Networks Europe Jul-Aug 2015 | Page 5

FOREWORD A Modular Approach Modular data centres seem to be a hot topic these days. They’re quicker to build, more energy-efficient and greener than the traditional alternative. A modular solution allows companies to acquire only the computing environment they need now, with additional modules bolted-on as and when required. The technology costs a fraction to install and run, compared with building a data centre from scratch. You can also learn as you build out, so each module can include alternative, more economic designs. Still, there’s no one size of pre-fabricated data centre that meets all situations and while there are a vast number of modular products available; not all of them offer the same standards and levels of support to end users. IT has become central to nearly all business and it regularly has to reorganise as a company’s focus changes. The ability to adapt to changing business needs in these uncertain economic times must be a good thing, but is anyone growing their data centre in a way that couldn’t be defined as modular? Every new market is misunderstood early in its life cycle, and perhaps modular data centres are no exception. Enjoy the issue. Nick Wells Editor – Netcomms Europe INTELLIGENT R&MinteliPhy – Automated Infrastructure Management by R&M Manually managed infrastructure data has a 10% error rate*, 20-40% of ports in a network are forgotte