IT Modernization means COLLABERATION

Today’s data centers are being faced with having to react to challenges presented by newer, more powerful IT equipment driven by the ongoing trend towards technology compaction. In 2004 one of the clearest examples of technology compaction is through the development of the blade server technology. Where a standard 3U space within a rack previously housed 1 to 3 servers, a 3U blade server can now house up to 24 servers. This technology is already available and from a TCO standpoint, is very attractive to the end user. In 2017 everything is being Virtualized, Converged, and Cloud. With the specification of Data Centers Cooling set Points and new Cooling adjusting to higher ranges of dew points are great to see but obtaining approvals is a long battle in the upward direction.

Data Center Owners, Operators and Operation Management error on the side of NO to Little Risk. What this means is what we did 20 plus years ago is still what we should do today. The Federal Government and other large Organization that understand and accept IT as part of their Core Operation are actually being open minded and adjusting their thinking and making CHANGES to how they think and operate the data center. Starting with Temperature setting for data center, Opening ranges for Humidity controls, setting up the meeting to include Building/Facilities, IT Operation, IT/Cyber Security, Physical Security and Business on regular meetings discussing everything from Changes, Outages, Business Plans and Project.

However, the increased power density also results in an increased cooling density and the majority of existing data center designs do not have the necessary provisions to handle the higher loads from an electrical or cooling standpoint that are now drivers for the business and way to optimize Data Centers and their Operations.

In the past, appropriately, it was not considered a major problem since the majority of data center designs had more than adequate power and cooling capacities to handle any deployment in a retroactive manner.

That process, however, is not applicable to the deployment of the newer demands on Data Centers and IT equipment since the higher density power and cooling loads exceed data center design capacities.

Already, IT deployment of new equipment has to face potentially insurmountable obstacles at the Data Center Facility level. These obstacles can include:

1. UnPlanned Outages
2. Insufficient utility power to accommodate new power and cooling equipment needed to increase the capacity
3. Insufficient power and/or cooling central plant capacity at the facility (i.e. not enough central plant equipment).

4. Insufficient power/cooling infrastructure (e.g. pipe sizes distributing the central plant capacity too small).

5. Building constraints (e.g. existing infrastructure needs to be fully removed and different approach needs to apply, no space to locate additional power and cooling equipment).

6 Unacceptable disruption to an existing facility operation due to major changes required to existing power and cooling systems to accommodate the new deployment.

7. Insufficient budget to make the necessary power/cooling upgrades.

8. Not enough Swing (Equipment (Storage, Compute, Network), Physical Space and time) are planned, budgeted and addressed throughout the entire process

In order to prevent the Data Center Facility industry from being behind before the Data Center has deployed the new IT equipment, a more holistic approach is required at the very beginning of the deployment decision process. The process should be one that involves the collaboration of all affected parties using the Data Center. The needs to be followed from the design, construction, deployment and through operational phases.

COMMISSIONING

There is another critical aspect to facility aspect of these new higher demands on the data center, which is Commissioning. In addition, the complete collaborative process needs to be accompanied in parallel by a true commissioning process. Commissioning is often misinterpreted to focus solely on testing during the end of the construction phase. 

Commissioning begins with planning and includes design, construction, start-up, acceptance, and training, and can be applied throughout the life of the building. This should not wait and be addressed after the factor towards the end of the project. The purpose of Collaboration is to get all parties who will be involved at the beginning so everyone is aware and told the same thing at the same time. Allowing for all parties to take this time to evaluate impact.

In order to enact the collaborative process complete with comprehensive information sharing requires everyone to understand and use the same language. One key that has been learned and passed along to many is to stop using acronyms and spell out everything. If there is 1 party that is not following completely – set aside time to sit down and help them on a one on one situation. This should not be done a majority but a consensus of all. This can be accomplished by getting all parties involved early, breaking down the walls of ownership and start looking at what is best for the organization.

There are numerous ways to assemble and structure a project team and the optimized process for that team to achieve the desired results. The process, including who leads that process, is just one of the ways to achieve successful collaboration and integration. The main point is that a commitment to collaboration is critical for true integration and optimum overall results.

CONCLUSION

It is no longer possible for IT to operate in a bubble and reactive manner to business demands for newer Technologies to meet their completive requirements to compete in today’s world economy.  Better alignment and collaboration between all parties is paramount to addressing the challenges that lie ahead and a comprehensive on-going shift change from the silo approach of the past to ensure those challenges are met.

It is time to embrace what is being called IT Modernization. Engage all parties early and listen to each other, provide knowledge transfer and COLLABERATE.