CIO Magazine: Four trends shape the new data center

Thanks to x86 server virtualization and its follow-on technologies, the state-of-the-art enterprise data center looks vastly different than it did even a year ago.

Network World — Thanks to x86 server virtualization and its follow-on technologies, the state-of-the-art enterprise data center looks vastly different than it did even a year ago.

And moving from old school to next-generation isn’t just about hardware and software – it’s a call for a new way of thinking about the data center, as well.

“Some people are so accustomed to one application, one server and a methodology that locks you in to one way of thinking that they’re having a hard time fully understanding the new data center,” says Bill Fife, director of technology for Wholesale Electric Supply Co., in Houston.

“But now with thin replication and replays and synchronization to disaster recovery sites, and virtual machines being able to move files from data store to data store and having multiple data stores on the server, and adding network adapters, you really have to sit back and think about how you want to run your operations and remember that you have options. You’re not tied down to any one path. You can go down one road today and change directions tomorrow,” Fife says.

Here are four of the major trends in today’s data center:

more of the CIO Magazine article, originally in Network World by Beth Schultz

Alex Carroll

Managing Member at Lifeline Data Centers

Alex, co-owner, is responsible for all real estate, construction and mission critical facilities: hardened buildings, power systems, cooling systems, fire suppression, and environmentals. Alex also manages relationships with the telecommunications providers and has an extensive background in IT infrastructure support, database administration and software design and development. Alex architected Lifeline’s proprietary GRCA system and is hands-on every day in the data center.