Mohammed Zafrulla

> Spearheaded complex firmware upgrades across MSA, 3PAR, Primera, and StoreOnce systems, significantly improving storage system performance, scalability, and security, while ensuring tight integration with SAN and NAS environments for optimized infrastructure performance and resilience.

> Orchestrated the configuration and deployment of NAS shares (NFS, SMB) across heterogeneous environments, ensuring seamless integration with Linux, VMware, and Windows hosts to enhance data sharing, accessibility, and optimize network file storage systems.

> Collaborated closely with clients to design and provision volumes/LUNs for Linux, VMware, and Windows hosts, maximizing storage utilization and performance across SAN arrays, ensuring alignment with backup and disaster recovery strategies to safeguard critical data.

> Led the setup and integration of Catalyst stores with backup applications, streamlining data protection and backup workflows while enhancing disaster recovery plans for fast and reliable recovery operations in case of outages or data loss.

> Managed the configuration of FTP servers, MPIO (Multipath I/O) settings, and deployment of Windows clusters, optimizing high-availability storage solutions with advanced features such as SNAPSHOTS, De-Duplication, and Compression to enhance backup efficiency and minimize storage footprint.

> Utilized SEMC and SSMC applications to expertly manage SAN and NAS systems, enabling proactive monitoring, troubleshooting, and performance optimization of storage infrastructure across physical and virtual environments.

> Troubleshot and resolved complex network switch issues, including port, switch, and power supply failures, ensuring uninterrupted SAN and NAS connectivity, enhancing data access performance, and maintaining optimal network storage health.

> Led FOS (Fabric OS) upgrades on Brocade switches, ensuring smooth transitions, network stability, and operational efficiency in SAN environments, adhering to best practices and minimizing downtime during firmware updates.

> Addressed and resolved critical P1 technical issues, delivering rapid solutions to clients' high-priority storage and backup challenges, ensuring business continuity, and improving recovery point objectives (RPO) and recovery time objectives (RTO) for disaster recovery plans.

> Collaborated with clients to optimize VMware virtual machine storage and Linux-based storage solutions, integrating SAN and NAS environments with VMware vSphere and Linux servers, improving VM provisioning, storage access, and backup processes across virtualized environments.

Role: Storage Technical Lead

> Mentored team members of 40 members, providing technical guidance and fostering professional development to enhance team capabilities.

> Championed continuous improvement by advocating for process enhancements, tool upgrades, and knowledge sharing, which collectively propelled team productivity and efficiency.

> Managed Duty Manager level escalations with alacrity, ensuring rapid resolutions that maintained high levels of customer satisfaction.

> Specialized in handling urgent P1 incidents and technically complex cases, focusing on System Down scenarios to minimize downtime and swiftly restore services.

> Conducted detailed reviews of aged cases, offering constructive feedback to Technical Support Engineers and producing insightful performance evaluations.

> Made strategic technical decisions that considered performance, security, scalability, and maintainability, driving successful project outcomes.

> Led the team in tackling complex technical challenges, leveraging deep technical expertise and strong problem-solving skills.

Products Specialized In: 3PAR, Primera, MSA, StoreOnce, StoreEasy, Switch, MSL Tape Libraries.

Role: Technical Support Engineer (NetApp)

> Analyze and implement NetApp systems, providing comprehensive hardware support for NetApp FAS/AFF systems, disks, disk shelves, and resolving CIFS and NFS share issues.

> Conduct pre-site inspections and initial implementations to ensure optimal configuration and system performance.

> Perform 24x7 system administration, problem resolution, and troubleshooting for NetApp Cluster Mode, 7-Mode Filers, Cisco MDS, Brocade SAN switches, Systems Manager, and Insight.

> Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to Multi-Pathing Technology (MPIO), SAN FC switching, zoning, iSCSI, NAS (NFS, CIFS), and storage management, optimizing system performance and uptime.

> Upgrade NetApp firmware, plan and execute ONTAP upgrades, and perform Cluster Health checks to maintain system reliability and data integrity.

> Provision, expand, and decommission storage solutions for both single-tenant and multi-tenant arrays, ensuring scalability and availability.

L1/L2 Support & Incident Management

> Act as the first point of escalation for technical and process-related issues, ensuring SLA compliance and timely resolution.

> Provide expert-level support through email, phone, and Zoom/WebEx, facilitating effective communication and issue resolution.

> Conduct Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for major incidents involving NetApp systems, SAN infrastructure (Cisco MDS/Brocade), hardware, CIFS/NFS shares, and storage management.

Troubleshooting & RCA Analysis

> Provide multi-level support for UNIX (NFS) and Windows (CIFS/SMB) file-sharing protocols, identifying and resolving complex storage system issues.

> Troubleshoot a wide range of NetApp products, including FAS8000/FAS9000, AFF700/300 series, System Manager, and NetApp Snap Suite, ensuring optimal system performance.

> Resolve complex CIFS, NFS, iSCSI, FC, and storage-related issues, focusing on root cause analysis and resolution.

Storage and System Management

> Administer and configure NetApp FAS/AFF storage systems, including LUN management (iSCSI & FCP), NFS, CIFS, and SAN FC storage, ensuring seamless access.

> Oversee provisioning, expansion, and decommissioning of storage arrays across multi-tenant and high-availability environments.

> Troubleshoot Cisco and Brocade SAN switches, ensuring proper zoning, switching, and connectivity.

NetApp Firmware & ONTAP Upgrades

> Plan, schedule, and execute NetApp firmware patches and ONTAP upgrades (7-Mode and C-DOT), coordinating with stakeholders to minimize downtime and maintain system stability.

> Manage backup solutions, including deduplication, encryption, replication, migration, snapshots, and retention, ensuring comprehensive data protection.

Data Center Maintenance & Infrastructure Management

> Perform hardware troubleshooting and system maintenance within secure data center environments, ensuring adherence to security standards and best practices.

Role: Hardware Escalation Engineer (L1)

> Managed Duty Manager level escalations, ensuring customer satisfaction with resolutions.

> Supported Technical Support Engineers in resolving complex technical cases, focusing on urgent P1 incidents and system down scenarios.

> Conducted reviews and training for TSEs, enhancing skills and ensuring high standards of technical support.

Oversaw hardware approvals and addressed MetroCluster, ONTAP upgrade issues, and Cluster Network Switches challenges.