Defering Server Replacement Cycles
Smaller budgets have become a common reality for most data centers, and this is making data professionals think about delaying their server replacement cycles. Many companies seem to be thinking that it’s better to use their servers for as long as they can. However, before doing so, there are many questions that should be answered. You should as yourself if your datacenter will be negatively impacted if you decide to defer the plan. Additionally, it is important to evaluate how much money the company is trying to save and if it will actually be able to keep costs low. Finally, a great question to explore is whether or not there is an effective way to implement the replacement process.
Many technicians in the data center field recommend that servers be replaced once every four or three years. It is true that servers have a longer life cycle that three or four years, but using them after the recommended time can affect your data center negatively. One of the main goals of a business is to grow, but this will be a big challenge if their data center cannot accommodate the expansion. The older servers may not have the capacity to keep up with demand. Furthermore, keeping your old servers will affect the way your data center keeps up with newer technologies and programs. Your current and potential customers will be feeling these effects, for you will not be able to offer them the best and most current applications or technologies.
Although keeping your older servers to keep costs low seems like a good idea, it will most likely increase costs for you company. Intel was a company that was also considering putting off their server replacement cycle, but in their cost evaluation they found that they would be spending around $20 million in extra costs if they deferred their projects by just one year. Keeping the older servers running will require extra costs to keep operating and also to maintain them.
Server replacement cycles are essential, and there are definitely ways you can be more efficient to help control the costs. One of the most important responsibilities in a data center is to know what all of the equipment within the facility does, which is something not a lot of technicians know. Having this important knowledge will save time, as you will know where everything is and will be able to replace the servers quickly. Being more efficient will help you get a grip of your budget if you know where everything is. The best way to be more efficient is to acquire a serverlift for the deployment process. The serverlift is a device that has the power to lift 500 lbs and can raise that weight eight ft, which is how high most data centers are. This is important, because most servers are really heavy.
You may think that it will actually save money to wait and replace your servers at a later time, it is actually more beneficial for you to replace them at the appropriate time. It is true that a server replacement project can be very expensive, but you can certainly find a way to control your costs while doing so. One way you can save time and money is to be familiar with the equipment in your data center. Reducing downtime will help your company control their budget. There is also a way you could be more efficient during the deployment process if you invest in a genuine serverlift to deploy your rack-mountable equipment. The deployment process can be difficult, and a serverlift will help you during this stage by protecting your staff and your expensive servers.
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