feATURe
Factors in datacentre siting decisions
The datacentre supplier skills required
source: Digital Realty Trust
the business. sweet spot in
source: Digital Realty Trust
Power costs, the 500-1000m2
taxes and slot, also with
telecoms interest in
accessibility the very large
are also key centres of
factors. 2500m2. Power
The main is an issue 4-6
countries Kwatts is what
for Europe’s clients are
growth in looking for, and
datacentres are the UK, Ireland, France, Germany and Netherlands., all of which in most of Europe this is not a problem. www.digitalrealtytrust.com
have real problems in finding space to build. So while the actual costs of
OUR ANALYSIS
the space are towards the bottom, although with experience of the London This is an interesting snapshot of a business that is moving strongly ahead.
market, Bernard Geoghan says that in some locations, this becomes a key issue. The issue of where customers go for advice (chart above) is interesting,
The availability of space obviously matters in both US and Europe as the as is the way the lessons from the slightly more ahead US market can be
requirement for larger installations continues to expand, with both groups adapted for europe. We know some resellers that have ended up becoming
saying that their sites will be 1000m2 and above, though Europe still has a experts on property - but the market is wide open and looking for help.
Novell jumps on datacentre virtualiser PlateSpin
N
ovell is to buy PlateSpin to boost its position in the next-generation Novell’s existing channels will also be expected to engage with PlateSpin
datacentre by providing a way to “dynamically deliver business critical - some are already asking for access to this, he says, and parts of PlateSpin’s
services across both physical and virtual infrastructures”. �ith ith core e tools ools “robust” channel programme are attractive.
in virtualisation and datacentre management, 175-strong PlateSpin is highly Stephen Pollack, founder and CEO of PlateSpin tells us, “�e always knew
specialist, working alongside VMware and increasingly Citrix and Microsoft that we might need to be a part of something bigger, but we didn’t seek it,
in managing movement from physical to virtual resources. Existing PlateSpin being busy building the business. The customers are central to the strategy -
partners can be found across Europe, but IT Europa has previously highlighted Novell has a broader set of customers, spanning desktop and datacentre.”
particular success in Netherlands, which has many financial institutions They both agree that this is a fast-moving market -”rapid growth” is all
adopting virtualisation. they will commit to. VMware has the historic position but Microsoft and
Its 150 European partners include Computacenter in the UK and Scribona Citrix have become credible players in the datacentre. And since PlateSpin
in the Nordics. PlateSpin has also signed with Magirus, which is backing it with has been platform agnostic from the beginning, this is not an issue. It will take
training centres. The acquisition is expected to close during Novell’s second a while to close the deal, but even then, there are not expected to be any
fiscal quarter 2008, and PlateSpin will be integrated into Novell’s Systems and changes to the channel, just discussions with partners as to the best way to
Resource Management business unit. move forward. “�e’ll take their advice,” says Joe �agner.
There will be no changes to PlateSpin’s existing channels, Joe �agner, PlateSpin has been working on its disaster recovery products as a subset of
Novell Enterprise General Manager confirmed to IT Europa. He would expect virtualisation - expect to see plans announced soon to launch a higher value
to introduce them to Novell’s other products. solution through a single tier channel. www.novell.com
29 feb 2008 17
It0804 - 16-17_datacentres.indd 15 27/02/2008 10:24:52
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