Services – Lifecycle Services
Capacity Planning
Capacity planning is essential for any data centre. Wasted or ‘stranded’ capacity means wasted money whatever the size, age or specification of the facility. Future-tech’s data centre consulting services help clients to identify capacity issues and causes. This enables more effective use of space, which in turn can negate the need to relocate or extend a data centre, deferring capital costs while improving efficiencies and saving operating costs too.
Why do I need a Capacity Planning?
The capacity of a data centre is often determined by the power and cooling or network capabilities rather than the physical space available. An understanding of your available space and any constraints relating to the underlying infrastructure underpins any project aimed at increasing utilisation.
Identification of limiting factors leads to potential solutions – for example, If power is your limiting factor, ways can be identified to free up capacity allowing you to add more servers if needed. If cooling is the primary issue, air flow and system set points can be altered so your air handling units provide more duty. Such alterations can often be carried out at little cost and may extend the life of your data centre, negate the need to extend or re-locate your facility and will almost always result in operational cost savings.
Our Approach
Future-tech’s key strengths – experience and innovation – are crucial to approaching data centre capacity planning. A fundamental and thorough understanding of data centre infrastructure, combined with an innovative approach and knowledge of the latest technologies and best practice, mean that we are able to view capacity holistically.
This facility –wide approach means that clients can be confident that not only is all ‘lost’ capacity identified and recovered, but that future capacity is planned effectively and efficiently.
Methodology
Our data centre capacity planning process begins with a meeting with one of our Pre-Sales or Design Consultants. The purpose is to establish capacity issues, data centre operations, problems and additional capacity needs.
Following this, the Future-tech representative will meet with our Specialist Engineering Team to who will then attend the data centre facility survey. During the visit the facility’s supporting infrastructure will be examined to determine where capacity can be freed and/or reallocated.
Output
Once the survey is completed the Specialist Engineer(s) will work with a Design Consultant to produce a Capacity Report. The document will describe the data centre’s current operation, provide a number of “quick wins” to provide immediate action points and will give detailed analysis and costs associated with increasing capacity in the desired area of operation. A meeting is held with the client to explain the options available and answer any questions regarding our recommendations.
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