‘Modular’ building has been the datacenter buzz-word for the past two years now, and you’ve probably heard us talking about it here at EvoSwitch. In case it’s new to you, the term describes large, portable, pre-assembled datacenters which can be set up easily, quickly and efficiently. Their main appeal is two-fold: flexibility and cost.
The modular approach is an extension of the principles applied by datacenter containers. These large 20 or 40 ft ‘1.0 version’ modules come in a variety of forms and are available with or without servers. They aim to satisfy market demand through scalability. This popular, pre-installed option allows for anywhere up to 2,500 servers. Over time the building blocks method has grown into a technique that is today known as modular building. The is an important difference though between a modular datacenter infrastructure and the container format is scale, with modular datacenters expanding the container principal to full facility level.
The modular model’s popularity stems from its cost-saving benefits which, in comparison to costly office space, reduce the upfront investment required to release capital. Resources can, therefore, be managed on a demand basis, meaning that the organization is only using what it requires at that given time. However, there are also other very practical implications. Convenience is always a key consideration for businesses in the decision-making process, as it is usually intrinsically linked to cost. Modular datacenters hit this issue head-on by reducing construction time from years to a matter of months. It enables expansion to be implemented as and when it’s needed, and the new modules can be chosen to meet specific criteria – capacity, efficiency, etc.
This as-and-when expansion ensures that the datacenter is always up to date and running the latest, most innovative technology. Datacenter building facilities last around ten years without replacement, while the technologies inside them are replaced every three years or so. As such, the modular approach means that sections of the datacenter can be chopped and changed within the building with minimal disruption to operations.
On top of all this, the last main benefit to the modular datacenter is quality control. Modular expansion means businesses have greater control over their IT infrastructure, which is scalable and in-line with their individual requirements. This gives housing providers, such as us, much more flexibility, which we can in turn pass on to our customers. Ultimately, it means in this still-struggling economy we can better meet the demands of our cost-conscious customers and still provide the same high quality service as always.
Why not check out our website to find out more about the design of our modular datacenter suites? We’re always keen to hear your thoughts, so if you have any questions or comments – or even if you would like to visit us all here at EvoSwitch – please feel free to get in touch!
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