Comments on: Open IT Forum: What’s your list of considerations when developing a data center? http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/open-it-forum-whats-your-list-of-considerations-when-developing-a-data-center/ Fri, 24 May 2013 17:13:17 +0000 hourly 1 By: rechil http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/open-it-forum-whats-your-list-of-considerations-when-developing-a-data-center/#comment-85124 rechil Fri, 10 Dec 2010 04:39:14 +0000 #comment-85124 Melanie’s suggestion is always welcomed ! It is good practice to create a new Q under Ask a Question and u can get no of answers from this esteemed community !

]]> By: melanieyarbrough http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/open-it-forum-whats-your-list-of-considerations-when-developing-a-data-center/#comment-85088 melanieyarbrough Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:03:06 +0000 #comment-85088 Hi Rtopping,

There are some great suggestions in this thread already; I hope you’ll have a look through them. As for further assistance, if you start a new thread with specific questions or concerns, IT Knowledge Exchange members would be happy to provide additional assistance and suggestions.

Best of luck!

Melanie

]]> By: rtopping http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/open-it-forum-whats-your-list-of-considerations-when-developing-a-data-center/#comment-85074 rtopping Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:06:02 +0000 #comment-85074 Thank you all for you input. We are doing the same thing at this time looking to develop a colocation data center facility in the beginning of 2011. I will accept all the assistance i can get.

]]> By: steveng7 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/open-it-forum-whats-your-list-of-considerations-when-developing-a-data-center/#comment-84390 steveng7 Thu, 25 Nov 2010 18:36:51 +0000 #comment-84390 I would also consider containerized solutions. They are not optimal for many data centers, but for some they may be and may be highly advantagious. And some “modular” offerings may be thought of as “a containerized data center without the container”. There are even a new developments in the “containerized” field: Micro-containers which encompass 1-2 racks and may be “casterized” and rolled around inside the data center room.

]]> By: steveng7 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/open-it-forum-whats-your-list-of-considerations-when-developing-a-data-center/#comment-84364 steveng7 Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:29:40 +0000 #comment-84364 And my personal/professional manta: Why do we continue to build Modern Legacy Data Centers? By that, I mean data center designs from which the only thing missing is an IBM System-360 mainframe?

And what were the major design elements of data centers built in the 60s-70s?
(1) Raised floors.
(2) Underfloor cooling
(3) Battery-based UPS
(4) a Mainframe.

Most likely, none of these are really required anymore. I’m not claiming “never”; I’m saying don’t be afraid to start with a clean sheet of paper. And be warned that many in the industry only have experience with data centers having design-items 1,2,& 3, so that’s what they are comfortable (and competent) with and they will often try to spread FUD if you challenge them.

Data centers are expensive projects, so take the time to read up and do your own research. Don’t believe marketing hype; question all design assumptions. And don’t fall prey to the “Data Center Design by Fad” trap in which you read about the latest new solar-powered, LEED Diamond-level certified data center with a PUE of 0.001, and say: “Here! Design us a data center like that least we fall behind our competition.”

]]> By: steveng7 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/open-it-forum-whats-your-list-of-considerations-when-developing-a-data-center/#comment-84358 steveng7 Thu, 25 Nov 2010 00:49:50 +0000 #comment-84358 Some excellent comments and links in this discussion!

I want to chime in on Rechil’s “keep it simple” comment: Amen!! I’ve seen a study which showed that with the exception of a few specified circumstances, if you figure reliability/availability and costs, the sweet-spot is just around 2.2 on the “Tier 0–>4″ spectrum.

I was involved in the design of a large “simple” enterprise data center 12 years ago; in 12 years the total downtime (both scheduled & unscheduled) was about one hour. It was replaced by a new “tier 3″-class data center costing 20 times more and 20 times more complex; and it’s 20 times less reliable. (During a t-storm this summer, none of the 3 redundant generators could be started; it took 7 hours to restore power to the floor). It is so needlessly complex that none of the designers or vendors have been able to figure out why it is so unreliable.

]]> By: rechil http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/open-it-forum-whats-your-list-of-considerations-when-developing-a-data-center/#comment-84314 rechil Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:15:25 +0000 #comment-84314 The following are a guideline for considering to develop a Data Centre:
1. Keep it simple, Simple designs are easier to support, administer, and use. It helps to fix problems quickly
2. Flexibility that means, Aware about the technology changes and upgrades
3. Always be Modular, This will help keep things simple and flexible.
4. Look after about Weight, Servers and storage equipment for data centers are getting
denser and heavier every day. Make sure the load rating for all supporting structures, particularly for raised floors and ramps, is adequate for current and future loads.
5. Use aluminum tiles in the raised floor system. Cast aluminum tiles are strong and will handle increasing weight load requirements better than tiles made of other materials. Even the perforated and grated aluminum tiles maintain their strength and allow the passage of cold air to the machines.
6. Make Label everywhere, Pay attention for cabling!
7. Keep things covered, or bundled, and out of sight. If it can’t be seen, or it can’t be
messed with.
8. Always Plan ahead and be Positive, never want to hear “Alas !” in the data center.

Thanks —–

]]> By: A Data Center to Call Your Own: Building on a budget - Enterprise IT Watch Blog http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/open-it-forum-whats-your-list-of-considerations-when-developing-a-data-center/#comment-83813 A Data Center to Call Your Own: Building on a budget - Enterprise IT Watch Blog Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:25:52 +0000 #comment-83813 [...] we asked our members what their top considerations were when building a new data center, Technochic said that cooling methods and costs are definitely forerunners: “Being as [...]

]]> By: silverface1980 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/open-it-forum-whats-your-list-of-considerations-when-developing-a-data-center/#comment-83801 silverface1980 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 07:24:03 +0000 #comment-83801 Based on my experience regarding data center.

Firstly, you have to consider virtualization technology in these days.
You have to consider blade servers that support virtualized environments.
Tape libraries for backup system. Storage solutions. Load balancing and network access switch appliance. And more…

]]> By: melanieyarbrough http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/open-it-forum-whats-your-list-of-considerations-when-developing-a-data-center/#comment-83662 melanieyarbrough Thu, 11 Nov 2010 18:35:31 +0000 #comment-83662 Thanks, BigKat! Those are definitely the finer details that can make all the difference in a pinch.

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