I have a rather broad question. From start to finish...How does data center development work? How does a company quantify the need? Who pulls the trigger? What steps are involved once the go ahead is given?
You need to employ an experienced DC professional. Somebody who has done this many times and who can evaluate your requirements. One word of caution, you need to ensure that the person (or company) will represent your interests.
If you are interested in soliciting individuals or companies from this forum, it would be best if you identify your country and state.
I am based in the USA. Not looking to solicit for a job, but I am looking for my own research purposes. We are looking to buy land for commercial investment and am looking to fill holes in our knowledge before we commit.
I'll second raid's suggestion to seek out a reputable consultant. Meanwhile, here are a couple of good books about data center planning, which should help you with the major concepts:
Ken - Thank you for the book suggestions. I have ordered them on your recommendation.
I am not actually looking into how to build a data center. What I am looking for is the entire process leading up to putting a shovel in the ground for a data center. Who in the management team make up the decision makers? What data do they use to quantify the need? How do they calculate the business' ROI or TCO? Building/moving to a data center can be a MONSTER cost. How is the investment/expense presented to the shareholders? When a location is chosen why is it chosen? Tax breaks, power, water, labor?
I see. I attended a seiminar a few years ago given by the folks at the Uptime Institute called, "How to Plan, Justify and Build a Data Center." To me the whole process seemed very similar to the construction of any other building -- idenitfying the need, convincing the decision makers, scoping, financing, siting, capex and opex TCO, ROI, etc. You may answer a lot of your questions by investigating the construction of a conventional building, of which a data center is just a special case.
When to build a data center?
