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