Data Center Planning

[Maverick]

How to plan the growth of a datacenter? If you are opening a new datacenter then how should you plan the growth of the datacenter so as keep a proper tabs on the investment costs and the revenues?
Should the size of datacenter be small initially and then grow or should it be big initially and then promoted?

[cernst]

I think planning for growth in a data center, like many things in a data center, is specific to what equipment you are housing.

A co-location data center would have a majority of standard equipment racks.
My data center has about 100 racks of standard equipment, but then I have 7 mainframe (some dual frames), many SAN silos, free-standing DASD directors, and other supporting infrastructure that all have service clearances.

Though you need to get some idea from management on their 5-year outlook...what do they see the company doing and how will the technology branch get there. With that information, you can then oversize the data center by 1/4 to 1/3. People may scoff at empty floorspace, but the evolution of large pieces of infrastructure dictates that you need some slush floorspace for equipment to ebb & flow. you may need emergency floorspace for whatever reason. You may need open space to start out high-density racks until you can get proper cooling infrastructure in place.

Also, have a rough 5 year plan. As new technologies come into the picture, add them in early.

[Maverick]

Thanks a lot Cernst, Yea the concept of emergency floor area is great one, I had almost forgotten about this.