Tara Koppolu

Environment:

System Reliability Engineer (SRE) environment centers on troubleshooting, debugging, and enhancing cloud infrastructure, often in a hybrid, high-pressure, yet collaborative setting. SREs work extensively with Linux, virtualization (especially AHV and VMware), and networking to improve product serviceability and customer experience.

Responsibilities / Activities:

• SREs act as high-level technical support, analyzing customer data, diagnosing complex issues, and contributing to knowledge bases.
• Key tasks include troubleshooting, debugging, developing tools to improve serviceability, analyzing customer data for risk mitigation, and collaborating with engineering teams to improve product quality.
• Strong expertise in Linux systems, virtualization (AHV and VMware ESXi), and networking is required, along with experience in Data replication/protection and cloud technologies.
• Presented multiple technical talks on new features and current issues, emphasizing usage workarounds and solutions.
• Designed and implemented laboratory bootcamps for R&D engineers, focusing on comprehensive product education and effective navigation techniques.
• Achieved improved case resolution through thorough reviews of closed cases. Enhanced knowledge base accuracy by facilitating approval processes. Optimized case help workflows to increase efficiency.
• Developed documentation and knowledge base articles for improved team communication and training.
• Mentored junior engineers on site reliability principles and troubleshooting techniques.
• Conducted root cause analysis on service disruptions to inform preventive measures.
• Conducted root-cause analyses after major incidents to identify areas for process improvement or technical enhancement opportunities.

Environment:

Diagnosed and resolved complex customer issues with Cisco UCS products, enhancing user experience. Cisco Technical Support focuses on Troubleshooting Cisco UCS B series, C series hardware, VMware Hypervisor, Fabric Interconnects, Cisco Nexus DataCenter Switches, Cisco Nexus Storage switches, Cisco MDS switches, EMC stoage systems, Support Tickets, Trainings, Developing KBs, Creating Bugs and Collaboration with Engineering.

Responsibilities:

• Provided assistance in resolving customer issues related to UCS Chassis and rack-based servers. This included troubleshooting procedures for server crashes involving UCS products, troubleshooting motherboards, CPUs, DIMMs, network controllers, RAID controllers, and hard drives.
• Led cross-functional teams in executing project plans to achieve strategic objectives. Fostered a collaborative environment to drive team performance and project success by providing technical support for customers in resolving MAC address learning issues, PLOGI/FLOGI storage address learning issues, Network / Storage port channels, Storage Zoning, STP, VPC, spanning tree, DHCP, trunk configurations etc
• Recreated customer issues with internal labs which involve working with Sever and Network Infrastructure physically.
• Achieved high customer satisfaction by effectively addressing technical issues with UCS products. Enhanced support processes for VMware and RHEL purchasing contracts through Cisco. Delivered timely solutions to improve overall customer experience.
• Led a team of engineers to assist in ongoing support tickets. Facilitated communication with engineering teams to address unresolved issues. Empowered team members by providing guidance and resources for problem-solving.
• Led instructor-led labs and WISP labs at Cisco Live events in San Diego, Las Vegas, and Berlin. Oversaw sessions on Nexus 1000V installation utilizing VSM and VMFEX. Guided discussions on Nexus 9000 programmability options to enhance participant knowledge.
• Delivered comprehensive training programs to enhance colleagues' proficiency in UCS products and VMware Layer 2 technologies and also contributed Internal Knowledge Base Articles, Opening Bugs, New products / Features Trainings from Engineering team

Environment:

Tandberg Telepresence Endpoints, Polycom Telepresence Endpoints, Cisco Telepresence Endpoints, Cisco routers Series 12000, ASR 1006, ASR 1004, 7200, 3900, 3800, 2800, Cisco catalyst series switches 3750, 4500, 6500, 7000 (Nexus), Cisco UCS, ESXi, vCenter, Cisco ASA firewalls, OSPF, BGP(basic), AAA, NAT, DHCP server, VOIP, Solar winds.

Responsibilities:

• Setting up and Maintaining Network for Telepresence End Points, Telepresence Devices for testing Enterprise Telepresence at Cisco.
• Assisted in configuration, installation, and maintenance of Cisco routers, switches, firewalls for endpoints. Implementation of VLANs, IP Subnetting, dynamic and static Routes, access-lists, TACACS/RADIUS on networking equipment. Troubleshoot network issues when needed to ensure optimal performance. Supported team efforts in maintaining network reliability and security.
• Oversaw configuration and installation of server infrastructure, including HPE, IBM, and Cisco UCS systems. Championed effective use of storage features like RAID to optimize performance and reliability.
• Achieved seamless installation of RHEL and Windows Server editions on MCS servers, including HP (H2, H3) and IBM (I2, I3) servers. Executed successful data migration from MCS servers to Cisco UCS B series servers. Delivered effective configuration, installation, and maintenance of virtualization environments such as VMware, enhancing deployment of VMs for development applications and optimizing management of VMware vCenter.
• Installation of Call processing units like CUCM, VCS in order to make registration for TelePresence endpoints. Dealing with Telepresence Bridges like CTMS, CTSMAN, MSE Codian and configure them accordingly
• Administration of Cisco Secure Access Control Server for Lab’s Networking Devices. Monitoring Network infrastructure and access logs using Cisco Network Assistant, solar winds.