Server Refresh Cycles – 3 Tips
Evaluate The Cost of a Server Upgrade:
Implementing a server refresh cycle can be a costly task, but it is important for a company to ask themselves if they can afford not to refresh the servers in the coming year? According to Intel, delaying a server refresh cycle can actually cost more than refreshing at the appropriate time. When evaluating the costs of their own refresh cycles, Intel found that delaying their server refresh strategy by even one year would increase their operating costs by $19 million. This delay causes increases in the maintenance costs incurred by the need to increase the older server’s capacity to keep up with ever growing company computing needs.
Evaluate The Need:
It is important for a company to first determine the need of a server refresh cycle. In 2010, a study sponsored by Intel and Oracle, found that most IT companies conduct server refresh strategies every three to four years. Following this pre-planned cycle can be beneficial simply because a server becomes outdated and with this comes software compatibility issues. A newer server can handle larger workloads and is compatible with newer applications. Additionally, new servers help to cut utility costs with lower energy consumption, essentially paying for themselves with the savings.
Evaluate The Method:
When considering a server refresh cycle, a company must evaluate the best method to physically move the servers and other rack mountable equipment. Traditionally, the expensive heavy IT-utrustning has been manually lifted by one or two data center employees. This method is not only inefficient, but is also dangerous for the individuals doing the manual labor. Overexertion caused by lifting servers can lead to back-related injuries and require employees to take time off to recuperate. In addition, the equipment itself can become damaged, as was the case in 2007 when an IBM server worth $1.4 million fell off of a forklift that was not designed for use in a data center. As a solution to this issue, many fortune 500 companies are acquiring ServerLIFT® products which are designed specifically for the data center environment. These specialized tools make server refresh cycles more efficient and productive and help to increase safety in the work place.
