Enterprise and Commercial Data Centers Face a Chronic Power Crunch, New Report Finds

The premiere edition of Byte and Switch Enterprise Data Insider analyzes resource problems caused by server overcrowding in big data centers

PRNewswire
NEW YORK
Mar 24, 2006

The continued shrinking of server form factors may enable data center operators to pack more processing power into their facilities, but many sites are now bumping up against hard-to-solve physical limits related to issues ranging from power consumption to basic fire safety, according to the first report issued by Byte and Switch Enterprise Data Insider (www.byteandswitch.com/entdata), a new research service from Light Reading (www.lightreading.com) and Byte and Switch (www.byteandswitch.com), the leading industry source of news and information on storage networking.

Data Centers and the Coming Power Crisis analyzes the main pressure points being affected by server overcrowding and evaluates how operators of large commercial data centers are addressing these issues, especially regarding problems related specifically to power consumption and availability.

"Almost since their inception, data centers have been built and maintained based on a creative combination of Moore's law and blind faith," the report notes. "Moore's law dictated that improvements in computing processing power would continue to shrink form factors, giving data center managers the ability to cram more and more computing power into physically finite spaces. For years, this model for data center growth held up, but it is moving toward a grim outcome with serious ramifications for data centers of all stripes: Data center installations are beginning to reach maximum capacity for housing computing power."

Key findings of Data Centers and the Coming Power Crisis include the following:

  -- Data centers are reaching their physical limit for accommodating
     enterprise computing resources.

  -- Shrinking server form factors are creating a two-pronged power problem
     for data center operators - involving both direct power consumption and
     additional power needed for system cooling.

  -- Operators of commercial data centers are replacing generic "white-box"
     servers with branded servers that offer more operating efficiency.

  -- Large data centers may be pushing the limits of fire safety regulations
     because of server cramming.

Data Centers and the Coming Power Crisis is available as part of an annual subscription (6 issues) to Byte and Switch Enterprise Data Insider, priced at $1,295. Individual reports are available for $900.

The new report marks the premiere issue of Byte and Switch Enterprise Data Insider (www.byteandswitch.com/entdata), a new paid research service that tracks, analyzes, and evaluates the key technology developments that will shape enterprise computing and networking in the months and years ahead. This new service offers keen insight into the hot-button issues that will affect deployments of essential next-gen technologies affecting the entire enterprise computing infrastructure, including:

  -- Data center operations
  -- Data and network security
  -- Enterprise networks
  -- Emerging grid and utility computing applications
  -- Data management and data warehousing

To request a free executive summary of the report, or for details on multi-user licensing options, please contact:

   Jeff Claudino
   Director of Sales
   Insider Research Services
   619-229-9940
   claudino@lightreading.com

  For review copies, members of the media may contact:
   Dennis Mendyk
   Managing Director
   Heavy Reading
   201-587-2154
   mendyk@heavyreading.com

  About Light Reading

Light Reading Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CMP Media, is a B-to-B network information provider. Light Reading publishes www.lightreading.com, the leading global content site for the telecom industry; www.byteandswitch.com, a storage networking site; and www.unstrung.com, dedicated to wireless networking. Light Reading is also affiliated with www.heavyreading.com, a market research site for quantitative analysis of telecom technology to carriers, service providers, and vendors.

About CMP Media

Through its market-leading portfolio of trusted information brands in the technology, healthcare, and lifestyles industries, CMP Media (www.cmp.com) has earned the confidence of more professionals and enthusiasts in these fields than any other media company. As a result, CMP is the premier provider of access, insight, and actionable programs designed to connect sellers and buyers in each of these industries in ways that yield superior return on investment. CMP Media is a subsidiary of United Business Media (www.unitedbusinessmedia.com), a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $3 billion.

SOURCE: Byte and Switch Enterprise Data Insider

CONTACT: Jeff Claudino, Director of Sales of Insider Research Services,
+1-619-229-9940, claudino@lightreading.com; or Dennis Mendyk, Managing
Director of Heavy Reading, +1-201-587-2154, mendyk@heavyreading.com

Web site: http://www.lightreading.com/
http://www.byteandswitch.com/entdata
http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/
http://www.heavyreading.com/
http://www.unstrung.com/