Stuart PaulDirector, Data Centre Operations

iomart group plc

Life at the Sharp End of Managing Data Centres

iomart- the data centre acquisition

• Managed Service specialists - using 3rd party hosting facilities

• No Data Centres

• Managed Hosting Solutions

• Highly Skilled Workforce

• April 2007 – acquires data centres

• Glasgow – July 2007

• London – November 2007

• Nottingham & Leicester – ready for service July 2008

The Operating Climate

• Oil Prices rising

• The Carbon Question

• Data Centre Inefficiencies

• Growth in IT & Computing Power

• Friends of the Earth & similar eco-organisations - “Getting a

grip on climate change” & “Persuading big companies to

behave better”

• “Last Out, Lights Out: Don't Be Fuelish”

Déjà Vu

A Comparison

US Automobile Industry

• American cars got bigger and thirstier each year

• V8 Engines

• Consumed more fuel

• Additional Power Hungry Extras – Air Con, Power Windows & Seats

• 15 MPG - Inefficiency

Data Centre Industry

• Server farms getting bigger and thirstier each year

• Blade Servers

• Consume more power

• Additional Cooling

• Additional Features – faster processing

• Rack utilisation Inefficiency <10%

Automobile Solution

30

Big "full size" American cars were "downsized,” featuring smaller engines and smaller dimensions outside.

How do we do the same with the data centre?

years

The Power Challenge%

Rem

ain

ing P

ow

er

What we can control

How do we solve the problem?

Easy Answer:

Investment in more efficient mechanical and electrical infrastructure

But:

• Capex Expenditure – legacy operations – we can not rebuild

• Careful Plan improvements – but do we have time?

• Consider Fuel efficiency – availability & Practicality?

• Change current practises – changing CIO/CTO mindset difficult

• Combined Heat Power (CHP)? - Efficient (Yes) Expensive (Oh Yes)

So how will we accelerate process?

Legislation & Taxation!?!

What pressures are being applied to our customers?

• Corporate & Social Responsibility

• EU Code of Conduct – Affects YOU

– Data Centres of all sizes – server rooms to dedicated DC

– IT Power & Facility Power

– Equipment Procurement & System Design

• Overall IT Cost Reduction

• Data Collection – understand current use

• Audit IT estate – what is doing what and why?

• Power Management & P&L – Responsibility to CIO/CTO

• Treat Data Centre as a stand alone business

• Projections & Plan – future use

• Consider low hanging fruit - Virtualisation

• Outsource

Simple & Practical Steps

What can we do for you?

• Signatory to the EU Code of Conduct on Data Center Efficiency

• New Facilities – no legacy operations

• Power upgrades in all DCs

• Major capital expenditure – Nottingham DC included carbon efficient down flow units

• Future expansion at our Glasgow & Leicester DCs will incorporate latest mechanical and technical fuel efficient technologies

• SLAs & Agreed Cost Base

• ISO 14001 – achieved by Q1 2009 includes carbon offsetting & improvements

The Carbon Emission Challenge- Next Steps

• EU Code of Conduct

• We don’t have the 30 years that the Auto industry had

• Regulators/law makers are circling

• Easy target for campaigners

• Logical partnership - We have the facilities & expertise – it is our core business. You have the business need – but it’s not core.

• Collaboration – we have to work together