Andrew started off his presentation at the Google Efficiency Data Center Summit with an overview of the forces impacting the data center now. The complexity is growing at a rate faster than energy use.
There are now multiple issues as the above graphic illustrates. This is occurring on a global basis. Anywhere gov’ts realize data centers are a critical part of a countries functioning and its companies.
As I was listening to Andrew’s presentation, it was kind of scary to think if you are not as big as a Google, building many data centers and have the resources to build their own custom servers. How do you build data centers addressing these issues?
What was kind of obvious once it was presented by Andrew was to have a data center development partner.
As an example, Andrew discussed how eBay has partnered with Skanska on data center development, to work as partners to change how data centers are developed, operated, and upgraded over its lifecycle.
Olivier Sanche, eBay’s Sr. Director Data Centers, provided this statement.
“We have a company vision of measuring and managing our carbon footprint that includes a hard look at the ways that information, facilities, and operations use energy and water resources. The partnership between eBay and Skanska has been instrumental in examining and executing on this.”
As Andrew had only a brief slides, I was able to get more information from Skanska’s Sr. VP, Jakob Carnermark.
Datacenters are complex and interconnected living systems. They unite the site, building and its systems with energy, water, technology and information. These centers are subject to an ever changing set of cost, availability, utilization, regulatory and environmental pressures. They interconnect to form a network of business crucial assets for almost every type of corporation.
Historically, buildings have been designed for a specific and fixed purpose. With the pace of change in business and in systems, this is no longer practical. Nowhere are the systems and business practices changing faster than in the datacenter world.
Embracing change as a constant requires a new approach to information systems, one that acknowledges information has both financial and energy costs and that visibility and incorporation of these costs into enterprise operations leads to more efficient and effective business practices.
As datacenters become increasingly modular, just-in-time delivery of data center capacity becomes essential. The inventory and capital cost of technical space built for future needs can be reduced as the supply chain is optimized to react quickly. Modules can be built safer, faster, and with fewer resources.
To create and manage this process, information access, discovery, transparency and context are essential. This integrated approach and just-in-time processes maximize datacenter utilization while reducing capital investment. Integrated practices enable the center to always operate at its peak while being prepared to upscale or down scale as required.
