Mike Goss

Chief Technologist

Sandpiper Data Systems

Mr. Goss is a vital consulting resource who leads major Sandpiper IT architecture, storage management, data center migrations, backup & disaster recovery projects, storage and server virtualization & consolidations for our customers encompassing z/OS, Open Systems and Enterprise Systems.  Provide design & implementation for all platforms, including z/OS, UNIX (AIX, Linux, Solaris, OpenVMS, HPUX, True64), VMWare and Microsoft. 

Mr. Goss supports Sandpiper customers in the design and implementation of virtualization tools and solutions. He works with customers to define business and infrastructure requirements, perform server consolidation and virtualization assessments and develop strategies to best address customer unique operating and process requirements using integrated solutions across heterogeneous environments. He is extremely technical and provides hands on support and problem resolution across diverse server and storage subsystem configurations.

  • Design and build continuously available and fault tolerant HPUX with MC ServiceGuard systems using Veritas Cluster File Systems, full APA network failover configurations and/or LVM along with Ignite, SIM and Insight, XP24000, Cisco fabric and BLc7000 Blade Enclosures
  • Expert in VMWare technologies, design, concepts, configuration and installation such as VMWare vCenter, Server, ESXi, VSphere, Thin App, ACE, View, High Availability, DRS, server migration and portability using VMotion, storage subsystem migrations using Storage VMotion, Cloud Computing Ecosystems and Virtual Desktop VDI.
  • Perform complex data migrations and conversions using both hardware and software solutions, such as IBM, EMC Symmetrix and Clariion, HDS USP and USPV UVM and VM, AMS, WMS, HP XP24000, Netapps, Isilon, Atrato and Compellent.
  • Expert with HDS, Sun and HP branded solutions such as HiCommand, ShadowImage (Insystem Replication/CCI/HORCM), Copy-on-Write (COW), Universal Replicator (HUR), TrueCopy, etc
  • Support all aspects of IBM, HDS, EMC, Compellent, Atrato, Xiotech, 3PAR and FusionIO hardware and software.
  • Expert with data move products, such as TDMF, LDMF, zDMF, FDR/PAS and FDRMOVE.
  • Expert with various appliance and subsystem-based storage virtualization and replication solutions such as IBM SVC, Falconstor, Datacore, Store-Age, Inmage, Invista and Cofio.
  • Hitachi Storage Navigator, HDLM, HDvM (HiCommand Device Manager), Tuning Manager, Tiered Storage Manager (HTSM), Dynamic Provisioning (HDP), Storage Capacity Reporter(Aptare), Data Protection Suite, Replication Manager (HRpM), Content Archive Platform (HCAP), Protection Manager (HPtM), Diligent and ProtectTIER
  • Provide all aspects of SAN design and implementation, including VSAN, ISL, WWN mappings, zoning, load balancing, and troubleshooting
  • Led migration of numerous AIX, Solaris and Linux systems using LVM and Veritas to new HDS storage subsystems.  Performed all AIX, Solaris and Linux admin duties in addition to storage configuration and management on behalf of customer in support of this project
  • Provide direction, design and technical leadership for extensive server consolidations and virtualizations using a variety of platforms including VMWare, HiperV and/or Xen
  • Lead architect for application & workload dependencies, inter-relationships, platform component analysis and other technical aspects in support of large data center moves requiring zero downtime to critical applications for major, global customers
  • Support zOS Assessment & Health Check tuning projects, including all aspects of performance and capacity for zOS, USS, Websphere, DB2, CICS, MQ Series and TCP/IP using RMF and SMF analysis, SAS, REXX, MICS and MXG.
  • Perform DFSMShsm & DFSMS reviews.
  • Perform mainframe and open systems storage assessments.
  • Supply data classification and assessment/design for storage hardware upgrade.
  • Provide MVS system programming for test systems.
  • Perform all aspects of remote mirroring and GDPS installations, including PPRC, XRC, PPRC-XD, Metro-Mirror, Global-Mirror, for both DASD and Tape.
  • Contribute to new product design for major hardware and software vendors.
  • Directed all planning and conversion of multiple 3380, 3390-3 or 3390-9 conversions to new geometries.
  • Author of numerous industry white papers.

 

Key Accomplishments:

  • Full day to day responsibility and team lead of a large multi-vendor, multi-OS storage environment for 3 months with 40% growth and no down time.
  • Led VMWare Architecture & Design planning sessions for multiple Sandpiper customers interested in a strategic consolidation/virtualization infrastructure with a variety of storage and server hardware solutions
  • Planned and executed a 100tb Open Systems migration from EMC to Hitachi. This included Windows, HP-UX, Red Hat and VMWare.
  • Planned and implemented ESS 2105 Shark installation and data migration from HDS, including Flashcopy, ESS Expert, JCL changes, monitoring/automation and performance/capacity issues.
  • Planned and implemented full Hitachi storage solutions that included: USP, 9980, 9500, HDLM, Truecopy, Shadowimage, Universal Volume Manager, Volume Migration and HSSM.
  • Full implementation of IBM TMM to reduce real tape usage and convert from a STK Silo to a native IBM drive configuration. Planned and smoothly executed a 10tb Open Systems data migration.
  • Supplied a comprehensive backup assessment for 6000 Open Systems servers across North America.
  • Performed a 4 TB data move using FalconStor (Solaris), with zero downtime.
  • Designed a 16TB mirrored storage system for Windows/UNIX (sites were 1000 miles apart).
  • Provided a full z/OS storage assessment and architected the next 2 years of storage direction using CA BrightStor Vantage SRM product suite..
  • Executed a tape usage assessment for a z/OS customer, saving considerable costs by decreasing amount of tapes by 33%.
  • Successfully aided customer in migrating from IBM Virtual Tape to STK.
  • Developed a proof of concept and design for a data remote mirroring project for a major hardware vendor.
  • Provided full remote day-to-day, hands-on MVS System/Storage Administration for a key customer.
  • Researched patent infringements in MVS Storage Management software for a law firm.
  • Provided software design support to a major hardware vendor.
  • Executed a backup/Disaster Recovery assessment for a customer using CommVault. Designed remote backup implementation to address the findings
  • Provided a directional study and assisted in the product decision for Enterprise Backup that chose between, NetBackup, TSM, Backup Exec and CommVault.