How to build cloud data center?

In this era of cloud computing, we ask what is the difference between traditional data centers and cloud computing? In fact, the difference between traditional data centers and cloud computing data centers is that there are different business models to deal with. The traditional IDC mostly supports the telecom operator data service, and has clear network and regional restrictions. At the same time, supported Information System Architecture Traditional EDC is also different from cloud computing, for example, the EDC more support for the commercial software platform for the specific application information system, so its size, grade, variable no big changes. The data center needed for cloud computing originates from the Internet, but evolves to the integrated platform, therefore, unlike the traditional data center infrastructure and information system hardware and software separation, the cloud computing data center from the infrastructure to computing and application is continuous and holistic, and interrelated and adaptable.

How should the cloud data center be built?

At present, there are two common viewpoints in the industry:

"High investment, high-performance computing is the cloud". "Cloud computing is about putting a bunch of rotten machines together to provide a high reliability service."

These two viewpoints correspond to two different construction modes.

One point of view corresponds to the traditional construction mode. The model focuses on building high-cost and high-reliability infrastructures, and then implementing simple virtualized private clouds with physical boundaries. For example, the Banking data center is simply stacked at a cost to improve infrastructure reliability, but as the data center hardware and software systems are separated, overall efficiency declines in high input situations, and is half done.

The other characteristic of the two corresponding models is the blind pursuit of lower initial investment costs, the data center infrastructure as a simple resource construction and operation, the establishment and operation of Low-cost, inefficient data center infrastructure, resulting in low initial cost, but the operating cost and operational risk is high, Although this adapts to the current industry rapid development pattern, but overall is not suitable for the long-term development of cloud computing and stability services.

These two kinds of cloud data center construction pattern have one-sidedness and limitation. As early as the Internet can be hosted on the PSTN (public telephone network), but it is not the best mode, the infrastructure built for cloud computing can run in IDC, but not effectively optimize and develop the cloud services, if the establishment of public facilities for social services, Cloud computing must be redesigned and built into infrastructure such as data centers.

Cloud computing infrastructure should be fully integrated with the computing platform, as in the cloud computing industry, a classic book "Data Center is Computer" (the Datacenter as a Computer), Cloud Computing data Center is a top-down process of integration and optimization, including system software, chips, storage, network, power , distribution and refrigeration, a new generation of cloud computing data centers fully integrates software, servers, networks, data center power supply and refrigeration, energy and other links, and optimizes the overall efficiency from energy to computing with a system and complete system. Google, for example, does not individually and narrowly optimize data center Pue, but is based on software that incorporates a customized infrastructure architecture that builds a global-scale cloud computing infrastructure.

In the implementation of the cloud data center of the specific construction, there are the following points to note.

First, in terms of business models, infrastructure needs to fully adapt to the cloud computing business development objective rules, according to the most optimized efficiency of the unit size, and according to the business development needs and efficient construction, abandon the traditional mode, it is best not to build large-scale data center single multi-storey buildings, but will adopt a flexible and efficient modular approach , the data center distribution, refrigeration, power supply, and even buildings and mains completely split, to cloud computing business single cluster as the smallest unit, distributed implementation.

In data center availability, it is best to build on the cloud IaaS system characteristics, complete optimization structure, achieve can adjust with business needs, can be improved two times, or even reduce (traditional IDC is not implemented) modular infrastructure availability and operating costs. Provides quality assurance of data center infrastructure SLAs (Quality of service commitment) at five nine levels throughout the year, similar to the T2-T4 level. On the scale of the smallest unit (particle size subdivision), it will be moderately matched with cloud computing systems, allowing a smaller number of physical server clusters to be deployed at a time, as well as providing efficient systems.

On the business service model of cloud computing, we should take infrastructure as the platform, implement the data center accurate energy billing, and separate the assets from power or energy to achieve the optimal operating efficiency and the best economic model of cloud computing resources.

In the Data center facility delivery efficiency, the cloud computing business has the high request, with the rapid development of the industry, will soon be months, or even weeks for the unit to request the delivery of the system, which with the traditional period of the delivery of the year is very different, customized, modular, business coupling strong infrastructure construction model, will greatly improve the initial production efficiency, The first implementation cycle is shortened to within 12 months, and the renewal efficiency (expansion/addition) is controlled within three months.

It is also best to build a cloud data center based on the needs of international cloud computing leading technology, to establish multiple data centers in different regions within the same region, and to ensure reliable T-class high-speed interconnection to achieve the best match between reliability and availability of cloud computing architectures, Effectively reduce the impact of regional disaster factors on the destruction of data center infrastructure and cloud services. By pooling the resources of regional data center cluster, a stable platform for cloud computing system is set up to realize intensive and large-scale data center management and reduce the complexity and uncertainty of operation dimension.

In terms of economics, cost control and price/performance for cloud computing data centers are critical, and cloud computing data centers will focus on reducing overall cost (TCO) and focus on optimizing operational costs (OPEX) while measuring the trade-off between cost/efficiency/availability.

In the industry development and business cooperation, the cloud data center service provider should find the orientation and service mode, take the data center infrastructure as the core business, cooperate with the telecom operators actively, and develop and serve the public cloud business in China through the resource sharing and business win mode. In short, the creation of a new generation of cloud computing infrastructure, should be the cloud Computing data center of the high efficiency, low operating costs, flexible business adaptability and service availability as the goal, phased construction and implementation.

Location of cloud data center

Finally, the location of the following cloud data center is discussed. Cloud Data center Construction should be all the way to the west, because western China has more large cloud computing data center value points, more clear and significant is the energy, climate and geographical location. Currently, cloud service providers have chosen to set up large cloud data centers in western provinces such as Ningxia, and the Midwest region of China will soon be a gathering place for cloud data centers in the near future.

"Responsible Editor: Dan TEL: (010) 68476606"