DataCenter

Finisar and Neterion partner for smaller, faster, cooler cable

Does overhauling the data center mean changing the network?

This week I read survey results showing IT priorities in 2008, and was surprised to see how much the top IT priorities involved the network. So I did a little research.

The following article focuses on the network worker’s priorities alone: Disaster recovery, convergence and security top 2008 networking to-do lists. Putting these articles side-by-side made me see that very few priorities differed. The top priority for both networking and IT managers, for example, was disaster recovery. What was even more interesting was that even though the networking survey included questions on typical networking topics (i.e., routing, security, wireless, etc.) disaster recovery and data center topics came up very high in the results.

According to the IT manager questionnaire, almost half of IT managers surveyed plan to renovate and/or build a new data center (shown in the figure below):

Figure 1 — Lots of new data centers: In 2008, will you build or renovate a new data center?

So what might these data center changes have to do with the network? Below, you can see that 50% of those who plan to build/renovate a data center are incorporating new networking technology:

Figure 2: New technologies coming to new data centers
Will your new data center contain new technology?
(Respondents able to select more than one response.)

There’s a reason why so many people are making this change. Schlack says “New data center construction is a response to the need for more capacity but also for better disaster recovery capabilities and better use of energy.”

These changes must surely be a result, too, of the outmoded architecture in place. News Writer Michael Morisy’s found that the average age of a data center is 18 to 20 years old, which is to say that cooling and other mechanisms are grossly out of date. Even half that time ago the data center looked and behaved quite differently.

In Cooling a blade server, networking infrastructure expert Carrie Higbie explains: “Ten years ago, data centers consisted primarily of a mainframe and maybe a few PC servers. This is far different than what is in a data center today. We have Cisco 6500 series switches or maybe Force10, Extreme or Foundry switches — whatever the manufacturer, they are probably large chassis-based switches unless you are a smaller enterprise. While power was probably added, cooling may not have been.”

For better or for worse, a lot of money this year is being put toward data center overhauling. “Despite the large capital expenditures involved,” Morisy says, “upgrading these antiquated facilities begins to make more sense.” We aren’t relying on the same information that came out 20 years ago to get us through today, so why would we try to rely on architecture long passed its due date?

Are you happy with where these priorities lie? Perhaps network workers are finally being heard (and understood) and the money is finally going to the right place. On the other hand, maybe these expenditures are costing more than just money. Are you seeing negative or positive effects from this change, and do you see changes in the data center directly affecting your network?

It’s not easy being green

Boston recently held a “hazardous materials drop-off day,” when residents of the city could take their half-empty cans of varnish and paint thinner, car batteries and the like for proper disposal at a certified facility. Unfortunately, we had to wait in line for almost an hour — in our cars — to drop off the materials. One has to wonder how much gasoline was burned and how much pollution was released into the environment in the interest of preventing pollution from the paint cans we disposed of.

I’m pretty much an average Joe when it comes to helping the environment: I recycle; I don’t support fur farming or deforestation or poaching. I’d like to do more, but I draw the line where my creature comforts start to be compromised. Although I have to say that I spend most of the long Boston winter wrapped in blankets because we keep our heat down — although that’s primarily a financial concern before an environmental one.

Corporate IT is pretty much the same when it comes to the environment, I suspect. While nobody wants to tear down an old-growth forest to erect their colossal data center (or maybe I’m wrong about that, having never visited the Pacific Northwest myself?), in today’s always-on, high-availability world, businesses have to put their bottom line before other concerns. Conservation sounds nice, but try telling that to an angry customer who can’t access his data because you’ve shut off your backup power supply and experienced a server failure.

The network eats a lot of power. Gary Audin, president of network consulting firm Delphi Inc., recently discussed this issue with our news editor, Andrew Hickey, in a two-part interview that covers both the device drain on power and how to convince upper management to go green.

The challenge of delivering high availability while cutting costs and conserving energy is before us. Is your company considering any “green” initiatives? What’s the most radical compromise you’ve made on behalf of the environment? Send me an email or post your comments below.

World Cyber Games network taking shape

Day two of setting up the network for the World Cyber Games has seen the network take shape.

After a quick trip to Sears to grab some extra tools — a wrench and a screwdriver set — the 25 switches have been configured and assigned names and IP addresses, which will allow the team from ProCurve Networking by HP to manage them centrally. The more than 700 PCs have been fired up and assigned to their switches, making each gaming station its own miniature network. Ben Van Kerkwyk, the lead engineer, said each switch will provide gamers with 1 gig speeds and localizing the network to each gaming table cuts down on hops, which could degrade performance, which in a gaming environment could be disastrous.

Crews laid down more cable, creating a maze of multi-colored wires streaming to and from all of the ports. Once cabling is complete, the network will be segmented into separate VLANs and subnets, making it easier to manage, Van Kerkwyk said. The ProCurve team will also make some sections of the gaming area wireless for VIPs and admins.

There is also an overflow of extras — two more core switches arrived today, and there are extra 2650 switches on hand in case something goes wrong.

“We have three core switches and 15 power supplies, so we’re good if something goes down,” Van Kerkwyk said.

Here’s a draft of what the network will look like upon completion:

And here’s ProCurve technical consultant Chris Ruybal rack-mounting the 8212 core swtich:

World Cyber Games set up delayed, thanks to Bryan Adams

The World Cyber Games Grand Final is gearing up to be the gaming event of the year, with gamers from all over the globe gathering at Seattle’s Qwest Field Event Center to battle each other in FIFA ‘07, Counter Strike, StarCraft and others…sorry, no Ms. Pac Man or Donkey Kong for us old-schoolers. Picture the Super Bowl of the gaming world, a contemporary version of the events documented in The Wizard or King Of King.

But before the game-fest kicks off in earnest on Oct. 4, teams are working feverishly to set up the massive network to ensure the games go off without interruption and without a hitch. Imagine the network dropping out the final lap of Need For Speed Carbon?

In less than 48 hours, a team from ProCurve Networking by HP — with help from several other groups along the way — will assemble an enterprise-grade network powering roughly 1,000 network devices, more than 700 of which are gaming systems. A tall order for a temporary network.

Today was all about setting the stage. The ProCurve team used diagrams to plot the layout. It spent some time tracking down an elusive ProCurve 8212zl core switch (which was in the building, but nowhere to be found … despite the gaming festival being the 8212’s first public appearance). The rest of the day was spent powering up and troubleshooting more than 20 ProCurve Switch 2650s and mounting the found 8212. Elsewhere, teams laid cable, set up PCs and ensured things were good to go. And that was just in the balcony.

But, alas, progress was cut short on Thursday and the main event floor was off limits because 80s rocker Bryan Adams is performing at the venue Friday night. His sound check was set to begin at 4 p.m. Thursday, meaning all set up was suspended until Friday morning.

“That’s one of the challenges for setting up for an event like this,” said ProCurve Technical Consultant for the Americas Chris Ruybal. “The on again and off again.”

I guess Adams was right when he crooned, “It cuts like a knife.”