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In the colocation business, consistency pays, whether it’s in the infrastructure you employ or the processes used to manage data centers. The $25 billion colocation provider Digital Realty is realizing nearly $1 million in annual savings by employing Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxureTM to deliver standard solutions and configurations for customers of all sizes.
EcoStruxure is an open, interoperable system architecture that employs Internet of Things (IoT) technology to enable a new level of monitoring and control over data center equipment and operations. It is helping Digital Reality keep up with the exponential data growth its customers are experiencing, says Kevin Dalton, VP of Global Engineering and Design for the company.
“Over the last year, we took the effort to standardize our global platform. We used Schneider’s EcoStruxure platform to make sure that we can provide not only consistent monitoring and measuring but the same look and feel on a global basis,” Dalton says. Learn more about his success story in the following video.
EcoStruxure brings IoT technology to data center management
EcoStruxure collects data from all sorts of connected sensors and multivendor devices in the data center and the surrounding building – UPSs, PDUs, power and cooling systems. It includes a control layer that enables local autonomy in terms of monitoring and taking action on any alarms, whether at the building level, for IT systems, or power systems. The platform also includes a top layer where data is analyzed, using artificial intelligence algorithms to extract information that informs predictive maintenance, energy efficiency and other efforts.
Even though Digital Realty employs a variety of equipment and software platforms, EcoStruxure is able to collect health and status data from all of them. Digital Realty can then share that data with its customers.
“What we’re finding is our customers are looking for more and more information. The EcoStruxure solution helps us to give that to them so that they can run their business better,” Dalton says.
EcoStruxure also gives Digital Realty a new level of control over its more than 170 global properties, including edge data centers. Working with Schneider Electric, Digital Realty developed a customized EcoStruxure solution that provides an efficient, consistent approach to monitoring and controlling its facilities. From a single pane of glass, site operators have all the tools they need to support the company’s large-scale expansion, to sites anywhere on the globe.
HyperPod enables rapid, flexible IT deployments
The Schneider Electric HyperPod is also helping Digital Realty to keep up with its growth and better serve customers. HyperPod is a self-contained rack and air containment system designed to deploy fully configured IT racks in increments of 8 to 12 racks. It requires no on-site construction, so colocation providers can gain all the efficiency of air containment systems while retaining the flexibility to quickly roll racks in and out. With the ability to more quickly deploy IT gear, colocation companies can start billing sooner.
As Dalton says, “Schneider is definitely a partner providing a one-stop solution for our infrastructure needs.”
Find Out More about EcoStruxure and HyperPod Solutions
Discover more about how EcoStruxure and HyperPod are helping Digital Realty keep up with the rapid growth in its colocation business.
