There are different ways to successfully move a data center. It requires detailed, meticulous and deliberate planning several months (perhaps even years) in advance.
Here are a few ways to effect a seamless server room move:
The hybrid method
The process involves building out a portion (like the racks and core networking) of the new data center before actually relocating. When it is time to move, the old data center is shut down, after which the servers and storage are physically moved to the new location and are then reracked, re-cabled and brought back online.
The hybrid method involves a significantly lower cost than some others, but the drawback of this method is that it involves no less than one day of downtime and that process carries the threat of possible data and service loss.
This hybrid method is usually performed under pressure as important services and apps are unavailable for that period. Downtime might even increase as new problems pop up.
The “kitchen sink” approach
The kitchen sink method is the cheapest, but also the most difficult and the longest process of all.
In this method, the new data center is set up to have power and cooling only, while the racks, servers, network storage and basically everything is transferred from one site to another.
You will find that companies involved in a data move will go for a blend of the last two methods.
Although it is quite expensive, the first method gives the company enough time to ensure everything is right, along with the added advantage of the process being sure to succeed.
But as always, one must prepare for the server room move with intense planning, expecting that the worst might occur and planning beforehand the course of action that would be taken in the event of such mishap.
Labelling
This means attaching labels to virtually everything as they are taken out of the racks. This includes the switches, KVM dongles, the servers and all of the rail kits.
It can be extremely annoying when an entire project has to be put on hold because one is still searching for the other rail for a very important database server.
It’s also helpful to take a lot of pictures of the old data center while in use and yet some more of the new center before, during and after the move.
It’s also important to ensure that the hardware and gear are properly packed in the transporting vans. The chances of losing the information they contain is extremely high when they are rolling around in the moving truck after being carelessly packed.
The data is extremely important, so ensure the gear is well packed and that the truck is driven by a careful and experienced driver who understands the value of what he is driving.
After all of the equipment reaches the new center, take time to inspect everything before powering anything on — inspect the power loads on PDUs, data and power cabling, cable patching, re-seating blades in chassis, modules in modular switches and hot swap power supplies.
The systems have been moved around, so it’s always a good idea to do a thorough check.
