Cmputer Relcatin Services Cmputer Relcatin Services Data Center and Cmputer Equipment Prject Methdlgy Overview Implement a data center relcatin Methd There are several ptins, and interpretatins t a data center relcatin methd. There are prbably almst as many ways t cnduct a data center relcatin r cnslidatin as there are cnsultants and I.T. vendrs wh ffer these cmplex services. The experience and skills f the peple invlved in planning and mving yur data center significantly matter. While mst I.T. methds share sme basic cmmnalities, there can be significant differences based n the size f the prject, the scpe f the migratin (lcal, acrss-cuntry, r internatinal), and the capabilities f the team that will be respnsible fr the prject s success. Prject scale - Outside f the largest rganizatins, thse with mature prgram and prject management ffices, the requisite skills and experience t manage a prject f this size and cmplexity may be scarce r inadequately supprted particularly fr a data center relcatin. That s where Cmputer Relcatin Services cmes in. Cmplexity - Unless yur prject manager team is data center relcatin -experienced, the amunt, diversity, and depth f detailed infrmatin that must be uncvered, analyzed, and acted upn will be a real challenge. Even t the mst experienced IT persnnel. Fcus - In many small systems and nn-i.t. business r ffice relcatins, the fcus is mre n cmpletin the prject. Hw it is accmplished just isn t as cmplicated as a data center mve. In a Data Center Relcatin, the hw becmes critically imprtant. Hwever, dn t cnfuse an effective data center relcatin planning methd with a prject management methd. They are cmplementary, but different enugh in a number f subtle ways as t cntribute t significant prblems later n if yu aren t aware f the differences in fcus, detail, and technique. Data center relcatin Methds In the data center relcatin setting, when is f curse, imprtant. But even mre critical is hw we plan t get there. Hw is quite difficult. The fcus f yur data center relcatin must be n hw yur systems, applicatins, and netwrks will migrate. In a business envirnment, hw yu execute a missin critical prject, such as a data center relcatin r cnslidatin, determines yur true schedule and csts. When is merely a derivative f that functin. As yu begin t plan yur prject, yu will quickly ntice that n ne has all the details nt yu, nt the data center peratins and technical staff, nr yur vendrs and cnsultants. These details will be uncvered ver time, but nly with a lt f hard, gritty wrk by yu and the entire data center relcatin team. Learn the prcess (t be expanded n later) at the start and it will help yu manage wrklads and stakehlder expectatins in the future. A gd Methd is based n many years f real-wrld Data Center Relcatin and cnslidatin experience. Use it because it is a well-prven and cst effective apprach. Once the prject is defined and the cre team assembled, there are certain activities that are essential. Here is a simple list f the ten mst critical tasks that any data center relcatin prject manager must take care f:
1. Inventries hardware, applicatins, and every cmpnent that will be relcated r cnslidated. The inventries need t be detailed, accurate, and cmplete with equipment mdel and serial numbers, cnfiguratins, replacement value, vendr cntacts, and a diagram f hw each system is de-installed (befre) and re-installed (after). Yu wn t get the detail required withut cnsiderable effrt. S, if this cmes easily, yu haven t dne it right. 2. Security - the dminating characteristic f a large data center relcatin is activity. Everything is in mtin at ne pint r anther. A gd security plan will help ensure that data desn t disappear, that unauthrized peple are kept away, and that the business remains un-cmprmised. 3. Planning frm the early pre-planning phase thrugh detailed data center relcatin planning, t schedule develpment and the mve days, yu will spend far mre time and effrt n this area than anywhere else. 4. Budget A data center relcatin is expensive, very expensive if what yu are relcating r cnslidating is a majr facility. The data center relcatin budget must adequately cver new cnstructin, renvatin, site clsure, equipment, staff, tls, and utside expertise frm vendrs and data center relcatin specialists. Managing the budget and keeping yur executive management well infrmed are majr challenges. 5. RFPs, SOWs & Cntracts Vague RFPs make fr pr SOWs. Pr SOWs make fr terrible cntracts. Take the time t wrk with data center relcatin specialist s right frm the start t develp the right RFPs and Statements f Wrk (SOWs) fr yur prject. 6. Use the data center relcatin Specialists Selectin f the right data center relcatin specialist is imprtant. But, d yu need ne single cmpany t d it all? That depends n yu. If yu re internal data center relcatin teams lack specialist skills, whether in planning, schedule (Mve Dmain & Mve Days) develpment, r equipment de-installatin, mving, and re-installatin, then yu will need t acquire that ne cmpany that can prvide all f the required services. Nt many data center relcatin cmpanies actually prvide the services they ffer, Cmputer Relcatin Services des nt subcntract any prtin f the prject, and is a specialty self cntained data center relcatin and cmputer equipment specialist. 7. Plan the Mve Mving equipment is a critical part f the prject. Systems must be brken dwn, packed, transprted, re-assembled, tested, and re-certified. Racks and ther equipment supprt systems must be ready, utilities and cmmunicatin services need t be ready, and peple have t be migrated frm where they are nw t where they will be. The Ten-Step DATA CENTER RELOCATION Methd 8. Prepare the New Facility, Clse the Old One - Inspectins f any new r renvated data center must fcus n mre than the technlgy being installed. Yu must ensure that fire suppressin systems are ready, tested and apprved. Cling systems must be adequate fr prjected grwth. Utilities must be in place and peratinal. And, the place must be clean very clean. While yu are necessarily fcused n the destinatin, yu must als d what is necessary t de-cmmissin equipment that wn t mve and clse the ld data center facility. 9. Backup The Data Yur backup media will wrk (it always des, yu shuld never have prblems), but just in case it desn t this time, yu need t have a recvery plan. And that plan must be thrughly tested, with practice runs cnducted at regular intervals during the detailed planning phase. Virtualizatin tls can be utilized here t hst systems remtely. But even there, a data center relcatin - based recvery plan is essential. And it s nt the master DR/COB plan that everyne has, but t few rganizatins test enugh t assure that it will functin as expected when required. 10. Migrate when it s time t mve, stp planning and mve. This is the mment when careful planning and capable prject management result in a flawless mve. When everything has been relcated r cnslidated, the ld systems retired, and the vendrs have re-certified their prducts, yu can take that well-earned vacatin day. And then get ready fr the next big prject because management nw
has a better understanding f the business value f great prject management. Risk f prject failure is always present in any I.T. initiative, as it is in virtually every area f human endeavr. Industry data has lng suggested that as many as 80% f all I.T. prjects fail t deliver the benefits prmised. Fr a data center relcatin prject failure can mean anything frm minimal disruptin and rapid recvery t substantial business interruptin, lss f revenue, damage t yur firm s reputatin, civil lawsuits, and even gvernment investigatins. All f these are nice things t avid. Risk Identificatin Many (but, nt all) prject risks can be mitigated r even avided, but nly if they are identified and planned fr in advance. Fr a data center relcatin prject, there are a few key areas f risk that always demand clser scrutiny: Prject management and executin Budget Technlgy & vendrs I.T. management, prcess, staff Capacity Planning Facilities & infrastructure, security Data center relcatin planning & risk There are always a few t many cmpanies that fail t learn frm the data center relcatin mistakes (and successes!) f thers. T reduce the inevitable risks that cme with mving systems frm ne place t anther, yu shuld perfrm a risk assessment. DATA CENTER RELOCATION Risk Awareness Planning Risk Assessment Using the brad categries listed abve, a risk assessment dcument shuld be prepared by the Prject Manager and the technical (HW, Applicatins, Data, Netwrk, Facilities) teams - fcused in detail n these checkpints: Hardware - fcus is n assessing risks due t hardware: age, cnditin, revisin level, cnfiguratins, ht spare, r asset safeguards device maintenance/warranty requirements, capability planning fr near-term needs at the target site, and ther issues. Vendr re-certificatin issues must als be reslved. Backup & Restre fcus is n the OS, applicatin, data, and systems backup & restre capabilities available, tape systems, and ther related issues Netwrk fcus is n the netwrk: architecture, cmpnents, IP addresses, wireless access pints, and ther netwrk/infrastructure pints f failure SAN/NAS/Data Strage fcus in n backup & recvery f critical data strage systems and sftware, and n safeguarding data thrugh the end-t-end migratin prcess Applicatins fcus is n applicatin migratin issues, license requirements, warranty and service maintenance impacts. Als: database and applicatin risks due t changes in IP addresses, hardware, netwrk cmpnents and ther issues Enterprise Sftware fcus is n the critical enterprise slutins (SAP, Oracle, etc) that run the business. Key issues include license, warranty, service level agreements, and ther risks due t a change in lcatin and/r hardware. Systems and applicatin versins, supprt, technical updates/upgrades must als be assessed fr ptential risks. Fr each risk that is identified, the key business impacts must be assessed. A risk descriptin, risk scenaris (best case, mst likely, wrst case) must be develped; risk mitigatin slutins must be created fr each scenari, and csts must be attached t each scenari and slutin. Finally, senir management shuld be made aware f the cmpleted risk assessment and they shuld be prepared t prvide guidance n the apprpriate business apprach t each identified risk. While a detailed cverage f data center relcatin prject management practices and methdlgies is utside the scpe f this guide, this checklist will help fcus yur attentin n the imprtance f relying n accepted P.M. standards. Data center relcatin Prject Lifecycle Prject Integratin Management Time Management Cst Management
Quality Management Human Resurces Management Cmmunicatin Management Risk Management Prcurement Management Vendr Management DRC Prject Management Checklist The size f yur data center relcatin prject will determine the structure f the P.M. team. Fr a large enterprise initiative r ne that will have glbal activity, yu shuld implement the P.M.I prgram ffice mdel: an verall prgram manager will crdinate the activities f prject managers. Prject managers shuld be assigned t each key dmain and/r lcatin (in multi-site data center relcatin s). Dmains might include: Mainframe/Hst cmplexes Server farms DASD and Strage systems Specialized equipment Prcurement and Lgistics Facilities Vice/Data, etc. The all-t-cmmn practice f assigning ne P.M. t run the entire prject may wrk fr small effrts. Keep in mind a large data center relcatin will need a dedicated P.M. team. The rle f the prject manager in any data center relcatin r cnslidatin is critical. It will determine the prjects success, r failure. Yur prject managers will be amng the mst experienced and capable in the rganizatin. Yur prject management team (and fr a larger prject, yu will need a team) shuld ideally be supprted with a enterprise-wide Prgram Management Office (P.M.O). The P.M.O shuld have the authrity and budget t cmmit and manage the resurces (budget, peple, prcesses) needed t ensure the prject s success. Amng the many respnsibilities that the data center relcatin prject manager will have are t: Lead meetings t manage and crdinate data center relcatin, cnslidatin, and migratin plans Lead meetings t manage and crdinate data center relcatin, cnslidatin, and migratin requirements, specificatins, and architecture Lead meetings t manage and crdinate data center relcatin, cnslidatin, and migratin executin Create and maintain Micrsft Prject, Excel, and Visi dcumentatin, track and supprt verall prject directin and prgress n a daily and weekly basis Interface with cnstructin manager(s), crew leads, and data center build teams Manage utside data center vendrs and services suppliers Direct and crdinate crss-functinal rganizatinal activities fr the prject t ensure that key gals r bjectives are accmplished Be effective wrking amng highly technical IT prfessinals Manage and cmplete the prject within an intense peratinal prductin data center envirnment, while using sund technical, plitical, and prcedural judgment thrughut the prcess. Ensure financial accuntability and electrnic lgging fr data center assets, particularly in a large enterprise I.T. envirnment. DRC Prject Management Respnsibilities Once yu have the cre team in place, yu can begin t develp a detailed scpe: Is this relcatin within the existing campus r t a new facility at a distance? What will mve? What will remain? When is this suppsed t happen? What is the financial plan?
Will yu d it with in-huse staff? Will yu use cnsultants? What migratin strategy frklift, swing, swap? Wh are the key stakehlders? When yur prject s scpe has been defined, the next step t begin yur Data Center Relcatin Prject is t cntact Cmputer Relcatin Services t begin pre-planning phase. Call us tday at: 1-877-817-2537