Data Centers Checklist
 
Network downtime means lost revenue – and lost jobs

Imagine a scenario where you are coming under fire because your data center project is over budget and months late. Even worse, your management team pushed you to accept the architect’s idea of your computer room that today won’t even deliver the most basic needs - enough space, adequate security & fire protection, power, and sufficient cooling.

Now picture a different scenario. But this time, you have earned the respect and appreciation of your company by having properly planned, designed, and delivered an always available data center project. Within scope. On time. And within budget.

What makes the difference in these two scenarios? With PCS, when your management team came to you expecting you to provide the new computer room’s power and cooling requirements, you had a data center design expert you turned to - an expert who had your best interests in mind. An expert who understood the obstacles in providing constant network availability, translated how future IT services impacted the critical load, and conceptualized how the resulting supporting infrastructure impacted the budget.

 
A Good Plan Pays for Itself

We know it’s your job to deliver on management’s expectations of always available network services. Further, we know that you can’t be accomplished that without a room and supporting infrastructure equal to the task. PCS data center planning, and design services ensure your company gets the always available data center it requires – from the start.

Clear project cost guidance as it relates to the overall availability expectation
Accurate existing equipment & conceptual IT services critical load profiling
Expert understanding of data center design standard, and not-so-standard, practices.

A good plan is the key to delivering a successful project. And a good project manager prevents as many things from going wrong as possible by using that plan.
At PCS, we’re in the planning business along with you.

 
Cost Versus Availability

Everyone wants a 7x24x365 environment. However, the impact of delivering that kind of performance is far-reaching. Availability is more than the reliability of components used and the redundancy by which they are configured. Systems must be concurrently maintainable as well. This means that as absolutely necessary periodic maintenance is performed, systems must be able to be completely brought ‘off-line’ without impacting the load.

Not surprisingly, the greater the availability expectation, the greater the cost.

PCS helps you:
Determine the availability that is appropriate.
Estimate potential costs

 
Accurate Critical Load Profiling

Most architects and consulting engineers rely on their IT staff to provide space as well as equipment load requirements to determine the required facility infrastructure. PCS translates IT equipment details directly into power, cooling, and space requirements for the facility. We have found that equipment nameplate or manufacturer specifications are insufficient in many cases and we have compiled our own techniques for such purposes.

Additionally, PCS has the project experience necessary to provide accurate load profiles and their facility infrastructure impact from conceptual IT initiatives and services without detailed equipment lists. This includes the impact due to technology refresh initiatives such as blade server deployment, equipment compaction, and more.

 
Standard and Not-so-Standard Practices

PCS has developed a detailed set of design standards by which your data center availability can be accurately predicted. We understand the obstacles facing uninterrupted data center operations. And we know how to design and implement the solutions to mitigate them. (Many architects and consulting engineers are not fully aware of the latest high density cooling trends and techniques, and the impact they have on facility infrastructure.)

Save Money, Save Time – Save Your Data Center

PCS is uniquely qualified to help businesses assess their data center and support infrastructure risks, provide recommendations for improvement and offer accurate project cost estimating and guidance throughout implementation.

Please contact us and tell us about your project. Give us the opportunity and we’ll provide you with the justification you need to convince your management to take the next step.