The undervalued rack

In working with the SMB market I find customer data centers in all sorts of conditions. In one case the customer called me and told me how there had been water dripping on to the server so they put a plastic bag over it. The amazing thing was that the server kept running. Of course we eventually moved it to a data rack, but when we finally took it out of service a few years later, it was full of rust on the inside. I guess that is a testament to the quality of HP servers. The other scenario that comes to mind is when my engineer had to sit on the toilet to work on the server which was positioned in the bathtub. Crazy? yes. Is it still there? I don't know. I sold that client with my company. I've seen so many servers balancing on tables, underneath desks being kicked over and over, used as a dust bunny collector. The funny part is that a lot of people just expect their servers to take a licking and keep on ticking. Literally. So this blog is a tribute to the under appreciated data rack. Coming in at anywhere from $500.00-$1700 for a single rack, the price usually causes sticker shock. Why use that when we've got this perfectly good table I inherited from my grandma. Well today's racks come with a whole host of features your servers love:

1. Built in power distribution and remote control


2. Built in cooling


3. Cost effective, expandable Power conditioning and backup

and the always popular:

1. Optimal use of space


2. Security from physical theft or vandalism


3. Security from individuals who want to access systems directly


4. Cable routing (So you don't get lost in a spider web mess of cables)


5. Improved air flow (hot servers get mad and like to shut down)


6. Stability (when secured to the ground will not fall over, servers don't like that either)

My recommendation is to get your servers to a rack as soon as it is cost effective. Recently we were able to get a shipment of used racks. They went for about $200.00 and they went fast. That is a great way to go too. Even better, if you are planning on growing start with a rack in mind. Just put it in your budget. Once you've adapted your data center to a rack environment you'll sleep better at night knowing your servers are safe, sound and ......... dry.

Thanks for reading ~pz

The right tech for the right price

Today I run into a lot of companies that are paying a low price for their technical help. Are they really getting value? That depends. A good engineer should work fast, know what they are doing, and recommend solutions, not band aids. Having owned an IT firm for 5 years I can tell you that its hard to find engineers who understand the value proposition of creating solutions versus putting out fires. I don't' mean any offence to any IT network engineer out there. I know how tough the job is. I worked as an engineer for 2 years and I was not that good at it. Most of the training engineers are exposed to is technical. The personality strengths that make a great engineer are not necessarily the same strength's that make a great business advisor.

I'm convinced that the best IT firms find a way to combine practical business advice along with their solutions. It usually requires more than one person. An engineer can be highly skilled and effective when they have enough time to focus on their craft. Their is something magic about an engineer who executes with precision and speed. These engineers have studied and certified on the products. They have a passion for learning the new capabilities as soon as they come out. They are organized in their approach.

Practical business technology advice comes as a result of an ongoing discussion between the account manager the engineers and the practice leader. There are usually many solutions to a technology problem. There is usually one or two solutions that will yield the best result. This is where having multiple minds working on the problem can provide more consistent higher quality solutions.

When you are paying a higher price for IT consulting the additional dollars are going for training and certification, but more than that, the team that stands behind them. So when looking for an IT support provider consider the team as well as the tech.

Good Luck!

Contract Expiration.....Exasperating

If I had to name the one thing I see in the telecommunications community that makes my blood boil more than any other, it would be contract expiration's. For me it is the clearest expression of the profit and greed that still exists in the telecom/data network provider business. Recently I've been working with customers who wanted to get a copy of their contract from their current network provider. They have called, sent letters, emailed , sent demand letters. I see some of the network providers in town who sit on the contracts. Why is that? is it because they know there is an auto-renewal and they don't want the customer to cancel before it renews? Is it because they have no contract or have lost it? Why is it that some network providers act this way when others don't? This is irresponsible behavior on the part of the provider. They deserve to lose the business. The sad part is that many times I've seen them grind the customer down and the customer gives up. I can't say I blame them. The customer needs to run their business. I think this is what the network providers are counting on. The good news is that I also see customers who stand up to these manipulative companies. I see them put the pressure back on the network provider and win. My advice is to take a stand if you are getting treated this way. Find a company you trust that is a broker of multiple providers to help you know what to say and do. Some times you've got to stand tall and plant your feet to win. In the end I've seen these providers back down as they realize the damage they are doing to their own reputation. The customers who make this stand ultimately improve their service, solution and price. They also bring improvements for their business with new solutions and that is the way it should be!



Thanks for reading ~pz