Irshad Iqbal Memon

• Implemented, configured, upgraded, and troubleshot Cisco SAN switches and enterprise storage systems, ensuring high availability and performance.
• Designed and managed VSANs, port channels, ISL, FCIP, NPIV, DCNM, and SNMP configurations across edge, core, and super-core SAN switches.
• Led data protection and migration projects, defining approaches and developing solutions across EMC and IBM storage arrays.
• Administered and maintained local BCVs, snapshots, clones, and mirroring for backup, testing, and recovery purposes.
• Performed database performance tuning and optimization, improving overall system efficiency and reducing bottlenecks.
• Designed and implemented backup solutions leveraging Veritas NetBackup and Backup Exec, ensuring reliable data protection.
• Executed SAN zoning implementation and configuration of VSANs, IP profiles, and port channels to optimize connectivity and performance.
• Administered IBM storage arrays using IBM MGM & FC, ensuring smooth integration with host environments.
• Managed EMC VMAX arrays, leveraging SRDF for remote replication and BCV for local replication.
• Oversaw monitoring, KPI analysis, health checks, and capacity planning for both computing and storage environments.
• Developed and maintained business continuity and disaster recovery strategies, minimizing downtime and data loss.
• Validated and performed Cisco MDS switch code upgrades, ensuring stable and secure SAN environments.
• Planned and executed EMC VNX and Dell EMC Unity code upgrades, contributing to storage lifecycle management and platform modernization.

• Cisco SAN Switches – Implementation, configuration, troubleshooting, validation, and code upgrades.
• SAN Technologies – VSAN, port channels, ISL, FCIP, NPIV, DCNM, and SNMP configuration across edge, core, and super-core switches.
• Storage Arrays – Expertise in EMC (VMAX, VNX, Unity) and IBM arrays, including SRDF, BCV, snapshots, clones, mirroring, and IBM MGM & FC.
• Data Protection & Migration – Designed and implemented solutions for large-scale EMC and IBM storage environments, ensuring data integrity and minimal downtime.
• Backup & Recovery Solutions – Deployment, administration, and troubleshooting of Veritas NetBackup, Backup Exec, and Commvault including new implementations, storage integration, and policy management.
• Commvault Storage Integration – Configured and managed Commvault with enterprise storage platforms (ECS, VNX, Unity, IBM) for automated backup, archive, and recovery workflows.
• Performance Optimization – Database tuning and storage performance improvements for optimum functionality.
• Zoning & Connectivity – Implementation and configuration of zoning, VSANs, IP profiles, and port channels to ensure secure and efficient connectivity.
• Monitoring & Capacity Planning – Proactive health management, KPI tracking, and capacity planning for both compute and storage.
• Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery – Development and execution of DR strategies to safeguard enterprise environments.
• Process & Security Compliance – Ensured adherence to defined processes, procedures, and security requirements.
• Collaboration & Leadership – Strong individual contributor and effective team player with proven ability to manage multiple concurrent activities, priorities, dependencies, and risks.

• Cisco SAN Switch and Storage implementation, configuration, troubleshooting & upgradation.
• VSAN, Port channel, ISL, FCIP, NPIV, DCNM, SNMP configuration between Edge, core & super core switch.
• Focus on Data Protection and migration determining and developing approaches to solutions for a wide range of EMC & IBM Storage array.
• Local BCV, snapshot, mirroring and clone for backup and testing.
• Database tuning and performance for optimum functionality.
• Backup solution using Netbackup and Backup exec
• Zoning implementation and configuration of Vsan, IP profile and port channel.
• IBM arrays using IBM MGM & FC
• VMAX arrays using EMC SRDF & BCV.
• Monitoring, KPIs, health management, capacity planning (computing & storage)
• Business continuity and disaster recovery.
• Cisco mds switch validation and code upgradation.
• VNX and Unity Code upgradation

Roles & Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Coordination
  Lead a team of engineers, providing technical guidance, task allocation, and mentoring to ensure smooth day-to-day operations.
  Coordinate with cross-functional teams for incident resolution, change management, and project delivery.
  Ensure adherence to ITIL processes, documentation standards, and organizational compliance requirements.
• NetBackup Administration
  Manage and administer Veritas NetBackup infrastructure, including backup policies, schedules, and retention management.
  Monitor, troubleshoot, and resolve backup/restore failures across physical and virtual environments.
  Perform capacity planning, performance tuning, and ensure data protection for mission-critical applications.
  Implement and test backup strategies for business continuity and disaster recovery (BC/DR).
• Windows Active Directory Management
  Administer Active Directory services including user/group management, GPOs, DNS, and DHCP.
  Implement and maintain domain controllers, replication, and AD health monitoring.
  Ensure secure access controls, authentication, and compliance with organizational policies.
• VMware Administration
  Deploy, configure, and manage VMware vSphere/ESXi environments.
  Perform VM provisioning, cloning, snapshots, and resource allocation.
  Monitor cluster health, HA/DRS configuration, and optimize virtual infrastructure performance.
  Coordinate storage and backup integration with VMware workloads.
• Storage Administration
  Implement, configure, and manage enterprise storage arrays (EMC, IBM, Dell, HPE).
  Perform SAN zoning, LUN masking, replication (SRDF, snapshots, clones, mirroring).
  Conduct health checks, capacity planning, and proactive monitoring for storage performance.
  Support storage integration with backup and virtualization platforms.
• Operational Excellence
  Develop and maintain runbooks, SOPs, and technical documentation.
  Conduct periodic audits, patching, and system upgrades to ensure a secure and stable environment.
  Provide on-call support and drive root cause analysis for recurring issues.
  Train team members and foster knowledge-sharing for skill development.

Company Overview – Allied Digital

Allied Digital is a leading IT Infrastructure Management and Technical Support Services outsourcing company, enabling global enterprises and service providers to reduce their total cost of ownership through a combination of onsite and remote services. The company delivers outsourced technical support services across business-to-business, business-to-consumer, e-commerce, and corporate IT environments.

Roles & Responsibilities

Managed Datacenter operations, infrastructure support, and IT service management.

Monitored and troubleshot day-to-day operations of Linux, Windows, EMC Clariion & NetApp devices, and backup environments.

Handled user account management including addition, deletion, and modification of users in Windows Active Directory (2003/2008).

Installed and configured Active Directory, DNS, and NetBackup environments.

Performed installation and troubleshooting of SAN, NAS, Unix/Windows servers, backup devices, and SAN switches.

Implemented and administered disk quotas, group policies, folder permissions, and home directories.

Coordinated with cross-functional teams, management, and vendors to support business and IT operations.

Created and managed LUNs, aggregates, volumes, and qtrees, with snapshot, SnapVault, and SnapRestore for data recovery on NetApp storage.

Served as Backup Administrator, ensuring data protection using NetBackup and other backup solutions.

Administered firewalls and antivirus solutions to safeguard infrastructure against DDoS and virus attacks.

Participated in disaster recovery planning, migrations, upgrades, code deployments, and patch management.

Recommended IT strategies and policies by identifying problems, evaluating trends, and anticipating requirements.

Ensured data protection, business continuity, and operational excellence across storage and backup environments.

Developed effective solutions for challenging situations using strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Demonstrated team collaboration, customer service, and time management, ensuring completion of tasks within deadlines.

• Senior Desktop Engineer – YES Bank Ltd (via Wipro), Mahalaxmi (W)
  Currently deputed at the YES Bank site through Wipro, responsible for handling L1 support calls, providing end-user technical assistance, and escalating issues to higher support levels as required.