Case Study: SkyToll – Automated Central Monitoring
How we transformed infrastructure monitoring by consolidating 7 fragmented systems into one monitoring platform with advanced automation – environment preparation shortened from 1.5 days to 25 minutes, replacing 7 dashboards with just 1 and automatic Jira ticket creation.
About the Project
For SkyToll, we designed and implemented a comprehensive automated central infrastructure monitoring solution aimed at consolidating and automating oversight of client systems. The project involved migration from fragmented monitoring to a unified platform with advanced analytical and reporting capabilities.
Key Challenges
Current State (AS-IS)
- Separate Zabbix installations for each customer with different OS versions, databases, and configurations.
- No unified dashboard across different Zabbix installations.
- Primarily technical monitoring without service-level perspective.
- Manual process for creating Jira tickets.
- Employees monitoring 7 different Zabbix dashboards.
Implemented Solution
- Consolidated Platform: Independently built monitoring platform with Grafana dashboards consolidating status from local Zabbix installations.
- Client Customization: Zabbix plugins customized according to specific requirements of individual customers.
- Process Automation: Automated Jira ticket creation for detected issues.
- Extended Monitoring: In addition to technical monitoring, service-level monitoring was implemented (planned application-level monitoring was not implemented).
- Centralized Management: Consolidation of all Zabbix installations into one control center.
Technical Solution
Deployment and Infrastructure
- Infrastructure as Code: Deployment using Terraform, Ansible, and GitLab CI/CD.
- Configuration Automation: Zabbix automatically configured using Git and Ansible.
- 98% time savings: Dramatic improvement in deployment efficiency – complete installation shortened from 1-1.5 days to 25 minutes.
- Scalability: Ability to rapidly deploy for any number of new clients.
- Note: Only automated installations were addressed; Zabbix configuration remained manual.
Integrations and Tools
- Grafana: Central dashboards and visualizations with automated deployment.
- Zabbix: Advanced automation, noise reduction, JMX monitoring with plugin customization.
- Jira Integration: Automatic incident creation and replication.
- ELK Stack / New Relic: Service level monitoring (application-level monitoring not implemented).
- API Verification: ACK messages via API interface.
- DevOps Tools: Terraform, Ansible, GitLab CI/CD.
Results and Benefits
Operational Advantages
- Monitoring Consolidation: One central dashboard instead of monitoring 7 different systems.
- Process Automation: Elimination of manual processes in incident creation.
- Dramatic deployment time reduction: New environment installation accelerated from 1-1.5 days to 25 minutes (98% time savings).
- Increased Efficiency: Faster identification and resolution of issues.
- Better Visibility: Comprehensive view of all system states.
Technical Benefits
- Unified Platform: Standardized environment for all monitoring activities.
- Standardization: Strategy for upgrading and consolidating Zabbix versions (4.x → 5.x → 6.x → 6.4).
- High Availability: Production deployment with HA architecture.
- Extended Capabilities: Advanced analytical and reporting functions.
Strategic Direction
The project represents the first step in a long-term monitoring modernization strategy with planned gradual migration to the latest tool versions and expansion with advanced application monitoring features. The solution ensures scalability for future growth and integration of new technologies.
Contact Person
Roman Minár, Head of IT Operations
Services Provided
- DevOps Services
- Custom Development