AUFS/UnionFS removes the need for Windchill and Vault duplication between dev, test and production.

This definitely saves a lot of time and money!

Linux OS is very affordable. The only duplication is the database.

In Reply to Patrick Chin:

In addtion to have the SAN appliance to remove data duplicationand realocation of files to appropriate storage archival systems, attempts are being done to completely remove the need for duplicating vaults and windchill installs accross dev, test and production. Development, test and production are just systems with repective properties, logs, certificatesand localizeddata. While there is a centralized installation which is shared accross all systems to share past vaults and codebase using AUFS:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aufs

Saves a ton of money and requirements for storage and makes it easier to mirror Windchill systems.