Data Center in a Box

By Greg Cornfield | Jan 9, 2009

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Many vendors today offer what is generically referred to as a Portable Modular Data Center. While this seems like a solution that may be useful in the US, I really couldn't imagine the need in Asia, especially in the large, generally overcrowded cities. Imagine a container truck pulling up in front of HSBC along Queens Road Central in Hong Kong, unloading a 20 foot container and plugging it in. There would be a lot of unhappy commuters on the trams and buses.

Then a few weeks ago a press release caught my eye. It was titled Sun announced Tuesday that it has donated Sun Modular Datacenter (Sun MD) to the China National Disaster Reduction Center (CNDRC).

So I thought that maybe there is a use for these Portable Modular Data Centers after all and contacted three of the major vendors: Sun, HP and IBM for their comments.

Thanks to Gan Boon San, President of Sun Microsystems, Asia South; Arun Natarajan, Director of Scalable Computing & Infrastructure, HP Asia Pacific and Japan; and Glen Yuan, Services Product Line Executive, Site & Facilities Services, Global Technology Services, IBM Asia Pacific for their input.

First of all what is a portable modular data center (PMDC)?

A portable, modular data center is rapidly deployable, secure, modular data center that provides the convenience and flexibility of a data center whenever and wherever it's required. It has all the elements of the secure operating environments found in traditional "raised-floor" data centers, including protection from fire, smoke, humidity, condensation and temperature changes. Simply put, it is a comprehensive data center delivered in a shipping container.

Vendors will support other vendors' equipment within their PMDC.

Sun provides the option to rent or lease in the case of a disaster. IBM does not and HP is working on it!

 

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