One of the often overlooked issues in colocation cabinets is cabling. When a company is hurrying to move equipment into a facility, cable management is not usually at the top of its list for concerns. IT staff members are more worried about just getting their infrastructure operational rather than focusing on the aesthetics of the cabling in their cabinet(s). Even if the cabling is managed effectively day one, it is very common to see a gradual “rats nest” develop over time as equipment is added or replaced.

Cable management is more than about cosmetics though, and a lot of IT professionals have come to appreciate the value of clearly labeled and organized cabling. What a lot of people fail to consider is the effect cabling can have on proper equipment cooling. That may sound odd, but visualize for a moment a tangled web of cables at the back of a cabinet. What happens is the cables each take up a certain volume of space and effectively reduce the path for hot air rejected from equipment to properly exhaust out the back of the cabinet.

Hot air that should have been easily transferred to the hot aisle now becomes trapped within the cabinet and then recirculates. This causes in-cabinet ambient temperatures to rise and can lead to equipment temperature increases and possibly even unnecessary failure.

With the first hurricane of the season already here and gone, 1102 GRAND, Kansas City’s Data Center and Midwestern Internet hub, reviewed disaster recovery tips for companies at risk for earthquakes, hurricanes, blackouts, wildfires, tornados, ice storms, or the most common disaster risk of them all – people themselves.

Here are tips for disaster recovery.

1. Ensure you disaster recovery plan is flexible and scalable

2. Right size the solution to meet requirements and budget

3. Don’t assume – establish requirements with management

4. Prioritize recovery initiatives to meet company objectives

5. Document, document and document some more

6. Do not forget about redundancy with passwords – store them offsite too

7. Schedule semi-annual or annual requirement reviews

8. Disaster recovery is not “set it and forget it” – test regularly

9. Disaster recovery is more than just data – think through all facets of operations

10. Ensure at least two team members know each recovery procedure

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday it predicts an “active” to “extremely active” hurricane season this year. Coastal companies would be wise to turn to, or at least seriously consider, the Midwest for their data center disaster recovery solutions. Unfortunately, memories fade as time passes, and that means that the destruction from events such as Hurricane Katrina often are overshadowed by more recent events such as the economic turbulence which caused jobs and budgets to be slashed at many companies. Those companies and people directly affected by Katrina may find it more difficult to forget, but it is easier for those not directly impacted last time even though they are still at risk for future hurricane disasters. So whether your company has never had a disaster recovery plan or you started to develop a plan but shelved it due to budget cuts, now is the time to revisit the discussion and act. If NOAA’s prediction is correct, you will be glad you made the investment.

According to www.usatoday.com , “federal forecasters predict anywhere from 14 to 23 named storms to form in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.” This is the highest prediction made by federal forecasters since 1998 when they began to issue hurricane forecasts.

(READ MORE)

By Darren Bonawitz
Many collocation facilities that I have visited with or toured require most customers pay for packaged collocation offerings including redundant power drops regardless of their needs or the purpose of collocating the equipment. That has never made sense to me. An alternative to this, as we do, can to separate and individualize our plans and options, sort of  ala carte style, so customers can feel they can tailor to their own needs and sizes with advice and recommendations, not limitations.

The same is true with regard to the space itself.  Maybe they only need a half rack today but realistically feel they are going to grow to a full cabinet in 6 – 12 months down the road. At most facilities, there are generally only two options. The first option is that they take a half cabinet and then face the painful task of moving their equipment again in a matter of months. Or they may have to lease and pay for a full cabinet for several months to allow for adequate growth.

However, there is a different philosophy available by trying to tailor individual solutions. Working out to, say,  a three year growth plan for a company by creating a schedule that benefits the current needs and future for that company. We don’t want to force a company with a square peg into a round hole. The benefit of course is they know they have what they truly need whether they in fact require redundant power or not. We have found this to be far more advantageous in the long run both for company and us. No one customer is like another so collocation should not be a “one size fits all” business.

There are many options to evaluate and meet your collocation needs and goals with. Step back and see what the provider is really offering you, and don’t think you have to be limited by your unique situation or plan. Is it a packaged “solution” where they are merely your network/data landlord, or are they approaching it as a partner or logical extension of your business with long-term success and a relationship as the ultimate goal?

To read more, download the rest of the article.

To read more, download the rest of the article.