Case Study: Large Global Retailer achieves 24/7 access for 12,000 virtual desktops and reclaims data center space with NetApp clustered Data ONTAP

Global Retailer Supports Growth and Profitability While Improving Efficiency

A large U.S.-based multinational discount retailer needed to deliver 24/7 access to virtual desktops for 12,000 software development contractors and mobile employees to accelerate application development, while also refreshing aging infrastructure and addressing data center power, cooling, and floor-space constraints.

The company migrated 2 PB of virtual desktop and file-share data from 32 source controllers to two 8‑node NetApp FAS8060 clusters running clustered Data ONTAP 8.2, using NetApp Professional Services and the 7‑Mode Transition Tool to minimize disruption. The move shortened cutover windows by one-third, reclaimed about one-third of power, cooling, and floor space, eliminated desktop downtime, and delivered scalable performance and on-the-fly load balancing to support growth and developer productivity.