LINK and NonStop servers run the busiest single-platform ATM ...

The critical hub of payments activity
LINK and NonStop servers run the busiest single-platform
ATM switching network in the world
HP customer case
study: LINK is the
reliable hub of the
U.K. payments
infrastructure, and has
been appointed as a
key provider of the
new Faster Payments
service; HP Integrity
NonStop servers have
also been selected.
Industry: Financial
services
“In the early days, we were looking for a proven system for mission-critical
ATM switch transactions. A NonStop system was the obvious choice
because it was the only platform that could handle all our transaction
processing needs.”
Steve Garlick, senior solutions architect, LINK
Objective
LINK plans to keep up with the future by
diversifying its range in such areas as the U.K.
Faster Payments service and mobile commerce—
keeping its high standards for reliability and
performance in all future development.
Approach
LINK has implemented Integrity NonStop servers
to help handle the tremendous real-time
processing expected with the new Faster Payments
service; for example, an active-active configuration
of two of the servers will help ensure business
continuity.
IT improvements
Powerful performance to handle significantly
higher transaction volumes
Agility and scalability to support enhanced
services and growth
Fault tolerance and availability through proven
NonStop platform
Business benefits
Highest levels of reliability and availability
Support of Faster Payments service and other
future development
Great price/performance of Integrity NonStop
servers
A solid reputation built on unmatched reliability
Every minute of every day, LINK processes up to
18,000 shared online transactions for over 61,000
automated teller machines (ATMs) throughout the
United Kingdom. Almost anyone with a U.K. bank
account can withdraw cash from a LINK-networked
ATM at any time.
LINK specializes in facilitating and setting up electronic
funds transfer on behalf of 49 of the U.K.’s largest
retail financial institutions, including Barclays, HSBC,
Citibank, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Abbey National,
and Bank of Ireland. LINK provides its customers with
a central hub and telecommunications infrastructure
that manages all transactions across the shared
network of ATMs in the United Kingdom.
Because it runs the busiest single-platform ATM
switching network in the world, LINK needs to ensure
the highest levels of reliability and availability in its
transaction processing systems. It also provides
international ATM network connections to Europay/
MasterCard and Visa, enabling access to more than
300,000 ATMs worldwide.
With 20 years of experience in real-time payments,
LINK has become known as the hub of the U.K.
payments infrastructure, and builds on that reputation
by delivering robust and reliable financial services at
the local and global levels. Any interruption in this
service would trigger an immediate reaction from
consumers and ATM Scheme members.

“Major U.K. banks all know of HP’s
successful track record with the NonStop
S86000 platform. They know it can deliver
99.99 percent availability in central
switching and that is a significant proof
point for LINK when seeking new business.”
Steve Garlick, senior solutions architect, LINK
The company’s reputation is supported by a scalable,
mission-critical standard transaction payments
processing infrastructure. To ensure the highest levels
of reliability and availability across its shared ATM
switching network, LINK relies on the HP NonStop
S86000 system, the result of a relationship with the
NonStop platform that goes back more than 20 years.
“In the early days, we were looking for a proven
system for mission-critical ATM switch transactions,”
said Steve Garlick, senior solutions architect with LINK.
“A NonStop system was the obvious choice because it
was the only platform that could handle all our
transaction processing needs.”
The LINK network is powered by two HP NonStop
S86012 servers. One is dedicated to the LINK
Interchange Network production applications and the
other, located 20 miles away, serves as a disaster
recovery system. Software on the servers includes
eFunds Connex Advantage, ACI BASE24 switch
software, and Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct for
file transfer.
The HP NonStop system handles a very high,
continually increasing volume of daily transactions,
while providing 99.99 percent switch availability. Peak
periods, which include Christmas holidays and spells
of warm weather, place the highest demand on the
system. In a recent summer month, LINK processed
226 million transactions with a value of £8.9 billion
(approximately US$18 billion); on one particularly
warm day that month, cash machine withdrawals
soared to a record £408 million (about US$828
million).
Despite these peaks, the HP NonStop system provided
reliable 24x7 processing without a glitch. “Major U.K.
banks all know of HP’s successful track record with the
NonStop S86000 platform. They know it can deliver
99.99 percent availability in central switching and that
is a significant proof point for LINK when seeking new
business,” said Garlick.
In addition to ensuring 24x7 reliability across the
ATM network, LINK assists banks in checking the
performance of internal systems that interface with the
NonStop system. In this role, LINK acts as an external
“watchdog,” looking for patterns and performance
levels that might be of interest to the financial services
providers that are its customers. As Garlick explained:
“We pride ourselves on the fact that high-profile banks
rely on us, not only to process such a huge volume of
transactions, but also to help monitor the response
times and availability of their internal systems. We
often call the banks with this information before they
are aware of it.”
2

On a peak day, the expectation is that the
Faster Payments service will need to process
10 million standing orders in four hours.
The broader picture
According to Garlick, an important business challenge
facing LINK today is where cash and the use of ATMs
is going in the future. Working with HP, LINK will
evaluate systems to handle mobile commerce,
consumer-to-consumer transactions, and Internet
payments.
LINK is also diversifying its service range and
customer base, including technology innovations
and relationship development to create “win-win”
solutions across the financial services, retail, mobile,
and public sectors. Connectivity is in place at all major
U.K. financial institutions, mobile network operators,
and at the Post Office, forming a seamless community
for processing shared, real-time electronic payments
transactions.
For example, consumers will be able to instantly top up
their mobile phone prepay accounts at participating
banks’ ATMs, at any time and with full security. The
service benefits all parties: Consumers enjoy the
convenience and flexibility of ATM-based top-up
services; financial services providers can enhance their
ATM strategy and build their brands’ value; and
mobile operators can offer more choice for their
consumers and reduce their cost base.
MONILINK—LINK’s joint venture with Monitise, a
division of Morse plc—provides retail banks in the
United Kingdom with a real-time mobile banking
solution that reaches their entire customer base,
regardless of the mobile network they choose. The
mobile application is an extension of LINK’s core
payments capability, offering banking-grade security
in the mobile environment. Currently available to
HSBC, first direct, and Alliance & Leicester account
holders (and soon to RBS Group customers),
MONILINK transactions form a significant part of the
LINK extended real-time payments infrastructure.
Merging for even faster service
Recently, LINK announced its intention to merge with
Voca to create VocaLINK. Voca is the largest processor
of Direct Debit and Direct Credit transactions in
Europe. The combined company will be one of the
leading payments processors in Europe; merger
preparations are underway, awaiting approval from
the U.K. Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
This merger will no doubt facilitate introduction of the
Faster Payments service, an immediate payments
facility for the country’s banking customers. LINK and
Voca have been appointed by APACS, the U.K.
payments association and its members, and the OFT
to provide the real-time processing element for the
service. The initial scope will include direct credit
payments originated through the Internet or telephone
banking and standing orders.
3

To learn more, visit www.hp.com
HP Integrity NonStop servers have also been selected
for the Faster Payments system, which will provide,
according to Garlick, “the same levels of availability
and fault tolerance that we have always enjoyed, but
much greater performance to cope with significantly
increased volumes of transactions.”
LINK first purchased Integrity NonStop NS1004
servers to be used as an active-active integration and
test configuration for the Faster Payments system.
Recently, LINK purchased two Integrity NonStop
NS16008 production systems, and is also exploiting
active-active configurations of these servers to eliminate
planned downtime windows. The U.K. Faster Payments
system is set to go live late this year. On a peak day,
the expectation is that the Faster Payments service will
need to process 10 million standing orders in four
hours, a far greater transaction rate than the current
LINK ATM Scheme core switch.
Garlick is pleased with the working relationship LINK
has had over the years with HP: “The assistance HP
has provided has been essential in helping to model
and build the Faster Payments service infrastructure. It
is a great company to work with. We’ve had regular
meetings with the account team and specialists to
ensure that every aspect has been considered.”
For more information
To learn more about Integrity NonStop products, visit
www.hp.com/go/nonstop.
© Copyright 2007 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to
change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty
statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an
additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
Quotes provided are customer comments. This customer’s results depended upon its unique business and IT
environment, the way it used HP products and services, and other factors. These results may not be typical;
your results may vary.
4AA1-3897ENW, July 2007
Customer solution at a glance
Primary hardware
Two NonStop servers powering the LINK network
Integrity NonStop servers for active-active integration and test
configuration of Faster Payments service
Two Integrity NonStop production systems configured in active-active
mode for business continuity
Primary software
eFunds Connex Advantage
ACI BASE24 (switch)
Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct (file transfer)