It’s that time of year! As the new year begins, it’s time to step back from the daily grind and plan for 2012. One high-level challenge for data center managers is the use of floor space, and this new report from Gartner Research can help you meet that challenge.
Data center floor space is costly. When you have to upgrade or renovate a data center to meet growing IT needs, it is a very expensive proposition. Consequently, when you maximize the use of your existing data center floor space, you can avoid costly and time-consuming upgrades to your entire facility.
But what are the best practices? What are the most effective techniques to maximize your existing data center floor space? How do you measure and project your capacity? How much savings in floor space can you achieve?
A new report by Gartner addresses these questions. Based on their research, Gartner has developed four key recommendations for maximizing the use of your existing data center floor space. The report also describes the range of savings you can expect.
The complimentary report is available courtesy of nlyte Software, makers of Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software. Read the full report here.
Now that we have returned from the Gartner Data Center Conference in Las Vegas, I wanted to refresh your memory on one of the key topics discussed throughout the conference. Many key analysts emphasized that the time is now to begin implementing a solution to manage your data center’s power, cooling and space.
In the keynote address by Dave Cappuccio, Crucial Trends You Need to Watch, his number 3 trend was “energy efficiency and monitoring.” He noted that data centers are now consuming 40 to 100 times more energy than the offices they support. In a greening society, this statistic is unacceptable. Today, 68% of data center managers still don’t measure PUE, 25% never measure power usage at all and those that do, measure it infrequently. Only 3% of data center managers have implemented any type of energy management software thus far.
With the arrival of data center infrastructure management (DCIM) solutions, data center managers can now find ways to optimize their performance. Cappuccio continued saying that, by 2012, monitoring and reporting on energy consumption will be required. In a later session focusing on DCIM, Gartner analyst, Jay Pultz explains, “by monitoring and measuring energy consumption, DCIM informs the data center manager of where and how power is being utilized enabling the manager to evaluate options to improve and control its use.” DCIM goes beyond the macro model by providing greater insight on energy consumption within the data center. The data center manager can use to solution to pinpoint problem areas by intelligent capacity planning and modeling the future effects from projected moves, adds and changes — either for retrofitting existing data centers or in building new ones.
Pultz expects that data center facilities projects will once again top their polls in terms of funding levels. The easiest way to get started with DCIM is to earmark some of those funds. Pultz continues believing that most will find that this investment is self-funding; that is, the efficiencies gained in the project by adopting DCIM more than pay for DCIM!
As a final note on energy management and DCIM, Gartner believes that “DCIM will become the next must have for data center managers.”
To learn more about DCIM subscribe to The DCIM Advisory.
Day 2 offered us some excitement in the world of data center infrastructure management (DCIM). We started off the day listening in to eBay talk about how they have improved their infrastructure to be more efficient. Mazen Rawashdeh, VP Technology Operations at eBay, said, “The most efficient data center is one you don’t have to build.” You don’t have to spend millions of dollars when you have the ability to work with the space you have and simply optimize the existing infrastructure.
This Keynote was followed by cloud expert and comedian Dave Berry. He kept the audience on their toes and rolling in laughter from “the eBay guy stole my slides” and his comparison of the cloud to cream cheese. Yes, cream cheese. “The point behind the cloud is to keep the user’s cream cheese as far as possible from their data.” To top it off, the infamous whale story. This may be one of those moments where you had to be there.
Then, the seriousness began. The day’s sessions were packed with statistics and full of insightful statements. Here are a few I jotted down: Continue reading »
A revolution is coming that will empower data center executives to go from reactive to proactive.
Jonathan Koomey Ph.D, Consulting Professor, Stanford University
For more information go to http://www.nlyte.com/changeiscoming
Check back with us soon for another sneak peak.
In the August issue of The DCIM Advisory, a reader posed a dilemma on how data center management should function in regard to IT and facilities management. Here are the insightful and provocative responses from data center professionals across the globe.
Struggles between IT and facilities management
We are looking at ways to make data centers more efficient so lots of decisions are on the table. The efficiency decisions take a back seat to WHO gets to make them.
I have some ideas about how to fix this problem and would like my peers input.
Would it be better to have data centers managers function more like project managers and facilitate decisions and tasks needs in both areas, or should we rework data center management roles and reporting structure so they have the authority to make decisions in both areas?
– Bill K., VP of data center management
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Four ways to reduce conflict between IT and facilities management
When departmental feuds happen, the toll on an organization, in terms of money and people, can be high. The employees’ attitude typically reflects how the boss feels, which can get in the way of the spirit of cooperation and teamwork. People in this situation spend more time and energy managing the conflict than getting things done.
Our readers understand this dilemma first hand and offer up four ideas to resolve this awkward situation:
• Rely on emerging technology.
• Build the team.
• Use a project management process.
• Put IT in charge — or not! Continue reading »
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