Cineworld introduces virtualisation to run web site

Cinema chain expects to save by reducing power bills and costs linked to use of hardware

The cinema chain aims to cut costs

Entertainment chain Cineworld is using virtualisation to run its web site to increase scalability and cope with demand generated by online traffic peaks.

The system is intended to reduce costs through reduced cost of ownership for hardware that would have been used to host the web site and associated energy requirements.

By running its online operations on a virtual platform, Cineworld also expects to have extra capability to support the delivery of rich-media content such as news, clips and trailers.

“Online ordering is a crucial revenue stream for us - downtime is simply not an option,” said Vincent McGann, IT manager at Cineworld.

Following a pitch involving Cable and Wireless, Titan, Telecity and Rackspace, IT services group Carrenza won the contract to supply the system.