Year of the project: 2019

Location: Blacktown

The IT Manager at a rail infrastructure manufacturer was under pressure to procure and install a micro data centre that met the company’s global standard ahead of a visit from the CIO.

The Challenges

Tight timeframe with hard deadline

Specific requirements to meet global standard

Need for co-ordination of multiple vendors and service personnel on a precise schedule

The Solution

Design and installation of efficient, self-contained micro data centre, including cooling, cabling, lighting, fire suppression, security and access control

Specialist pre-site services and project management

End of life services for old equipment

Across all locations, the IT Managers within the business were given a directive to bring all comms rooms up to a global standard in line with the company’s IT strategy. In Sydney, this meant a high pressure deadline for the IT Manager, ahead of a planned inspection by the CIO.

IT Manager Goes to Market Following Thorough Review 

After doing his research, the IT Manager approached BDC Services to provide pricing and scoping for the project. Following a review of the available options BDC Services recommended a self-contained micro data centre (MDC) solution that was efficient, self-contained and could neatly house the required equipment within a small server room space. The micro data centre included a secure rack, critical power back-up and distribution, precision cooling and fire suppression.

Whole Server Room Gets a Facelift

In addition to the micro data centre, the whole server room received an overhaul, including:

• Installation of a new wall-mounted comms cabinet

• Piping, drainage and condenser installation for MDC cooling system

• Electrical works for all hardware and

• Safe shutdown, removal and re-mount of all equipment

• Installation of traceable patch leads

• Security camera and network video recorder installation

• Room access control installation

• Commissioning, configuration and testing of systems

• Removal and recycling of obsolete equipment

• Painting, cleaning and handover of server room

Small Room Provides Big Scheduling Challenge

The broad scope of the project and the firm deadline meant that despite the small size of the room, the timing of the various components of the install required precision project management, including pre-commissioning of some equipment prior to right on-site delivery 

Careful Planning Pays Off

The BDC Services team met the challenge, doing several pre-site visits to plan the delivery and install. An important part of this planning process was working with the IT team and coordinating the team of vendors, specialist couriers and trades in a carefully choreographed timeline, to hit the project deadline.

The IT Manager reaped the reward of this precise planning, gaining a firm tick of approval during the global CIO’s inspection visit that week.

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