A 220-Device Datacentre Migration Executed in Four Phases Over a Single Weekend

Teceze delivered a highly compressed datacentre lift and shift programme as specialist delivery partner, successfully relocating 220+ devices from a source datacentre in Grenoble to a destination datacentre in Paris within a single weekend across four sequenced phases. The engagement covered site survey, cable connection diagramming, decommissioning, packaging, managed logistics with four dedicated truck movements, installation, and testing, achieving 100% SLA compliance with zero equipment loss and operations resumed on schedule.

About the Client

An automotive and vehicle logistics specialist managing finished-vehicle transport, storage, and distribution for vehicle manufacturers across Europe. Vehicle logistics runs on continuous scheduling systems—transport planning, yard management, and customer visibility platforms cannot be offline during operating hours. A datacentre migration therefore must be compressed into a non-operating window and completed within it, with no option to extend. HCLTech, as Systems Integrator, holds the client relationship and overall programme governance, and engaged Teceze as its specialist delivery partner for this mission-critical weekend migration.

At a glance

Industry
Automotive & Vehicle Logistics (France, EMEA)
Headquarters
European operations with datacentres in Grenoble and Paris
Products & services
Datacentre lift and shift, site survey, cable connection diagramming, decommissioning, packaging, managed logistics, installation, testing
Challenge
Single-weekend execution window, highly heterogeneous equipment, complex interconnection, phased logistics sequencing

Success highlights

  • 100% SLA attainment across the full migration programme
  • 220+ devices relocated across seven equipment classes (servers, storage, switches, routers, firewalls, load balancers, UPS units)
  • Four-phase execution completed within a single weekend with no schedule extension
  • Operations resumed on schedule with zero equipment loss or transit damage
  • Complete cable topology reproduced accurately from pre-move diagramming
  • Four dedicated truck movements with 55+ devices per phase
  • Equipment-type-specific handling applied to all device classes
  • Zero dependency errors during rebuild despite complex cable interconnection

The challenge

Corporate meeting

Compressing a 220+ Device, Seven-Class Datacentre Migration Into a Single Non-Operating Window

The constraint: Zero-extension operating window, seven distinct equipment classes, continuous scheduling systems that cannot go offline

Vehicle logistics runs on continuous scheduling systems—transport planning, yard management, and customer visibility platforms cannot be offline during operating hours. A datacentre migration must therefore be compressed into a non-operating window and completed within it, with no option to extend. The programme required moving 220+ devices across seven distinct equipment classes—servers, storage, switches, routers, firewalls, load balancers, and UPS units—each carrying different handling, racking, cabling, and testing requirements.

Our approach

Precision-Driven Four-Phase Migration Model Combining Pre-Move Diagramming, Phased Sequencing, and Equipment-Specific Handling

Teceze implemented a structured weekend migration approach prioritizing pre-move documentation, phased logistics sequencing, and equipment-type-specific procedures. The approach combined decomposition of the migration into four sequenced phases of 55+ devices with dedicated truck movement per phase, complete cable connection diagramming produced before any device was disconnected, equipment-type-specific decommissioning and reinstallation procedures tailored to servers, storage, network devices, load balancers, and UPS units, and weekend-window programme control with per-phase completion gates enabling immediate visibility of any slippage. This model transformed a high-risk compressed-window relocation into a controlled, predictable execution with zero equipment loss and on-schedule completion.

From challenge to transformation, the solution included:

Four-Phase Migration Design

The migration was decomposed into four sequenced phases of 55+ devices each with a dedicated truck movement, so equipment arrived in installable groupings and rebuild progressed continuously rather than waiting for the full estate to arrive, enabling the weekend window to be used efficiently.

Cable Connection Diagramming Before Disconnection

A complete cable connection diagram was produced during survey before any device was disconnected—the single control that makes a dense datacentre rebuild reproducible rather than exploratory, eliminating guesswork from the reinstallation sequence.

Equipment-Type-Specific Handling Procedures

Servers, storage, network devices, load balancers, and UPS units were each decommissioned, packaged, and reinstalled according to handling procedures appropriate to their equipment type rather than a single generic method, protecting equipment integrity throughout transit and installation.

Weekend-Window Programme Control with Per-Phase Gates

The four phases were run against a fixed weekend timeline with per-phase completion gates, so any slippage was visible immediately while recovery was still possible, maintaining schedule certainty throughout the compressed execution window.

Governance and Reporting Cadence

As a single-weekend, phase-gated migration rather than an ongoing managed service, governance was structured around the move’s phases rather than a standard operating cadence:

Cadence Forum Focus
Pre-Move Survey and Diagramming Review Cable topology documentation, phase sequencing plan, truck logistics schedule
Per-Phase (During Weekend) Phase Completion Gate Device count reconciliation, rebuild progress, schedule adherence
Post-Move Installation and Testing Review Device-by-device verification, outstanding issues, service restoration sign-off
Programme Close-Out Final Governance Review Full migration completion, SLA attainment, lessons learned
The Results

100% SLA Attainment with Zero Equipment Loss Across Four-Phase Weekend Migration

100%SLA Compliance
220+Devices Relocated
4 phasesSingle Weekend
100%SLA attainment across the full weekend migration programme with zero unplanned downtime
220+Devices relocated successfully across four sequenced phases and four dedicated truck movements, spanning seven distinct equipment classes each handled to equipment-appropriate procedures
4 phasesCompleted within a single weekend, with operations resuming on schedule Monday morning and zero equipment loss, damage, or dependency errors in the rebuilt cable topology

What the client says

“A 220-device datacentre migration that has to complete in a single weekend is one of the highest-pressure infrastructure projects you can execute. Teceze didn’t just complete it—they did it with surgical precision. Their pre-move cable diagramming meant the rebuild had no surprises. Four sequenced phases meant equipment arrived in the right order. Zero equipment loss, four distinct logistics movements, seven equipment types, and we resumed operations Monday morning exactly on schedule. That level of planning and execution discipline is what we needed to see.”

– VP, Global IT Infrastructure & Operations, Automotive & Vehicle Logistics Company

Delivery partnership

How Teceze Executes on This Engagement

Teceze provides comprehensive datacentre relocation services including detailed site survey and cable connection diagramming, four-phase migration decomposition with dedicated truck allocation per phase, equipment-type-specific decommissioning and handling procedures, managed logistics with full custody tracking across four separate movements, expert installation at the destination datacentre with equipment-type-specific procedures, and complete testing of all relocated systems before service sign-off. The engagement includes weekend-window programme management with real-time status updates, dependency sequencing expertise ensuring rebuild accuracy, and post-migration optimization consultation maximizing performance at the destination datacentre.

Looking ahead

Post-Engagement Value and Ongoing Partnership

The successful completion of this 220-device weekend datacentre migration at 100% SLA demonstrates Teceze’s capability to execute mission-critical infrastructure relocation programmes with exceptional pre-move planning, phased execution discipline, and operational control under extreme time constraint. The four-phase sequencing methodology, cable connection diagramming approach, and equipment-type-specific handling framework established during this engagement create a reusable model for future compressed-window datacentre migrations. This engagement positions Teceze as a trusted strategic partner for the organization’s ongoing infrastructure transformation and relocation initiatives.

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