The Stratification of Data Center Responsibilities
- 1. The Right Data Center for the Job: The Stratification of Data Center Responsibilities Chris Crosby, CEO, Compass Datacenters
- 2. About Us 2 • Compass Datacenters provides dedicated data centers • Built using our patented architecture • Uptime Institute Tier III certified design and constructed • LEED certified • Wherever you want it • Controlled by you • Ownership or lease • Operations and security • Expansion • Simplify Capacity Planning • Growth in 1.2MW Increments • The building is the standard unit “Everything you want in your next data center. It’s in here”
- 3. Accelerated Evolution • Rapid period of change • Old rules no longer apply • Structure • Roles • Decision making • Data center role shift • All-in-one versus matching need • Avoid load group mistmatch • Scale matters 3
- 4. Driving the Change • Convergence of data types • Large rich packets (video) • Billions of small packets (IOT) • Value of data • Inverse relationship with latency • End user requirements/expectations • Data must be as close to end user as possible – generational shift 4
- 5. Not Ready for Primetime, Part 1 • The mega data center can’t do it all • Geography • Can’t get close enough to the customer • Latency becomes a serious issue • Applications processing capability • We used to call billions of tiny packets DOS • Now it’s business as usual • “Intelligence” isn’t distributed • Network • Fat pipes are no longer enough • Latency matters • Hetero v. Homogeneous • The big guys build for single apps • Too expensive/inefficient for most enterprises 5
- 6. Not Ready for Primetime, Part 2 • Existing “network” structures • Single data center • 2-level (maybe) • Centralized with DR with usually some synchronous requirements • Centralized w/big pipe to regional • Regulatory environments pushing for more • Not optimized for “next generation” requirements • Difficult to hold “localized” content • Design didn’t anticipate volume • Ability to process volume in real time • Even if it isn’t your app set, it will affect the public network 6
- 7. The Stratified Structure 7 • Hierarchical structure • 3 levels • Data center(s) at each level have specific function • Based on division of labor • Improve processing capability • Distributed throughout the structure • Better support for converged architecture • Mission critical at all levels • Why? • $10M - $20M investment in just a few racks of gear • Even the “cloud” has 10-20 racks that run all the commodity infrastructure
- 8. Cost of Redundancy versus Software • Mission critical at the edge • Cost to put into the software versus the cost to put it into the hardware • Just like in your car, what you can afford today is different than 5 years ago 8 Cost Time Data Center Software
- 9. Roles • Centralized hubs • Primary applications processing/storage points • Applications are “non-divisible” • Edge data centers • Regional centers • Support one or more micro DC’s • Perform regional processing/cache function • Ex: Determine what goes upstream • Micro data centers • Initial interaction point • Repositories for high demand content • Located to provide lowest level of latency 9
- 10. The Stratified Structure • Requirements • Flexibility • Must be able to adapt to shifts in demand • Dynamic • 80/20 rule • Security • At all levels • Ability to identify attacks • Dynamic re-routing of traffic • Mission critical at all levels • Maximize uptime • Protect high cost equipment • Converged equipment = more expensive • Tier III/IV (hub) • If size dictates, commodity compute storage at hub • Tier III (edge, micro) • Geography • Data centers located where they are needed • Especially at edge, micro levels • Location decisions driven by customer locations 10 Commodity Level Converged Level Not a return to the IT closet, true data centers at the edge
- 11. Planning for Stratified • From tactical to strategic • More than we need a new data center in Cleveland • Need to think in 5-10 year periods • Not 12-24 months • Impact from outside, NOT just inside • Security • Network • Considerations • Applications • End users • Locations • Requirements • Expectations • Network • Technical and financial • Management and control 11
- 12. Summary • Nature of data forcing the change • Majority of existing data centers/networks not ready • Stratified networks will become more prevalent • 2 major considerations: • Keep data closer to users • Lowest possible latency—generational shift in workers • Data center roles will become more specific • Based on hierarchical location • Planning will have to change • Tactical to strategic 12
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