http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/ en-gb Wed, 23 May 2012 11:00:02 BST Copyright: (C) Comms Express 2007 http://www.comms-express.com/images/logo.jpg http://www.comms-express.com/ server racks and data cabinets.

According to Jiyan Wei, chief executive officer and co-founder of BuildZoom.com, technological changes in the past few years are having a major bearing on service providers.

He explained that increasing data volumes have put many companies' network infrastructures under added pressure.

"The widespread adoption of social media, matriculation of data from local environments to the cloud, increasing access to formerly-buried institutional data and increasing adoption of common data structures are some of the key developments that differentiate Big Data," Mr Wei stated.

He said that at his own firm, data is used to rank 1.8 million contractors with an algorithm that examines a broad array of indicators - including license status, client feedback, Facebook likes etc.

"Five years ago, this type of analysis just wouldn't have been possible - the data was either hidden in some institutional database or didn't even exist," Mr Wei added.

News provided by Comms Express, number one for network equipment on the net]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/recent-trends-impacting-on-data-storage-industry-801367734/ 2012-05-21 15:36:44 network equipment with renewable energy.

The IT giant - criticised by Greenpeace over its heavy use of coal - will move to renewable sources at its 500,000-square-foot data centre in Maiden, North Carolina, by the end of 2012.

None of the firm's three major centres - including those at Newark, California, and Prineville, Oregon - will use coal power.

Chief financial officer Peter Oppenheimer claimed that Apple is leading the industry.

"All three of our data centres will be coal free, which is an industry first for anybody of our size," he stated.

Last month, Greenpeace singled out Apple, Amazon.com and Twitter as being firms which are failing to use clean enough sources of energy.

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Usually, companies embracing hosted services do so in a distinct, non-mission critical area, while continuing with their legacy IT for other processes.

This gives them the opportunity to weigh up the potential benefits of the cloud without putting operations at undue risk.

It is very common for businesses to continue with hybrid IT environments in the mid to long term - meaning they use the cloud for some processes, and existing servers and applications for others.

There is no need to choose between legacy IT and cloud solutions - businesses can enjoy the best of both worlds.

And this means there is still a need to keep on-premise hardware secure and well organised using racks and cabinets within the server room.

News provided by Comms Express, number one for networking news on the net]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/hybrid-it-environments-may-require-racks-and-cabinets-801366386/ 2012-05-18 12:38:56 Server racks and data cabinets in a Manchester data centre are being protected by a 'bombproof' 12-ton door, it has been revealed.

The Daisy Group has upgraded its underground data centre, which is built in a vault once operated by the Bank of England.

Few concerns over physical security exist at the site - as well as the vault door, the facility is located 25 feet underground.

“We’ve been hosting data for more than 13 years and have seen the market and the demand for secure storage increase dramatically in that time,” said Daisy's corporate sales director Will Kennedy.

“The new facilities and space that we have created in our Manchester data centre mean that we’re able to open up our world-class hosting solutions to any kind of business, large or small, that require secure and instant access to their data and applications."

Swedish internet service provider Bahnhof also operates a data centre in an old underground bunker located in Stockholm.

News provided by Comms Express, number one for network equipment on the net]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/former-bank-vault-used-as-data-centre-801365396/ 2012-05-17 13:18:33 Server racks and server cabinets can play a vital role in keeping a company's IT hardware investments safe, secure and in good working order.

Many companies choose to invest in powerful, dedicated servers to keep in-house, allowing them to store confidential data on-site and power mission-critical applications.

This represents a more desirable option for many companies than shared hosting, where multiple users rent server space from an off-site provider.

With their own dedicated servers, businesses are not left competing for server space and bandwidth with other IT users.

This means they are better placed to deal with spikes in demand for server power, and ensure that IT end-users are provided with the tools they need to operate effectively throughout the day.

Having a server in-house means there are likely to be fewer time delays, while companies only need to install the software and applications they desire.

Server racks and cabinets help ensure these key components of the IT infrastructure are safeguarded and protected from damage, allowing them to fulfil their vital function.

News provided by Comms Express, number one for networking news on the net]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/server-racks-can-protect-key-it-investments-801362339/ 2012-05-14 13:26:28 server racks and data cabinets.

The independent broadband provider has constructed the purpose-built facility at its Greater Manchester headquarters, reports Rochdale Online.

The 1,350 square metre Tier 2 data centre will help Zen deliver managed hosting, cloud hosting and co-location services to a range of customers.

It will be monitored by automated management systems, an onsite central monitoring team, CCTV and onsite security guards.

Zen said the centre is equipped with state-of-the-art power and environmental management infrastructure providing 2MVA capacity.

“As the cloud computing trend continues to gather momentum and businesses are increasingly reliant on IT systems to function, it has never been more important to ensure that a company’s mission critical applications are hosted in a dedicated, energy efficient data centre," said Zen's managing director Richard Tang.

"This provides a secure, temperature controlled environment, which has access to reliable, resilient power and connectivity."

News provided by Comms Express, number one for network equipment on the net]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/zen-internet-opens-new-data-centre-in-rochdale-801356213/ 2012-05-03 14:49:45 network equipment well organised using server racks.

This can help create a professional working environment - uniform approach to hardware storage keeps the office looking smart and presents the right impression to employees.

In order for them to work to the best of their ability, employees need to be organised and keep their own workstations clear of unnecessary clutter.

But if the office has wires, cables and servers spread across the office, filling every free space, workers may be less inclined to worry about office tidiness.

The workspace can quickly end up looking like a bomb site, equipment and important documents can get lost, and everyone's productivity may be affected.

By using server racks to keep IT equipment neatly arranged in a systematic form, business leaders can create the right impression for their staff.

In a difficult economic climate, this can make all the difference - helping employees to keep productivity high and improve the bottom line.

News provided by Comms Express, number one for networking news on the net ]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/keep-network-equipment-tidy-using-server-racks-801355236/ 2012-05-02 15:25:08 network equipment kept within - cope with demand, it has been claimed.

Speaking to Computerworld UK, IDC associate vice-president Chris Ingle said demand for data centre services continues to outstrip supply.

He claimed that the growth in cloud computing, in addition to lower utilisation rates on some sites, is putting pressure on data centre infrastructure.

"Reducing demand basically involves slowing the pipeline of projects in a company which is unfortunately what organisations have to do when they reach a crisis," Mr Ingle told the news provider.

However, he said this "clearly isn't popular" within business - particularly given the importance of data to 21st century organisations.

"Colocation and hosting projects in the public cloud is another supply alternative, which makes sense for some organisations," Mr Ingle suggested.

Last week, Alex Rabbetts, managing director of Migration Solutions, claimed that data cabinets have an important role to play in business.

They enable companies to store data securely, on-premise and off-site, he explained.

News provided by Comms Express, number one for networking news on the net]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/data-centre-demand-exceeding-supply-801353989/ 2012-05-01 13:12:17 network equipment and other server room hardware is fully operational and secure at all times, it has been suggested.

Srihari Padmanabhan, senior research analyst at Frost & Sullivan, said businesses need to test the cloud infrastructure for security, scalability and performance.

But they also seek insights into the performance of applications hosted in the cloud environment, he stated.

"Service providers, enterprise organisations and network engineers need to understand the root cause of faults in the network by gaining end-to-end visibility across the cloud, giving numerous opportunities for application monitoring as well," Mr Padmanabhan commented.

He noted that every service provider is expected to meet the quality of service as defined by the service level agreement.

"To do this, service providers need to constantly monitor their cloud infrastructure and allocate resources so that applications can respond properly to peaks in a load," the analyst claimed.

News provided by Comms Express, number one for data cabinets and server racks on the net]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/ensure-reliability-and-security-cloud-providers-urged-801352706/ 2012-04-30 13:18:56 data cabinets have an important role to play in business.

Alex Rabbetts, managing director of Migration Solutions, said it is increasingly vital for companies to take the necessary IT security precautions.

He noted that businesses no longer keep paper records of their most important information - all critical data is now stored on company PCs and networks.

"It is not just the website and the databases behind it, almost all important business data is now stored electronically," he stated.

"Whether this is the accounts, payroll, human resources systems, customer relationship management, sales order processing, stock control, email or data kept for HM Revenue and Customs - the data is almost all kept electronically."

Mr Rabbetts said regulatory requirements often mean that this data must be stored for longer and in greater detail.

And there are "many examples" of businesses that have failed because they did not have adequate provision for disaster recovery, he advised.

"It doesn't matter what the nature of the business is, if the data becomes unavailable for whatever reason, most businesses will struggle to survive," Mr Rabbetts stated.

News provided by Comms Express, number one for network equipment on the net]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/use-data-cabinets-to-keep-business-data-secure-801351341/ 2012-04-27 13:41:45 data cabinets are kept under lock and key.

Kevin Wharram, IT security consultant, commented that a single loss of data can have very damaging impacts on businesses.

He said companies need to do all they can to protect breaches, as a single mistake from an end-user can cause embarrassment, reputational damage and fines.

Mr Wharram noted that the key to effective IT security education is to have an ongoing commitment.

In his view, employee education should be visual and apply to users outside of the office.

According to a recent study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, 56 per cent of small businesses fail to carry out checks on their cloud provider's security.

News provided by Comms Express, number one for wall mounted data cabinets on the net]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/take-steps-to-avoid-data-breaches-firms-urged-801349213/ 2012-04-25 15:52:01 network equipment and servers as it launches another data centre in Iowa.

The firm has announced plans for the $300 million (£186 million) construction of a data operation in Council Bluffs, which will create another 50 jobs in the city.

This latest investment means Google is now investing a total of $900 million in the area, providing a significant boost to the local economy.

New roles will be created in computer repair, heating and cooling, and logistics, the company explained.

Google has been offered tax incentives to locate its new data centre in Council Bluffs, while attractive electricity rates may also have played a part in the decision.

Last month, it was reported that Apple had begun construction work on a new solar-powered data centre development in North Carolina, US.

The operation will be used to increase the firm's server and storage capacity to support its growing iCloud network.

News provided by Comms Express, number one for networking news on the net]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/google-plans-another-iowa-data-centre-801349206/ 2012-04-25 15:49:00 data cabinets, but also led to changes in the role of the enterprise architecture (EA) practitioner.

David Newman, research vice-president at Gartner, commented that traditional approaches to EA are being "significantly impacted" by big data.

"For the EA practitioner, the balance shifts from a focus on optimisation and standardisation within the organisation, to lightweight approaches that focus on harmonisation and externalisation across the broader enterprise ecosystem," he stated.

Mr Newman noted that big data disrupts traditional information architectures - from a focus on data warehousing (data storage and compression) toward data pooling (flows, links, and information shareability).

"In the age of big data, the task for the EA practitioner is clear: Design business outcomes that exploit big data opportunities inside and outside the organisation," the expert claimed.

According to Gartner, the leading IT analyst, big data makes organisations smarter and more productive by enabling people to harness diverse data types previously unavailable.

It also enables them to find previously unseen opportunities, the firm added.

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According to Andy Burton, chairman of the Cloud Industry Forum, hosted services can deliver a number of advantages to SMEs.

He said such companies can benefit from greater scalability, agility and value-for-money when they embrace the cloud.

Mr Burton said the fact that SMEs can take advanced IT services on a pay-as-you-go basis makes them accessible to all enterprises.

In his view, one of the basic challenges for any organisation wishing to operate in the modern world is how they access, manage and deliver IT services in a secure, flexible and cost effective manner.

"It has long been the aim to improve the way IT assets are used, and to de-risk the need for expensive on-premise infrastructure where asset utilisation is typically around 20 per cent of capacity."

He noted that cloud computing offers "a level playing field" upon which the focus shifts significantly from maintenance to innovation and market reach.

News provided by Comms Express, number one for networking news on the net]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/cloud-complements-sme-s-on-premise-it-801347967/ 2012-04-24 15:52:19 data cabinets, businesses need to think about how much space they need for network equipment.

In order to gain the maximum benefit from their server room investment, firms need to cater for current and also future needs.

Buyers need to think about the number of rack units they need and then make an appropriate cabinet selection.

Purchasing data cabinets of sufficient size is crucial - there needs to be space for cabinet accessories such as cooling fans but also cables.

And the cabinet also needs to be big enough to fit in additional equipment should server room demands change at some point down the line.

Data cabinets can help firms keep network equipment safe, secure and organised, but in order to keep costs low it is important to make a selection which is fit for purpose.

News provided by Comms Express, number one for networking news on the net]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/data-cabinets-must-have-enough-space-801346574/ 2012-04-23 13:45:11 Sound proof data cabinets and server racks can help businesses make the most of their resources - both in terms of IT and personnel.

With firms looking to reduce overheads in a difficult economic climate, relatively few companies can afford huge offices with vast amounts of space.

Increasingly, they are having to do away with dedicated server rooms in order to maximise the room available to employees.

The more active workers a company can fit into the office, the bigger the organisation can grow without having to seek larger - and in all likelihood, more expensive - premises.

But the problem for companies is that servers and other data centre equipment need to be kept somewhere.

If there is not a server room, then it may be necessary to keep server racks and data cabinets in the main work area, in and around staff members.

This has the potential to disrupt them from their work duties - servers can be very noisy and also give off excess heat.

Using sound proof cabinets can largely eliminate this problem, as racks and cabinets can sit quietly in the corner of the room without anyone realising they are there.

News provided by Comms Express, number one for networking news on the net]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/sound-proof-data-cabinets-an-office-option-801345326/ 2012-04-20 14:25:54 Server racks and data cabinets may have a role to play at a new data centre in the former Reuters building on Great Sutton Street in London.

Volta, which provides data centres for the financial, media and content industries, is opening its first site in the centre of the capital.

The centre will serve businesses utilising latency-sensitive services in the City and around London's Silicon Roundabout.

Set to open in January 2013, following a complete refurbishment, the 8,500 square metre operation will have the most resilient data centre power supply available in central London.

The building also benefits from already having a number of telecommunication providers - including Colt, Verizon, C&W, BT, AboveNet, EU networks and Geo Networks - which means it has state of the art connectivity.

Matthew Dent, chief executive of Volta, said the opportunity to invest in continuing the legacy of the Great Sutton Street data centre building, which has provided services since 1986, is "an exciting prospect".

"We will completely refurbish the building, installing the latest and most energy efficient equipment," he added.

"This unique opportunity will provide a much needed service to the financial, media and content industries of central London."

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Interxion, a provider of carrier-neutral colocation services in Europe, has constructed a seventh data centre on its campus in the German city.

The new building will provide over 1,500 square metres of additional equipped space and 2MW of additional customer power from renewable energy sources.

David Ruberg, Interxion's chief executive officer, said the centre will provide much-needed capacity in the most highly connected campus in the largest data centre market in continental Europe.

"Interxion Frankfurt is the leading option for connectivity-intensive companies, particularly in the cloud, digital media, and financial services segments, and we continue to see strong demand in this market," he stated.

Interxion has announced plans to add over 12,000 square meters of equipped data centre space in 2012.

News provided by Comms Express, number one for network equipment on the net]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/interxion-opens-7th-data-centre-in-frankfurt-801341855/ 2012-04-17 15:00:15 Wall mounted data cabinets can help firms keep their network equipment in top condition, without using up valuable floor space.

Businesses are conscious of the need to look after their hardware investments, but also keep overheads down in difficult economic times.

Using wall mount cabinets, busineses can better organise their server rooms, or keep hardware safe and secure in tightly-confined areas.

The cabinets are available in a range of heights and depths, as well as adjustable 19" profiles. They are ideal for cable and small LAN installations.

Buyers can choose from models constructed by a number of manufacturers, based upon their individual requirements.

Wall brackets can be used to mount the cabinets, placing them above desks or other office equipment - in what would otherwise be dead space.

News provided by Comms Express, number one for networking industry news on the net ]]> http://www.comms-express.com/news/server-racks/wall-mounted-data-cabinets-maximise-office-space-801341851/ 2012-04-17 14:58:57 data cabinets and networking equipment to gain a number of competitive advantages, it has been claimed.

Zach Nelson, chief executive officer of NetSuite.co.uk, said cloud computing offers efficiency gains, cost reduction, productivity and scalability to end users.

He said that for businesses operating in today's volatile economy, value, speed and flexibility are instrumental for success.

"Many British businesses are looking for new opportunities abroad, which means they need an IT system and finance infrastructure that can scale with the business and ensure new offices are opened within weeks, instead of months," he stated.

"Vendors and service providers are investing heavily in solutions and services and the market is picking up on the advantages cloud computing has to offer."

Mr Nelson said any business or industry that refuses to truly embrace modern, internet-based cloud architecture is one that will fall behind and lose out.

IDG Enterprise recently claimed that cloud computing offers long-term cost benefits to business adopters.

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