Thomas Merkel

SkyLime is a dynamic team of computer scientists to provide infrastructure and knowledge to rock the world. The team offers Unix and Linux consultancy services including project analysis and management. - Infrastructure, operations and development - Consulting and mentorship - SmartOS cloud provider with managed services like DNS, email, databases and application hosting - Robust software application development and scripting in Node.JS, Python, Shell and C/C++

Architecture design and installation of private cloud based on SmartOS and Project-Fifo to run low-latency realtime VoIP services. Technologies: LeoFS, LX-branded Zones, Munin, Project-Fifo, SmartOS, Ubuntu, Zones, ZFS

Introducing agile methods and processes including standards in an global IT department. Providing infrastructure services for different development teams. Technologies: AWS, Apache, Azure, Debian, Git, GlusterFS, HAProxy, Icinga, JBoss, Java, MySQL, NFS, Nagios, Nginx, PHP, Prometheus, Puppet, Python, RedHat, Samba, Shell, Xen, ZFS, libVirt

As part of marketing operations the main focus of the project is to provide a robust platform for the website and content management system in a cloud environment. This includes all infrastructure architecture aspects and future development. Technologies: Ansible, AWS, Cloudflare, Datadog, Docker, JavaScript, New Relic, PHP, Python, Shell, Terraform, Ubuntu

Focus on system operation and continuous delivery in cloud based environments. Development and implementation of automation workflows in cooperation with operation and development teams. Technologies: Ansible, Atlassian toolstack, AWS, AWS Lambda, CloudStack, Forman, Gentoo, GlusterFS, icinga, iptables, Java, Nagios, OpenSSL, Packer, Pagerduty, Percona, PHP, PKI, Postfix, ProFTPd, Puppet, Python, SaltStack, Slack, Ubuntu

Development and management of the SmartOS cloud infrastructure to run virtual machines with VoIP services. Implementation of Ubuntu package management for self-developed telephone software which provide easier deployment. Technologies: Ansible, CentOS, IPSec, KVM, Munin, OpenVPN, SmartOS, Ubuntu, Zones, ZFS

Development of python/django web interface to collect cable length and quality information from german telecommunication provider. Technologies: Django, Python, Ubuntu

Leading a team of students and contractors to implement and extend a monitoring solution. To monitor IBM internal services and products we developed an extension for Nagios in the Java programming language. Technologies: CentOS, Java, Nagios, RedHat

Co-Founder of the webhosting company which has been transfered to SkyLime GmbH. Development of web and database cluster solutions to scale by customer needs.

As part of the hostmaster team we provided the web services for all ingame platforms to their customers. Management of different content management systems, database and web server cluster setup based on MySQL, Apache and HAProxy. Technologies: Apache, Debian, DNS, CentOS, HAProxy, MySQL, PHP

Maintenance and administration of Gentoo-Linux servers to provide web, file and network services to the users. Infrastructure script development in Bash, PHP and Perl.

As Pearson VUE test inspector preparation of the test machines and infrastructure in the test center was required. Responsibilities included running a successful test environment and monitor the exams.

Responsible for testing the antivirus products on Windows, OS/2 and Novell NetWare. Development of an testing framework to manage and evaluate test protocols.

Development of a mobile application to manage cloud infrastructure

Integration of the OTRS helpdesk solution into an high availability cluster

Development of an PHP application to automate software test protocols