Ahmed El Merghani

Experienced IT professional with over 16 years of proven track record in Server Management. Strong background in Virtualization and Hyper-Converged Data Center Operations. Adept at effectively managing cloud environments, messaging systems, backup solutions, storage, and security. Leadership capabilities and solid understanding of Solution Architecture tasks drive successful outcomes. Skilled in Linux and Windows System Administration and troubleshooting. Dedicated to leveraging expertise to support organizational goals and enhance professional effectiveness in the IT field.

• ITIL Foundation, 12/2008
• DRE- IT Disaster Recovery Engineer, 04/2013
• MCSE Server Infrastructure, 10/2013
• ITIL Continual Service Improvement, 06/2014
• ITIL Service Strategy, 09/2014
• CCA XenApp 6.5, 09/2012
• MCSE Cloud platform infrastructure Expert, 09/2016
• NS0-157 NetApp Certified Data Administrator, ONTAP, 12/2016
• VMware Certified Professional 6 - Data Center Virtualization, 11/2017
• PRINCE2 (Projects in Controlled Environments) - Foundation certified, 04/2014
• PRINCE2 (Projects in Controlled Environments) - Practitioner Certified, 04/2014

• Active Directory: Manage domains, implement GPOs, OUs, ADFS, and ADCS.
• Exchange Server: Administer Mailbox, Edge Transport, Client Access servers; manage DAGs, configure transport rules, and hybrid setups.
• Office 365: Manage tenant configurations, handle migrations, and configure Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Teams, and OneDrive.
• Windows Server: Deploy, configure, and maintain AD DS, DHCP, DNS, IIS, RDS, and WSUS; manage WSFC and S2D.
• File Services: Configure and manage NTFS/Share permissions, storage quotas, FSRM, and DFS namespaces.
• SCCM: Deploy OS, manage software distribution, patches, inventories, and compliance settings.
• PowerShell: Automate administrative tasks and configurations with advanced scripting for AD, Exchange, and Office 365.
• Hyper-V: Manage virtualization, deploy VMs, virtual networks, and ensure high availability with Replica and Failover Clustering.
• Security and Compliance: Implement ATP, BitLocker, NAP; conduct security audits, manage updates, and enforce compliance policies.
• Backup and Recovery: Manage backups with Veeam, configure/test restores, and develop disaster recovery plans.
• Networking: Administer VPNs, IP routing, network segmentation, manage NPS, DirectAccess, and network services like DNS and DHCP.
• Azure: Manage Azure resources, deploy and configure virtual machines, implement cloud services, and manage Azure Active Directory.

• storage Systems: Configure, manage, and optimize arrays (Dell EMC, HP, NetApp).
• Protocols: Proficient in SAN (Fibre Channel, iSCSI) and NAS (NFS, CIFS/SMB).
• Data Protection: Implement and manage backups, snapshots, and replication.
• Performance Tuning: Optimize storage performance, manage IOPS, latency, and throughput.
• Virtualization: Experience with storage virtualization technologies.
• Capacity Management: Plan and manage storage capacity and growth.
• Data Migration: Execute and manage data migration projects.
• Security: Implement storage security, encryption, and compliance measures.
• Disaster Recovery: Design and implement disaster recovery solutions.
• Networking: Manage SAN switches and HBAs.
• Vendor Technologies: Expertise with Dell EMC, HP, NetApp, and QNAP systems.
• Documentation: Create and maintain detailed storage documentation.
• Automation: Use scripting for automating storage tasks.

• VMware ESXi & vCenter: Deploy, configure, and manage ESXi hosts and vCenter.
• vSphere: Manage vSphere environments, including clusters and virtual machines.
• HA & DRS: Configure and manage High Availability (HA) and Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS).
• EVC: Implement Enhanced vMotion Compatibility (EVC).
• vSAN: Manage VMware vSAN for hyper-converged infrastructure.
• SRM: Configure VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) for disaster recovery.
• vRealize Suite: Utilize vRealize Operations and Automation for monitoring and automation.
• Networking: Configure virtual networking (vSwitches, VLANs).
• Storage: Manage virtual storage solutions (VMFS, Storage DRS).
• Security: Implement VMware security best practices.
• Automation: Use PowerCLI and scripting for task automation.

• Installation: Install and configure various Linux distributions (Red Hat, CentOS, Ubuntu).
• Package Management: Manage software with YUM, APT.
• User Management: Create and manage user accounts and groups; configure sudo privileges.
• Filesystem Management: Handle file systems (ext4, XFS, Btrfs); manage LVM.
• Network Configuration: Set up network interfaces, IP addressing, routing; manage DNS, DHCP, NFS, Samba.
• Security: Implement SELinux/AppArmor, iptables/firewalld; conduct security audits.
• Monitoring: Track system performance with tools like top, htop, Nagios.
• Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve hardware/software issues; analyze logs.
• Updates and Patching: Manage software updates and apply security patches.
• Web Server Administration: Configure and manage Apache and Nginx.
• Database Management: Administer MySQL and PostgreSQL databases.

• VxRail Deployment: Install and configure VxRail systems, including initial setup and cluster creation.
• Cluster Management: Manage and optimize VxRail clusters, including adding/removing nodes and handling scaling operations.
• Integration: Integrate VxRail with VMware vSphere, vSAN, and other VMware ecosystem components.
• Storage Management: Configure and manage VxRail storage, including data protection, deduplication, and compression features.
• Networking: Set up and manage networking within VxRail environments, including VLANs and virtual switches.
• Performance Optimization: Monitor and optimize VxRail performance, including compute, storage, and network resources.
• Disaster Recovery: Implement and manage disaster recovery solutions using VxRail and VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM).
• Automation: Utilize VMware vRealize Automation and other tools to automate VxRail management tasks and orchestrate workflows.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Use VMware vCenter, VxRail Manager, and other monitoring tools to track system health, performance, and generate reports.
• Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve issues related to VxRail components, including compute, storage, and networking.
• Security: Implement and manage security measures within VxRail environments, including access controls and data encryption.

• Citrix Deployment: Install and configure Citrix environments, including Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenApp and XenDesktop).
• Citrix Provisioning Services (PVS): Set up and manage PVS for provisioning and managing virtual desktops.
• Citrix Machine Creation Services (MCS): Deploy and configure MCS for creating and managing virtual machines.
• Session Management: Monitor and manage user sessions, including session policies, load balancing, and performance.
• Application Delivery: Configure and manage application delivery through Citrix, including app publishing and access controls.
• Citrix NetScaler (ADC): Administer Citrix NetScaler for load balancing, secure access, and traffic management.
• User Profile Management: Implement and manage Citrix Profile Management for user profile and settings management.
• Security: Configure and manage security features, including access controls, SSL/TLS, and multi-factor authentication.
• Monitoring and Troubleshooting: Use Citrix Director and other monitoring tools to track system health, performance, and resolve issues.
• Licensing: Manage Citrix licensing and ensure compliance with licensing requirements.Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop environments

• Network Setup: Configure routers, switches, and firewalls.
• IP Addressing: Manage IP addresses, DHCP, and static assignments.
• Monitoring: Track network performance and bandwidth.
• Troubleshooting: Resolve connectivity and performance issues.
• Security: Implement firewall rules, VPNs, and basic security measures.
• DNS: Manage DNS settings and domain records.
• Documentation: Maintain network diagrams and configurations.
• User Access: Administer network resource access.
• Performance: Optimize network performance and latency.
• Backup: Manage network backup and recovery.
• Wi-Fi: Configure and manage wireless networks.

• Firewall Management: Configure and manage firewalls to protect network perimeters.
• Intrusion Detection/Prevention: Implement and monitor IDS/IPS systems for threat detection and prevention.
• Access Control: Manage user access, authentication, and authorization using tools like Active Directory or IAM systems.
• Security Policies: Develop and enforce security policies and procedures.
• Vulnerability Management: Perform regular vulnerability scans and address security weaknesses.
• Incident Response: Respond to and manage security incidents and breaches.
• Encryption: Implement data encryption for protecting sensitive information.
• Security Audits: Conduct security audits and compliance checks.
• Patch Management: Apply security patches and updates to systems and applications.
• Network Security: Secure network communications and manage VPNs.
• Endpoint Protection: Deploy and manage antivirus and endpoint security solutions.
• Backup and Recovery: Ensure secure backup and recovery processes for data protection.
• Security Monitoring: Use SIEM tools to monitor and analyze security events

• nstallation & Configuration: Install and configure Veeam Backup & Replication and Symantec Backup Exec.
• Backup Management: Set up and manage backup jobs, including full, incremental, and differential backups.
• Data Recovery: Perform file-level, application-level, and full-system restores.
• Replication & Deduplication: Configure replication for disaster recovery (Veeam) and manage deduplication (Backup Exec).
• Monitoring & Reporting: Monitor backup jobs and generate status reports using built-in tools.
• Storage Management: Manage backup repositories and storage devices, optimize usage.
• Security: Implement encryption and secure backup data.
• Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve issues with backup and recovery processes.

• Operating System Installation: Install and configure desktop operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux).
• Software Management: Install, update, and troubleshoot desktop applications and utilities.
• Hardware Setup: Configure and troubleshoot desktop hardware components, including printers and peripherals.
• User Support: Provide technical support for desktop users, resolving hardware and software issues.
• Security: Implement and manage antivirus, firewalls, and endpoint security solutions.
• Network Configuration: Set up and manage network connectivity, including wired and wireless connections.
• User Profiles: Configure and manage user profiles, permissions, and settings.
• Backup and Recovery: Implement and manage backup solutions for desktop data.
• Performance Optimization: Monitor and optimize desktop performance, including managing system resources.
• Patch Management: Apply operating system and application updates and patches.
• Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve issues related to desktop operating systems, applications, and hardware.
• Documentation: Maintain documentation of desktop configurations, issues, and resolutions.

EMADCO GROUP, 2022

• Architected and implemented Odoo ERP infrastructure with high availability and scalability.
• Designed and configured Odoo infrastructure requirements.
• Virtualized data center using VMware and migrated all physical machines to the new environment.
• Implemented Active Directory/DHCP and unified threat management solutions.
• Managed storage systems, Veeam backup for databases and VMs, and deployed File Server.
• Configured Kaspersky Antivirus through business security console and ensured compliance with security policies.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK, 2022

• Upgraded Active Directory and Exchange Server environments.
• Implemented Veeam backup system for comprehensive data protection.
• Optimized infrastructure services and conducted end-to-end monitoring for networking and servers.
• Managed firewall configurations, unified threat management, and intrusion detection systems.

MAHGOUB SONS GROUP, 2017

• Virtualized data center with VMware and designed SAP infrastructure with high availability.
• Implemented SAP infrastructure and configured system requirements.
• Managed Active Directory, Exchange Server, and ASSP Mail Filtering.
• Implemented Remote App, unified threat management, and Bind DNS.
• Handled storage solutions, Veeam backup for databases and VMs, and deployed File Server.

DETASI CO, 2016

• Virtualized data center using VMware and migrated physical machines.
• Implemented Active Directory/DHCP, Exchange Server, and Remote App.
• Managed Linux UTM, storage solutions, and Symantec Backup Exec for backup.
• Deployed File Server and performed network maintenance and client configuration.

ABBRCI GROUP, 2016

• Virtualized data center with VMware and migrated all physical machines.
• Implemented Active Directory/DHCP, Exchange Server, and Remote App.
• Managed unified threat management, storage solutions, and Symantec Backup Exec for backup.
• Deployed File Server, configured Kaspersky Antivirus, and implemented UTM Firewall.

KAMALGROUP, 2016

• Virtualized data center using VMware and transitioned physical machines to the virtual environment.
• Implemented Active Directory, Exchange Server, and ASSP Mail Filtering.
• Managed Remote App, unified threat management, and storage solutions.
• Deployed Symantec Backup Exec for full database and VM backup.
• Implemented File Server.

NILE PETROLEUM CO, 2015

• Virtualized servers with VMware and implemented Active Directory.
• Configured and managed File Server.

DELTA PETROLEUM COMPANY, 2011

• Set up and managed a full wireless network.
• Configured client systems for network access.

ALFAJJI INTERNATIONAL, 2010

• Set up hybrid wireless and LAN networks.
• Configured and supported client systems.