Build the Best Data Center Facility for Your Business
Douglas Alger
Cisco Press, 2005

Synopsis

This book is a must for anyone in charge of a datacenter, be they building, expanding, or just running the operation. It provides a solid grounding in HVAC, electrical, layout, and other concerns.

Working in IT, I’m quite familiar with the inside of a data center, but I’ll be the first to admit my knowledge of running one is quite superficial. So it was with great interest that I read this book, hoping to understand what goes into building and running a data center. Build the Best Data Center Facility for Your Business is written by the team lead of Cisco’s data center team, so I know the author is well qualified to write this.

Since this book is pretty specific, and I don’t see anything else out there in the topic, it doesn’t need a long review.

As the title implies, the book is about building a data center. It’s also about upgrading a data center, or making the most of the space you’ve already built. It’s also about how to run a data center properly so that it stays useful. The subtitle is then more descriptive: A comprehensive guide to designing and operating reliable server environments.

The book is divided into two sections. The first talks about building and upgrading a data center. This includes finding a site, choosing a layout, flooring, electrical, HVAC, and data cabling. It’s also got a chapter on things you can do to prolong the life of your current data center.

The second half of the book is about operating a data center. This includes everything from parts bins to signage and documentation.

I found that the writer assumed the reader had little knowledge of the topic, so he took the time to explain concepts. There were also dozens of anecdotes strewn about in sidebars which were not only very informative, but also somewhat entertaining. The writing addresses international issues which is not surprising given Cisco’s international reach. Most chapters end with a section on common problems which is an added benefit.

I must also stress this book is very practical. Much of the first chapter is written from the standpoint of someone preparing tender documents, based on the author’s years of experience. The companion site to the book even includes a complete set of documents that can be used should you have the need.

The one complaint I do have about the book is that some of the photos are pretty blurry, which doesn’t detract signifcantly from the quality, but is enough to mention.

Build the Best Data Center Facility for Your Business is a comprehensive guide to designing and operating reliable server environments. I highly recommend it to anyone who plays an active role in managing or designing their company’s present or future data centers.