CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary

Campus Data CentresHeaded for extinction?

Kent PercivalManager, IT Development

University of Guelphpercival@uoguelph.ca

CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary

CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary 2

This is now

On the Edge!

CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary 3

Abstract

…growing major resource management challenge …increasing number of servers … huge data storage requirements … mission critical applications … complex facilities management … limited power …expensive space … increased staff costs … commercial hosting solution … "Software as a Service" …"Green Computing" 

Will higher education institutions give up running campus data centre facilities in the next 5 years? 

If not, what should be kept in the campus data centre? 

A (panel?) will explore these questions from different institutional viewpoints.

CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary 4

Agenda

Propositions“A Data Centre is an rapidly escalating cost.”

“A Data Centre on campus does not add much value.”

DiscussionWhat are your data centre challenges?What are your data centre value points?Who’s cutting back?Savings ? - low hanging fruit?Priorities ? - what do we keep?

Conclusions?

CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary 5

What’s a Data Centre?

Centrally Managed Enterprise Resource

Servers, Storage, Network

Environment control

Mission Critical applications

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Data Centre customers

Administration

Community e.g. mail, calendar, web

Teaching & Learning

Research• Including multi-institution research projects

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Data Centre Spec’s

Performance

Availability

Reliability

Security

Business Continuity– Disaster recovery– Data preservation

“Green”

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Data Centre Technologies

IT Resources

Power Quality & Distribution, Safety,Energy Mgmt

Cooling, Air Flow, VentilationFire Prevention and SuppressionPhysical Security Control and MonitoringAsset / Facilities Management

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Campus Facilities

Space … multiple data centres?

Getting power to Data Centre

C.U.P. cooling capacity

Electrical, HVAC, campus Security support

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Increasing Campus Demand

Performance

Storage

Dept resources move to Data Centre

Applications– Teaching and Learning– Research Projects -- continuing change

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Cost Challenges

SpacePower– Infrastructure– Energy Cost

Cooling– Efficiency

Environmental ManagementStaff

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Green

Power Supply

100

9

UPSDistribution

46

IT Systems

5Controls

MonitoringLighting

22

Active Service

24

Idle Systems

40

Cooling

15

Heat transfer

25

Air circulation

Results may vary!

CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary 13

Compounding Costs

Space higher density

– power density cooling upgrade– Energy control distribution redesign

energy management tools

– Power, Cooling different space requirements

– Active Mgmt – more staff / more expertise

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Staff functions

IT– Server virtualization– Storage virtualization

Power design, monitoringCooling, air flowMonitoring and control systemsPreventative MaintenanceSystems monitoring / incident mgmt

Professional Development and Training• Retain, refresh, replace

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Agility

Continuing change impacts resource provisioning.• Business Alignment• Learning systems• Research Project IT systems

Can a large minimally-resources Data Centre, respond cost effectively to new priorities?

Capital-budget-based facilities management is not agile.

“everfresh” should be applied to facilities as well

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The other side of the equation …

What is the value proposition of owning/managing a campus data Centre?

– Used to be …• Buy vs. lease • Rapid response (get to push reset)• Control (get to do your own upgrades!)• ?• ?

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Discussion

Value Proposition principles?

Why do you own / manage a campus Data Centre?

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Discussion

Value Engineering

If you are resource-constrained, what would be the first services/applications to go?

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Discussion

Value Engineering

If you are resource-constrained, what would be the first services/applications to go?

What services/applications must to be in your data centre?

CANHEIT | On the EDGE | June 15-18, 2008 | University of Calgary 20

Discussion

Value Engineering

If you are resource-constrained, what would be the first services/applications to go?

What services/applications must to be in your data centre?

What other questions do we need to askto do value engineering?

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Conclusions

– Costs of Data Centre facilities are rising rapidly.– Depth/breadth of required staff expertise growing.– Static capital-project-based planning is not agile

enough.

Determining the principles and priorities of the value proposition is important

Value engineering is a necessary step in determining what’s in your data centre.