtual machines at any given time for internal services and tens of thousands for customers. Their hyper-converged infrastructure merges computing, networking, and storage into one device, streamlining the deployment process significantly.
While changes in VMware licensing weren’t the driving force behind the shift, they did provide advantages for those transitioning. Continent 8 remains a VMware partner and continues to support customers using VMware.
O’Connor emphasizes the strength of the partnership with Nutanix. “We have a big focus on engineering and development, and Nutanix is easy to collaborate with. Our feedback has influenced their roadmap, specifically enhancing capabilities for managed service providers and multi-tenant environments, something we didn’t get from VMware,” he explained.
The ability to innovate for enterprise and cloud-native markets is essential for Continent 8, and Nutanix’s support for Kubernetes plays a key role in that.
The migration process began with thorough internal reviews across various teams like IT, development, and security. They assessed which applications could be virtualized, starting with internal ones, and opened greenfield sites in Dublin and Montreal for VM migration testing and proofs of concept.
The migration involved careful planning around which systems to move and the timing of those moves, especially considering the potential impact on online products that drive substantial revenue.
A major advantage of switching to Nutanix is the speed of rolling out new services. O’Connor noted, “We can build infrastructure incredibly quickly and understand the costs involved.” He also mentioned that many customers have seen their licensing costs cut in half, moving from a perpetual license model with VMware to subscription pricing. This change has been a significant improvement for them.
Additionally, Continent 8 offers Nutanix infrastructure on Amazon Web Services (AWS), allowing for seamless transfers of licenses from private data centers to the public cloud. “We can move infrastructure easily and manage everything through Nutanix,” O’Connor added.