Services > Data Centre Migration
EASY, LOW RISK DATA CENTRE MIGRATION
As your business needs change, computer room and data centre requirements change with them. This can lead to a need to relocate (migrate) your facility and few IT projects present as much risk to the business as a computer room or data centre migration or relocation.
We take the headache out of precisely this problem for your Data Centre Managers or IT Directors, and we developed a set of proven methodologies that enable us to carry out relocation to any facility with supreme confidence.
We not only understand the key headline areas of choosing a suitable facility for you, but also the finer details involved in data centre or computer room suitability. We have a thorough understanding of all aspects that may affect or impact that technology such as power, connectivity and cooling requirements and how they all hang together. We also understand the supporting infrastructure of cooling, power, cabling, security etc. This unique set of skills is rarely found throughout the industry.
THE MIGSOLV PASSPORT SCHEME
The MigSolv ‘Passport Scheme’ provides a complete inventory of the computer room or data centre IT infrastructure.
Identifying your requirements
The ‘Passport Scheme’ identifies every element affected by a relocation, its destination in the new facility, its dependencies and power requirements. This ‘360˚ view’ defines the requirements for the new computer room and is the basis of a smooth, professional and relocation with risk mitigation.
Do things properly
Every device that is to be moved is documented, a new location planned, the new location prepared, and every aspect of how it will work, power, cool and connect must be planned before the migration takes place.
At the time of the relocation or migration, the move is carefully orchestrated to ensure that each device is decommissioned, packed, transported, re-commissioned and brought online in the correct sequence.
Down on the downtime
Often there is a requirement for minimal downtime, and sometimes a requirement for none. The key to a successful migration is to use experienced up-to-date personnel who have done it before, understand the pitfalls and can ensure that every aspect of the migration detail is planned and executed smoothly. We are specialists in this very complex area of data centres.
The MigSolv ‘Passport Scheme’ includes the following project actions:-
- Business impact assessment
- Business requirements planning
- Development and refinement of the relocation strategy and plan
- Site Readiness
- Communications in place & tested
- Documenting the interdependencies of applications
- Documenting the interdependencies of hardware
- Improved back-up schedule
- Investigating the feasibility of transfer
- Plan the relocation move and back-out plan
- Managing the change control process:
- Notify the business of the Request for Change
- Business (Change Approval Board) agreement and sign off
- Manage the Forward Schedule of Change, (now called Change Schedule)
- Complete change
- Record the Change and update the plan
- Carry out the relocation
- Execute the approved test plan
- Obtain sign off
RISK MITIGATION
A migration, or relocation project requires client side assurance and risk management and mitigation to ensure the business is operational before, during and after any relocation work.
Our specialist consultants have extensive experience in ensuring that your planned project activities are effectively communicated to the business stakeholders. The teams will audit the facility and build a database which is handed over to you on completion of the project to provide a valuable tool in managing the data centre or computer room assets.
Our team is fully conversant with the activities involved in technical planning, capacity management, plan testing, change management actions, staff and contractor supervision and planned outage management.
TECHNICAL INSIGHT
Technology is central to successful migration. It is critical that those planning it have a thorough understanding of the technology that is moving. MigSolv consultants have the technological insight and understanding that is essential to any data centre or computer room migration.
Contrary to what many people believe, not all equipment in a data centre draws air from front to back. Understanding that some network switches draw air from side to side, or that some SAN equipment draws air from bottom to top, is essential in the planning of a data centre or computer room move. Understanding how the network works, how cabling must support it, or how a SAN connected device will connect through a fabric switch, is as critical as understanding how the air conditioning works, or how the backup generator is triggered into life.