What is in a data center

I

imported_Stephen

New member
This is something I have been wondering for a while...
I would like to know what exactly is in data centers.
What is required to run a DC, ie. connections, servers, power etc.
Just the main things as I have never seen a DC and I think the data center side of hosting is something I really don't know a lot about.

Also, apart from all hardware on the floor, what is in the NOC?
Is the NOC always inside the same building as the servers?
 
I would reckon in the NOC would be screens to monitor the traffic going to and coming from each server, the general health of the server. KVM software so they can switch to each server.
 
wow, I would need to provide a long list for that :).

Usually stuff like,
- Fuel Powered Backup Generators
- Advanced Smoke Detection Systems
- The Servers & Racks ;)
- Switches & Usually Processes Monitoring Them, i.e. MRTG
- Electricity is sometimes good

The list goes on..
 
A DC is really rather boring !

Racks of servers & comms equipment with a bit of power & network distribution.

Connections to your desired telco(s), hopefully a bit of rudundant routing between major points of failure within the DC itself. Ideally a couple of independantly run connections from your telco frames to their local hub (no point in having 2 fibres if they are in the same ducts when they put a JCB through the duct)

Power would ideally come from 2 or more independantly routed suppliers (again in seperate ducts) backed up by an on-site generator with a few days fuel on board AND a fuel contract :-)

Fire protection systems, air conditioners, access control systems, CCTV.

A few staff in house to manage reboots and watch cable TV (Oops... I mean monitor the comms & server status) and answer the hot-line.

Quantity & quality of the above will vary from DC to DC.

Don't forget the big sign on the outside so that everyone knows there's shed loads of servers sitting in the building. OK maybe this one's not such a good idea :-)
 
What exactly is KVM software?

Anyone have any idea how much a DC like TP would pay for exectricity/power and how much their overall running charges would amount to?

What would be the initial startup costs for a private DC, i.e. paying for pipes to your DC from a provider, buying backup power sources, fuel for backup power, servers, racks, software and other things.
Not for a commercial DC with servers available on the internet, like TP and Ev1.

Thanks!
 
Stephen,

KVM Software: It allows you to operate all your computers from a single keyboard, video display, and mouse and be able to take control..

You know the expression of owning your own boat "It's a money pit or bottomless pit"?

Well, this take it too a whole different level... lot's of $$$$$ CAPITAL $$$$$

...then add some more money...

Seriously, without the specs of what your looking for we could just throw out a blaze of numbers.. If you’re interested, I can have someone contact you on this; I happen to of met someone a few months back that has been outsourced by two national server farms for his input. Sad to say, I don't know what he charges..
 
I don't think I would be interested in building my own as I know a lot of capital would be required, but I am interested in knowing ehat exactly is in them.
I have never been inside a DC and there is only one DC near me, which is private for the one company.
Just wondering maybe if it would be a good investment for the future to build a DC and offer co-lo and rent dedicated servers with none here
 
Stephen you are talking a few million to build your own DC.

Then theres the per annum costs for connections to the backbone and you will need more than one connection in case one provider fails. Thats going to run into many thousands a year.

So to break even you are going to have to have one hell of a lot of servers and one hell of a lot of customers.

Then there's the staff wages as well.

I don't think this kind of venture is for the non risk takers.
 
Any entrepreneur wanting to start a business should be ready to take risks though.
I think you could build a DC for less than millions, it would still be in the hundreds of thousands range, but doubt it would go near millions.
Not talking about something that is the size of EV1, SM and other large DCs, but one that can house a few thousand servers at most.
It could bring in good profit, wouldn't require as much of a capital and wouldn't need so many workers to run it.

Still nothing I am planning yet, but just something I am interested in knowing more about :)
 
The Planet DC costs 10s, if not 100s of millions of dollars.

Even if you want a smaller DC for "a few thousand servers," you need to put out at least a couple million dollars. That's if you want to do it the right way, and with the right "stuff."

Since you obviously have no idea what you're talking about, you'd also have to hire a whole team of network engineers to map out the facility for you.

It'd be a mighty task.

And then you also have to consider the connectivity to your facility. The backbone providers.

*Rolls eyes* Hell, I don't even want to think about building a datacenter lol.
 
It's one you can't cut costs on, as everything has to run smooth, just a bare building DC needs everything from backup/uninteruptable power to multiple engineer skill staff, then facilities management for all the co-ordination of the climate and other issues including health and safety. If you plan secure server locations then possibly the building will have to be EMR shielded with wire mesh and non laser intrusive glass on the windows.

It's an artform in itself, and all that without even getting to the tech side :eek:
 
I agree it would cost a few million to build a center like EV1 of the planet. But you guys are way over shooting here.

I've actually sat down and looked into this quite a bit over the past few years.

Cost wise to get a datacenter up and going you are going to need about $90,000 for the first 2 months

Itemized list and approx cost :
-----------------------------------------

Offfice space : about 2,500 minimum (house about 400 servers with a few offices)

Servers :300 machines to start off ($289+)

Staff : 2-3 people who know what they are doing. About $32,000+ a year salary

Racks + power strips : $1,000 - $13,000 depending on style/material used

Routers + Switches : 2 Firewall routers ($800 a piece) Multiple switches at about $329 a piece

Backup Power : (2) Gas generators about $6,500 a piece

Cooling : Ceiling fans or what not $30 a piece (need about 10)

Security : Surviellence/doors etc. About $5,000 for 3 wireless cameras and some pretty damn strong doors

Monthly power : Expect your power bill to be up in a few hundred dollars a month.

Bandwidth providers : I looked at a 100mbit Cogent line which was $2,300 per month, then just a dual t1 from sprint as my failover ($940).

So all this would cost you about $90,000 for initial startup then about $12,000 per month recuring for office/power/staff and then you would have to pay off the $87,000 it took to build the 300 servers. You also need to advertise your company and eventually setup up the Monitoring center. Which should consist of 1 employee ont he clock monitoring servers and doing remote reboots.

You then have to stat looking into control panel licensing...which can ge rather expensive. But once you are on they way you can expect to bring in close to $30-40,000 per month (this is if you have 300 servers up at $119 a piece).
 
Wow Jon, that is an excellent breakdown, that staff salary looks kind of cheap though, you hiring straight out of college? :)

I think the one thing that could possibly jack that price up though is the space, not to may cities offer facilites that wouldn't require a lot of work in making it ready for a Data center. I worked for MCI in the early late 80's early 90's for a few years and I learned so much from that company as far as networks and datacenters, but they made the same fatal mistake most companies that get that large do, they start scrimping at the employee level and then things go downhill from there. Funding abuse by upper level management always has to come from somewhere though.:(

My point is I think you could do a great job of running a DC, maybe we will see you doing that soon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Supporters

Back
Top