Data Center Implementation And Design Tips For New Business Owners

Before establishing a new data center, you'll want to be sure that you have a solid plan in place for its success. If you're new to data center design, there are a few things you may not know about the operation of these facilities. Here's a look at some of the things you should know to help you optimize your data center plan for the best possible system response and uptime.

Equipment Continuity is Important

When you're setting up your first data center, you might think that you can just mix and match components from different suppliers in the interest of getting the best possible price. If you create a data center with equipment form various manufacturers, you're risking hardware conflicts and incompatibilities that could threaten the integrity of your data center. Look for a cohesive system with equipment from one or two manufacturers that you can be sure work well together.

Energy Costs Can Add Up

You might think that you can keep your energy costs at a minimum just by investing in new equipment. Sure, you can consolidate your older servers into a couple of new large capacity servers, but doing so won't necessarily save you considerably in your energy costs. Newer servers are often designed to be more responsive, which can lead to increased energy consumption to maintain that level of response. This is especially true if you upgrade from small servers to a data center with blade servers or something similar.

You should also consider the energy costs associated with the data center's cooling system. You need a system that keeps your servers and other equipment cool, otherwise you risk overheating and system failure. The larger your data center, the harder it will be to keep it cool, so prioritize your cooling system investment.

Network Demand Can Be Inconsistent

The demand on your data center's servers will fluctuate throughout every day. You're likely to see traffic approaching capacity during the peak operation times for your business, while you'll probably see little traffic on the network during your slower periods or when the business is closed. Make sure you invest in equipment that is designed to handle the peak traffic across the network, otherwise you'll see system slowdowns, poor response and potential equipment failure.

Equipment Failures Are Inevitable

As with any electronic equipment, failures are an inevitable part of establishing a data center. The key is to be prepared for them to happen. When you design a data center, you'll also want to establish a budget for maintenance and replacement. Most server equipment has a usable life of somewhere around three years, so you'll need to be prepared for replacement or upgrades every few years.

System Monitoring is Essential

With network traffic demands, temperature control and equipment aging as all important concerns with data center management, you have to have a monitoring system in place. There are many monitoring choices available that provide you with visibility to nearly every component of the system operation. Look for a tracking and monitoring system that provides you with real-time evaluation of system performance, capacity, response and activity cycles.

By implementing a comprehensive system like this, you'll have more visibility to vulnerabilities and potential inefficiencies. Capitalize on the tools that you have at your disposal to monitor and regulate your data center's operation.

With these tips and the help of a skilled data center hardware specialist, you can not only establish a data center that will meet your needs, but also have a hardware maintenance and monitoring plan in place. Talk with your local data center design and implementation provider to create a system that works for your business.


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