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Is Server Waste a Data Center Security Problem?

By Bob Landstrom On January 28, 2013 · Add Comment · In Compliance, Data Center, Data Center Best Practices, Data Center Security, IS Security, Server Efficiency, Server Waste
Security_iStock_000005064706Small_thumb300

For some time now, we’ve been writing about how traditional methods of identifying stranded IT assets fall far short, because of the fact that utilization-based metrics do not accurately reflect value returned to the business by the IT asset.  Enterprises are living with substantial drag on their IT operations budgets because of unused [...]

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The Difficulty in Recovering Stranded IT Assets, at Data Center Dynamics- Dallas

By Bob Landstrom On December 14, 2012 · Add Comment · In Data Center, Data Center Best Practices, Data Center MEP, Data Center Performance, Data Centers, Energy, Green Data Center, Green IT, IT Efficiency, Server Efficiency, Server Waste, Useful Work Assessment
7782937-message-in-a-bottle-stranded-on-the-beach

The program at Data Center Dynamics Converged, in Dallas, TX this week was full of topics related to the problem of diminishing data center capacity, and the difficulty we experience as data center operators in managing this problem.

DLB Associates, representing ASHRAE TC9.9 continued its mission to socialize the expanded thermal [...]

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Servers in the Wild (Week One)

By Bob Landstrom On November 30, 2012 · Add Comment · In Data Center, Data Center Best Practices, Energy, Green Data Center, Green IT, IT Efficiency, IT Governance, Power, PUE, Server Efficiency, Server Waste, Wild Server Project
HP DL380 (Ashley) in Wild Server Project, Doghouse Data Center

We began covering the Wild Server Project a week ago.  This is an initiative where standard data center volume servers are set to run outdoors, with no artificial environmental protection whatsoever.  The intent is to demonstrate (and explore) the extent to which not only free cooling is viable, [...]

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Maximizing Data Center ROI at Data Center Dynamics- Toronto

By Bob Landstrom On November 29, 2012 · Add Comment · In Data Center, Data Center Best Practices, Data Center Performance, IT Assessments, IT Efficiency, IT Governance, Server Efficiency, Server Waste
Bob at DCD Toronto 11-2012 cropped

The operation of the data center represents the bulk of most Enterprise IT budgets.  Most firms will attest that the composition of the annual IT budget is 80% for “keeping the lights on,” and only 20% for “projects” or “innovation.”  Of that 80% of the budget invested in maintaining the data center estate, some portion [...]

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Server Survival Test Endures Day #1

By Bob Landstrom On November 24, 2012 · Add Comment · In Data Center, Data Center Design, Data Center MEP, Data Center Performance, Energy, Green IT, IT Efficiency, Server Efficiency, Wild Server Project
Ashley Day 1

The initial Unit Under Test (UUT) for the Wild Server Project has successfully emerged from its first day in the wild.  The HP DL 380 G4, named Ashley, is the inaugural test subject for the project, which aims to demonstrate how data center volume servers fare under completely uncontrolled environmental conditions.

[...]
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Building Architecture and Data Center Availability

On October 30, 2012 By Bob Landstrom
75 Broad

The architecture of a building can impact the availability of a data center, regardless of infrastructure topology investments.  Building architecture dictates constraints in the design of a data center.  Seldom do we have a nice, rectangular box, with easement in all six adjacent directions.  For urban data centers, this issue is especially apparent.  [...]

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Con Edison Transformer Failure during Hurricane Sandy

On October 30, 2012 By Bob Landstrom

Hurricane Sandy has created a concentrated emergency situation for data centers across a large geography of the Northeastern United States.  Here is a video of a Con Ed transformer failing in Manhattan during the storm.

 

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Gartner ITxpo

On October 23, 2012 By Bob Landstrom

The view of the data center vendor floor at this year’s Gartner ITxpo is a mixed bag. Several colocation and managed service vendors are represented. The bulk of the vendor representation lands in the operations tower, with a number of brands I’ve frankly never seen before.

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Separating Server Value from Waste: at Data Center Dynamics- Chicago

On October 19, 2012 By Bob Landstrom
waste-money

If one agrees that data is the Business’ most valuable asset, then the data center is the metaphorical treasure chest of the Business.  The data center represents a major focal point of capital and expense for the Business, as the container and life support system for its IT assets.  While data centers are [...]

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1E Introduces “Useful Work”-based Data Center Governance, at Data Center Dynamics Converged, 2012 Washington DC

On September 14, 2012 By Bob Landstrom
!E Data Center Practice Lead, Bob Landstrom, presenting at DCD Converged in Washington, DC

Data center performance metrics have struggled to accurately represent business value of IT assets invested in the enterprise data center.  Data center metrics are either constrained to raw power usage data, or make vague approximations about business-relevant performance through assumptive percentages or abstract proxies.

At Data Center Dynamics in Washington, DC this [...]

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Data Center Efficiency Metrics: CADE

On June 29, 2012 By Bob Landstrom
dashboard

Data center efficiency metrics have matured over the past few years.  These metrics arose with the recognition of the data center as a primary industrial consumer of energy.  The data center was once thought of as a controlled environment for data processing equipment.  From an energy consumption point of view, it is a [...]

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Dimensions of Security in the Data Center

On May 18, 2012 By Bob Landstrom
Atlanta downtown

Last month I was asked to do a presentation about data center security for a Data Center Dynamics conference in Atlanta.  In my presentation, I offered an explanation of how the traditional CIA fundamental security model projected onto functional dimensions of data center operations and the role of the data center to the [...]

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Data Center Tier Levels- New Poll

On November 10, 2011 By Bob Landstrom
poll

We are conducting a poll to gauge Business’ perception of data center tier ratings, here in late 2011.

Why are we doing this?  Well, we are seeing that perceptions about shopping for data centers with tier level as a requirement are changing.  We are seeing that, now that the community has had time [...]

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Neglected Cost Components in Data Center Planning

On October 25, 2011 By Bob Landstrom
Copper price trends

The process for drafting indicative pricing for data center IT installations typically follows a predicable path.  First, the configuration of IT kit is examined for expected power dissipation.  With the power estimates in hand, cooling and physical space estimates can be drafted.  With power, cooling, and space estimates, one can propose rack configurations [...]

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Data Centers in India

On October 5, 2011 By Bob Landstrom
Taj Mahal India

We are conducting a market survey of data centers in India.  This is driven by an increase in interest we are seeing from customers seeking colocation and hosting services in the country of India.

If you share an interest in the results of our research, or if you are a commercial colocation or [...]

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Back to Shadow IT

On September 30, 2011 By Bob Landstrom
Shadow IT can be a monster

Through some of the work that I do for my Clients, I’ve helped to identify and reduce Shadow IT as a part of better aligning IT delivery with strategic business goals.  It has been sort of a mantra, that Shadow IT is a bad thing and must be eliminated.  Over the past couple [...]

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No Thanks to DR Planning Software (so far)

On June 9, 2011 By Bob Landstrom
magic8ball4

I was having a drink with an old friend of mine, who is a very prominent and globally sought after risk management professional, and we got around to talking about Disaster Recovery Planning Software.  I asked him, “have you ever found one of those that you like?”  His response was not positive.

Quite [...]

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Smart Phone Wars

On June 8, 2011 By Bob Landstrom
comscore_smartphoneos_20101

I really don’t know why several of my most recent posts are about smartphones.  This forum is about data center and IS security.  However, I am a mobile consultant, and smartphones are a key weapon in the consultant’s utility belt.

With that disclaimer, I was reading an article today in Gigaom about smartphone [...]

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Apple dropping Intel chips, moving to ARM

On May 6, 2011 By Bob Landstrom
tablet

A lot of buzz on the wire today about Apple deciding to move from the Intel chip sets in its Macbook and desktop computers, and replace with an ARM chipset.  Most news sources, like this one, are quoting the story from SemiAccurate, which is breaking the news.

[...]
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Another Carrier’s Path to the Cloud

On April 27, 2011 By Bob Landstrom
Sky_Cloud

Following the deal between Verizon and Terremark earlier this year, Louisiana- based CenturyLink has agreed to a deal to acquire Savvis for $2.5B.  CenturyLink is a fixed-line phone and Internet access company, saying that it intends to let business customers store and access data and applications over [...]

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Apple iPhone vs. Google Android, and the “App War”: What are we fighting about?

On March 10, 2011 By Bob Landstrom
chart-of-the-day-smartphone-apps-march-2011

In restaurants, airports, and public transportation I often hear debates over iPhone versus Droid.  These are discussions between owners of these devices, and often times with potential owners trying to decide which phone to invest in next.  By the way, I use the term “invest” very specifically, because these devices require [...]

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More Background on Flat Data Center Networks

On March 9, 2011 By Bob Landstrom

For another point of view on the topic of “flat data center networks” we share the following discussion with Nic Ilyadis of Broadcom.  Nic does a great job of explaining the motivation for this development, and the scenarios under which it’s a good fit, as well as advice toward building the [...]

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It's Hip to be Flat

On March 4, 2011 By Bob Landstrom
flattend fauna

For the past year or so, pundits in the industry have prophesied about the coming of the “flattened data center network.”  What exactly are we talking about here when we say “flattened network?”

There are a number of drivers that favor moving away from the common three and four-tier data center networks with [...]

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Datacenter Dynamics- Atlanta: February 15th 2011

On February 14, 2011 By Bob Landstrom
datacenterdynamics

Tomorrow will be the second DataCenter Dynamics (DCD) conference to be held in Atlanta, Georgia.  The title for this year’s event is “Designing for Demand,” and addresses changes in the data center marketplace in terms of the impact that “the cloud” is having on the vision of the mission critical facility.

[...]
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Privacy and Content Governance- Increasing Challenges for Content Providers

On January 11, 2011 By Bob Landstrom
Internet_Tacos
In a recent article published by Scott & Scott, LLP, Match.com has been sued in the U.S. District Court by a group of individuals seeking class-action certification.  The plaintiffs allege breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation against Match.com.  They are claiming that the Match.com website contains thousands of fake [...]
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    • Is Server Waste a Data Center Security Problem?
    • The Difficulty in Recovering Stranded IT Assets, at Data Center Dynamics- Dallas
    • Servers in the Wild (Week One)
    • Maximizing Data Center ROI at Data Center Dynamics- Toronto
    • Server Survival Test Endures Day #1
    • Building Architecture and Data Center Availability
    • Con Edison Transformer Failure during Hurricane Sandy
    • Gartner ITxpo
    • Separating Server Value from Waste: at Data Center Dynamics- Chicago
    • 1E Introduces “Useful Work”-based Data Center Governance, at Data Center Dynamics Converged, 2012 Washington DC
    • Data Center Efficiency Metrics: CADE
    • Dimensions of Security in the Data Center
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