MANCHESTER 2010
Micro Data Centre RefurbishmentOvercoming Physical and Budgetary
Constraints in a Legacy Mixed-Use FacilitySteve Phipps (Data Centres Manager) and Richard Stern (Project Manager Data Centre Infrastructure) - University of Hertfordshire
MANCHESTER 2010
RARE-IDC“Reduction And Re-use of Energy in Institutional Data Centres”
• Background to the Project• Our Approach?• Completing the project (Richard Stern)• Outcomes and Learning• Q&As
MANCHESTER 2010
Background to the Project
• One of two main 75m2 Data Centres for the University• Funding had already been allocated in order to overcome several legacy risks
• We also share many refurbishment issues with other Public Sector institutions
• UoH regularly achieves a top 5 position in the People and Planet Green League, and aggressively pursues a Green agenda
• Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) funding brought new constraints and new objectives:– “An exemplar of a Green Data Centre for the HE/FE Sector”– “A model for other institutions to follow and learn from”– “Meet the business need with capacity, resilience and economy for at least ten
years”
MANCHESTER 2010
What Was Our Approach?
• Hired a project manager• Mitigated the risks with the existing facility by moving into a
temporary room• Originally considered a Consult -> Design, and tender for the
build process only• Bolstered our skills in best practices, cutting-edge sustainable
technologies and thought leadership on reducing the carbon impact of Data Centres
• Opted for a tender process that included “Design and Build”.
MANCHESTER 2010
Design & Process• Researched a wide variety of sustainable technologies
& best practices• Design & Build Contract
– “Open process”– Large No. Of responses, difficult to compare– I.T.T. must reflect the exact deliverables– Must be able to challenge the responses– Supplier has ownership of design– Fixed cost
• Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) help to reduce No. of appropriate responses
• The Invitation to Tender (I.T.T) – Included Best Practices (EU Code of Conduct for Data
Centres)– British & International Standards (TIA942)– Get it right!
MANCHESTER 2010
Project Structure• Identify & Plan in
your resources• Communicate,
Communicate, Communicate
• Relationships• Reporting
MANCHESTER 2010
Physical Challenges
MANCHESTER 2010
New Data Centre Layout
MANCHESTER 2010
The Challenges• Risks
– Disruption during refurbishment
– Resources
• Physical Constraints– Risers– Pillars– Bulkhead– Capacity
• Problems– Work around critical
infrastructure– Comparing like for like
MANCHESTER 2010
Budget Constraints• Limited Budget• Design & Build – fixed
cost• Tracking the expenditure• Contingency• Return on Investment
(ROI)– Saving of £34,000 pa– Payback well under 12 years
(not including Carbon costs)
MANCHESTER 2010
Successes and Achievements• Research your Topic• The PQQ• Careful Planning• Relationships• Communication• Green Achievements;
– Re-use of Waste Heat– Refurbishment not new Build– Re-use of some Equipment– Reduction of Operating &
Carbon costs & Reduced PUE– Virtualisation ongoing
MANCHESTER 2010
Lessons Learned•Complexity of Designs•Getting approvals•Clear explanation of designs•Don’t forget Structured cabling and other hidden costs
MANCHESTER 2010
Outcomes and Learning• Size doesn’t matter!
– Learn from others – EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres http://bit.ly/h4FA7
• Realising that not all DC providers are the same– Involve your provider as partner– Don’t be afraid to challenge
• Cultural changes that breed success– Work closely with Estates– Embedding sustainable processes and technology– Remember the three M’s – Meter, Monitor and Manage
• Dissemination of outcomes– Blog http://rare-idc.blogs.herts.ac.uk/– Conference 8th September 2010, UH Hatfield Sept ’10 http://bit.ly/b3JytN