The Hindu Business Line : Play host, to data

You may not give it a thought while firing up a Google search, downloading a song from iTunes, or chatting on the phone via VoIP but all those tasks have to be processed on computers somewhere. It’s a bit like Charlie chocolate factory really, except that these processing units are data centres instead of chocolate factories.

Once merely considered ‘technological fancies’ they have now become a need. NetMagic set up its first focused private Internet Data centre in 2000. Sharad Sanghi, founder and CEO, NetMagic, speaks to eWorld on the future of data centres and evolving trends in the space. Excerpts:

Please explain the concept of data centres. When were they first set up and why?

A data centre can be defined as a centralised repository, either physical or virtual, for the storage, management, and dissemination of data and information organised around a particular body of knowledge or pertaining to a particular business. One of the first data centres was Exodus located in California.

The largest benefit they provide is they are a one-stop solution provider for customers. Another is the commercial benefit that customers derive by outsourcing their requirements to us. In addition to the reduction in capital expenditure, customers who host with data centres also realise a significant saving in their operational expenditure.

Other advantages include: Protection from obsolescence in technology, 24x7 Monitoring, Management, and Support, Clearly defined Service Level guarantees, Certifications such as ISO 27001 (BS7799) and SAS 70.

Additionally, overheads such as administrative responsibilities, facility management and hardware support and maintenance are now managed by the data centres, allowing customers to focus on their core business.

On data centres in India…

Public data centres first rose to prominence in India during the dotcom boom in 2000 since the need of the hour then was to stream content to the target audiences in the shortest possible time, keeping uptimes extremely high. Since then, the role of the data centre has evolved considerably. Data centres are now being used to run ERP systems, billing systems, in addition to the more traditional role of ‘hosting Web sites.’

The Indian data centres industry offers some of the same advantages that the Indian software and ITES industries offer their overseas clients, thus making India a popular hosting destination for companies that cater to target audiences that might not even be geographically Asia-centric.

What are the technology trends in this space?

The trends include the emergence of Carrier-Neutral data centres. In broad terms, they allow the customer complete flexibility in opting for the leased line provider of his choice to connect to his servers at the data centre. He is not saddled with a service provider simply because the data centre cannot allow him to terminate any other fibre to their network.

Disaster Recovery (DR) is being looked at as an essential component of any IT deployment. Disaster has a different meaning and connotation in every business. After the 9/11 episode in the US and 26/7 in India, disaster recovery is now a necessity in business. Data Mirroring is an essential component to save critical data from damage or loss. While backup is a comparatively easy proposition, disaster recovery is a completely different ballgame. For example, the network must have an alternate path to continue operations as quickly as possible.

Higher Server density per rack: Owing to the continuous reduction of server form factors, the amount of servers that can be housed in a rack has increased. This, in turn, generates the requirement to increase power and cooling capacities within racks, thereby putting tremendous load on the data centre’s infrastructure.

Green data centres: They are defined as a repository for the storage, management, and dissemination of data in which the mechanical, electrical and computer systems are designed for maximum energy efficiency and minimum environmental impact.

The construction and operation of a green data centre includes advanced technologies and strategies. Here are some examples: The use of low-emission building materials, carpets and paints; Waste recycling; The use of alternative energy technologies such as photo voltaic, heat pumps, and evaporative cooling; The use of hybrid or electric company vehicles.

On the opportunities and threats…

The challenges include maximising uptime and performance while establishing sufficient redundancy and maintaining watertight security. Increasing costs of power and real-estate have emerged as the largest threats to the growth of data centres.

Technology selection is also of paramount importance. The intended service offerings should dictate the technology required, and not vice versa. It’s also a challenge to implement the requisite high levels of physical and electronic security needed to protect online customers.

Zero technology obsolescence in the data centre environment must be ensured. The security policies of data centres have evolved to such an extent that data centres play a role in almost every business function in every market vertical — a fact that is now being realised by CEOs, CIOs and CTOs of organisations.

paromita@thehindu.co.in