NETWORKS EUROPE The magazine for network and data centre professionals September/October 2022 THE HYBRID IMPERATIVE RESPONSE, RENEWABLES AND REPUTATION SMART BUILDINGS DELIVERING FLEXIBILITY, RESILIENCE AND SECURITY POWER DEMAND THROUGH GREATER GRID INTERACTIVITY SMART BUILDINGS START WITH SMART NETWORKS HYBRID DATA CENTRES DATA SECURITY DIGITAL BORDERS IN THIS ISSUE:Remote Data Centres Hybrid Data Centres Heat Recovery 05 Foreword 06 News The news desk highlights some of the latest industry stories. 14 Smart Hands: Meeting the Growing Demand for Advanced Remote Data Centre Support Services Simon Smith, Head of Service Delivery, Telehouse Europe looks at how smart hands are meeting the growing demand for advanced remote data centre support services. 18 The Hybrid Imperative Mahomed Hussein, Technical Operations Director, Custodian Data Centres looks at how, as businesses evolve their data management and information architectures, the hybrid approach has been found to deliver flexibility, resilience, and security. 22 How SMEs Make Their Hybrid Architectures Fit for the Edge Simon Michie, CTO, Pulsant, discusses how SMEs make their hybrid architectures fit for the edge. 26 Designing and Building Hybrid Data Centres Andreas Rüsseler, CMO, R&M, considers some key considerations when designing and building hybrid data centres. 30 Making Data Centre Heat Reuse a Reality Stuart Crump, Director of Sales, Iceotope, looks at making data centre heat reuse a reality. CONTENTS www.networkseuropemagazine.com 02 142640 NETWORKS EUROPE The views expressed in the articles and technical papers are those of the authors and are not endorsed by the publishers. The author and publisher, and its officers and employees, do not accept any liability for any errors that may have occurred, or for any reliance on their contents. All trademarks and brandnames are respected within our publication. However, the publishers accept no responsibility for any inadvertent misuse that may occur. This publication is protected by copyright © 2020 and accordingly must not be reproduced in any medium. All rights reserved. Networks Europe stories, news, know-how? Please submit to editor@networkseuropemagazine.com including high resolution (300dpi+ CMYK) images. Surrey Technology Centre Surrey Research Park 40 Occam Road Guildford, GU2 7YG www.networkseuropemagazine.com Published by: Abacus Communications Limited Publisher: Greg Ward Editor: Laura VallisDigital Borders Data Centre Management 6064 Smart BuildingsSustainable Data Centres Data Security Internet of Things Data Centre Modernisation 32 Smart Buildings Start with Smart Networks Chris Dyke, Sales Director UK & Ireland, Allied Telesis, explores how Smart Buildings start with Smart Networks. 36 Zero-trust Architecture: How it can Increase Security Sanjay Radia, Chief Solutions Architect at NETSCOUT looks at zero-trust architecture and how it can increase security. 40 Why Data Security is No Longer Optional (And How to Start) Andrius Palionis, VP of Enterprise Sales at Oxylabs asks why data security is no longer optional. 44 IoT and the Journey to Maturity Phil Beecher, President and CEO of Wi-SUN Alliance looks at IoT and the journey to maturity. 48 Making the Most of the Data Centre Modernisation Opportunity Craig Brown, EMEA Channel Manager, Subzero Engineering considers the opportunities available when making the most of the data centre modernisation. 52 Demand Response, Renewables, and Reputation Ed Ansett, Chairman and Founder, i3 Solutions Group looks at how data centre power demand is set to grow, leading to increasing public awareness and how it requires a response through greater grid interactivity. 56 Backup Power in a Black-out: The Growing Case for Battery Energy Storage Calogero Saeli, Global Product Group Manager for ABB, explores the ever-mounting case for battery energy storage (BESS) as a more sustainable way to build resilience. 60 Enabling the New Era of Digital Borders Sébastien Roques-Shaw, Director of Partnerships, Virtru discusses how to make the most of the new era of digital borders. 64 Data Centre Management In this interview, Giancarlo Giacomello from Aruba Enterprise discusses the most recent data centre management developments and the state of the market in the post-pandemic era. 68 Movers and Shakers We take a quick look at some of the industry's movers and shakers, including new appointments, promotions and personnel changes. 44 www.networkseuropemagazine.comwww.networkseuropemagazine.com CONTENTS 03Save up to £ 4,000 on selected Copper and Fibre testers for a limited time only. No fuss. Just savings. Accelerates every step of the copper certification process Fluke Networks DSX-8000 No fuss means no hoops for you to jump through to get the deals - saving on new testers doesn’t get any easier. www.Flukenetworks.com/NFJSPromoUK How does it work? See the products on offer Scan this QR code for more information on this great offer. SCAN ME ©2022 Fluke Corporation. 220614 Terms and conditions apply. [www.NFJS-Promotion-Terms-and-Condition.com] 1 Select your model 2 Buy from your local distributor 3 Enjoy instant savingsRemote, hybrid, and sustainable data centres – welcome to Networks Europe The pandemic forced substantial adjustments in the data centre and networks industry. Yet it also created multiple opportunities for change for the better. Some of these changes are, or were, temporary, but many have since been classed as a 'why didn't we think of that before' moment and are now considered a must have! The idea of a remote or hybrid data centre may have been years in the making had it not been for Covid-19. In this issue we have a number of feature articles that cover this evolving aspect of the industry. There is a growing demand for advanced remote data centre support services and we take a look at how that demand is being met. We also explore how the hybrid approach is delivering flexibility, resilience and security and how hybrid architectures need to be fit for the edge. Talking of architecture, we also consider some key considerations when designing and building hybrid data centres. Coronavirus also highlighted the environmental issues we are all currently facing. Sustainability is clearly important in our industry today and our articles on heat reuse within the data centre, how smart buildings begin and end with smart networks and the ever-mounting case for battery storage as a more sustainable way to build resilience, just touch on some of the ways we need address the climate emergency. On the flip side, we look at how data centre power demand is only set to grow. While this is increasing public awareness, we consider how it requires a response through greater grid interactivity. As far as security goes, it's no longer an optional 'nice to have'. We explore zero-trust, and how it can improve security. In other articles we look at IoT and the journey to maturity, we discuss how to make the most of the new era of digital borders and consider the opportunites available when making the most of the data centre modernisation. To complete this issue, we interview Giancarlo Giacomello from Aruba Enterprise. We discover what he thinks of recent data centre management developments and the state of the market in the post-pandemic era. Our next issue will cover the subjects of energy management, connectivity and cables, and data recovery. Please make sure you submit your bylined articles before the editorial deadline of 19th November. I look forward to hearing from you. Laura Vallis Editor Networks Europe magazine FOREWORD www.networkseuropemagazine.comwww.networkseuropemagazine.com 05www.networkseuropemagazine.com NEWS IN BRIEF www.networkseuropemagazine.com 06 Proximity Announces Tenth UK Edge Colocation Data Centre Proximity has announced the opening of its tenth UK facility. Proximity Milton Keynes Edge 10 is a purpose built, tier 3 standard 48,000sqft facility with multiple data halls and provides 3MW of available power. Conveniently located to Milton Keynes, the 3.2 acre site offers low latency connectivity via multiple tier 1 carrier connections, including dark fibres with fully diverse links. The latest of the company’s growing portfolio of edge data centres will service Central England, one of the UK’s largest regions. This is in line with the company’s strategy to provide a nationwide network of highly connected regional edge data centres which meets the digital needs of 95% of the population outside London. John Hall, MD, Colocation at Proximity said, “Proximity Milton Keynes Edge 10 is ideally located for the many businesses in Central England looking for secure, scalable colocation services combined with high speed low latency connectivity to meet the needs of increasingly demanding users and applications. The region also has a rapidly expanding technology sector and Edge 10 is ideally positioned to support this important market. “Edge 10 is an important milestone for Proximity as we are now well on the way to establishing a truly UK-wide edge data centre footprint capable of reaching 95% of the population. We plan to have a further ten sites available within the next 12 to 18 months.” Proximity’s high capacity, scalable and extremely resilient tier 3 facilities enable enterprise businesses, CDNs, cloud and immersive technology providers to maximise competitive advantage through reduced latency and data transit costs, enhanced operational efficiency, and more responsive customer service. Full on-site support, transition and onboarding is provided, along with server migration services and a straightforward contract with a single set of SLAs covering one, or multiple sites. ISO 9001 Quality, 14001 Environmental and 27001 Security compliant, all Proximity’s data centre grid electricity is sourced from 100% renewable providers. Share your news! Send your press releases or announcements to: editor@networkseuropemagazine.com DataQube Launches First Edge-AI Pre- production Lab DataQube has partnered with Zeblok to develop, deploy and optimise AI workloads at the edge. As the volume of data at the edge increases, demand for localised high-performance computing accelerates, and the number of edge locations proliferates, Ai-MicroCloud dramatically simplifies the rapid deployment of AI-powered applications to thousands of locations at scale. The collaboration involves building a first-of-its- kind Edge Lab at the Cambridge IT Innovation Park, situated just north of the city, as part of Zeblok’s Intelligent Edge Alliance. The R&D facility will enable ecosystem participants to develop vertical-focused edge applications. The Try-to-Buy Edge Lab will also allow end-users to run their smart edge solutions in a pre-production environment prior to real- world deployment, thus mitigating risk by ensuring operability, usability and safety. Unlike conventional edge installations, DataQube units can be fully operational within a six-month timeframe, for 50% less Capex and with a PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) of 1.05, one of the lowest in the industry. Zeblok Ai-MicroCloud, following Well-Architected Framework (WAF) design principles, is perfectly aligned with the podular nature of DataQube data centre products and provides the glue to build an open cloud-to-edge AI ecosystem. Customers can easily and efficiently deploy multiclass AI applications, such as computer vision, natural language processing (NLP), driverless vehicles, autonomous systems, data mining and more. in a single, integrated solution. DataQube’s podular edge data centre products have been developed for deployment in a vast range of challenging indoor and outdoor locations where traditional infrastructures are neither feasible nor practical due to their sheer magnitude and the upfront investment needed. Moreover, the demand for localised processing is accelerating as businesses leverage IoT and automation, and the large volumes of data generated as a result need to be seamlessly handled at the source. Facilities at the edge capable of meeting this demand quickly, cost-effectively and sustainably are in short supply. Complementing DataQube’s modular data centre at the edge approach are commercially ready Zeblok Ai-in-a-Box solutions for Retail, Industry 4.0, and Smart Cities, enabling customers to accelerate their digital transformation journey. Built-in automation tools and simplified workflows enable full lifecycle management of smart edge applications. Siemon and Networks Centre have collaborated to launch a new online platform where customers can purchase Siemon’s range of high speed cable assemblies which are ideal for a range of high speed, low latency applications across today’s data centre environments. This HSI Centre is a one-stop online shop offering Siemon’s complete portfolio of direct attach copper cables (DACs) and active optical cables (AOCs) for Top of Rack (ToR) switch-to-server deployments. The easy-to-navigate website allows customers to filter the comprehensive DAC and AOC catalogue by product compatibility with different switch vendors, by transmission speed (ranging from 10, 25, 40, 100, to 4x10 or 4x25 Gigabit Ethernet) or by connector type such as SFP, SFP+, QSFP and QSFP+. Once selected, customers can then choose between different cable lengths for optimum manageability and airflow as well as colour options depending on their individual needs. The list of networking brands for product interoperability includes Arista, Brocade, Cisco, Dell, Extreme, HP, Intel, Juniper and Mellanox but Siemon’s solutions are all MSA (multi-source agreement) compliant and can be easily configured to suit customers’ active equipment needs. “Data centre designs are constantly evolving to match changing business needs. At the same time, server transmission speeds are swiftly moving towards 25 and 50Gb/s in enterprise and 100Gb/s in cloud data centres,” said Ryan Harris, High-Speed Cable Assemblies Market Specialist at Siemon. “In light of these developments, high-speed cable assemblies are gaining popularity in Top of Rack deployments. This new HSI Centre offers the go-to place for anyone tasked with data centre upgrades or extensions who are looking for high-quality, easy-to-install and cost-effective solutions for server-to- switch connections.” The new HSI Centre also offers a selection of educational tools that seek to explain how high-speed cable assemblies can be of strategic benefit to the data centre in terms of power consumption, material costs, scalability and compatibility. This includes free access to white papers, blogs and webinars. “We have been seeing rising demand for DAC and AOC cables for use in switch-to-server links”, says Keith Stewart, Product Marketing Manager at Networks Centre. “Just like standard copper and fibre patch cables, large quantities of these are often required but there are more variants to suit different network speeds and connector formats. Our new HSI Centre makes it much easier for users to search and select the right product.” Free sample products can be ordered, and the site is backed by quality services and technical experts at hand to help understand individual requirements and advise on the right product to select. “In the long term we plan to expand the offering on the site and add other complimentary products such as fibre trunks and harness cables, and we believe that the HSI Centre will become a valued reference point for those responsible for the future performance of data centres,” concluded Stewart. New HSI Centre: Networks Centre Launch One-stop Shop for Siemon Data Centre High-speed Cable Assembly Solutions NEWS IN BRIEF www.networkseuropemagazine.comwww.networkseuropemagazine.com 07 Visitors to Smart Buildings Show 2022 (12 – 13 October, ExCeL, London) can expect a conference line up which will tackle all of the big industry topics such as rising energy costs and the net zero challenge. With just two weeks left until the doors open, the anticipation is growing for the show which boasts over 70 exhibitors dedicated to helping to make buildings smarter. They are to showcase all of the latest products and services which will help to deliver on net zero. The Show boasts a conference programme with over 50 presentations from speakers which include: • Parris Hall and Simon Clement from Schneider Electric who will discuss the delivery of truly smart buildings using real examples from their collaboration with leading developers. • Jamie Cameron and Mark Bouldin from Johnson Controls will talk about how to create smarter and more sustainable buildings by implementing artificial intelligence. • Adrian Turner from Accruent will talk about how to unlock energy efficiency. • Ian Ellis from Siemens Building Products will discuss how a BMS can be used to deliver well-being in buildings. • Joanna Harris from Sodexo will discuss the challenges faced by FM service providers in implementing smart building solutions on their clients’ sites. • Tom Hopton from Buro Happold will present their digital framework for delivering smart buildings. Ian Garmeson, Event Director said: “It’s time to join the conversation surrounding the energy crisis and net zero. Being at the show in person is the best way to achieve this by taking proactive steps to enhance your smart building. Our renowned speakers will offer you the latest insight on a world of compelling topics to leave you well informed on cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions to ensure your building is economical, efficient and functional. We look forward to welcoming you there.” Visitors can pre-register for their free ticket here: www.smartbuildingsshow.com/register Top-class Conference Line-up at Smart Buildings ShowneXt Evolution of Tintri VMstore Breaks Out of the Datacentre and Into the Cloud Tintri has celebrated its 10th anniversary of product availability with the “neXt” evolution of its VMstore series. Expanding on its purpose-built, auto adaptive VMstore platform, Tintri’s new Virtual Series incorporates 10 unique features that comprise the company’s Platform as a Service (PaaS) approach. The Virtual Series offers autonomous QOS, predictive analytics, distributed data services, and ease-of- use in a robust and efficient virtual data workload management platform for hybrid cloud ecosystems. As businesses continue to adapt to the massive influx of data and mobile workforces, there is a critical need to implement a more flexible and interconnected IT ecosystem to manage the size and complexity of applications. IT departments must not only manage code updates and new features for these applications, but also the underlying infrastructure which affects workflows while protecting data from being compromised due to ransomware and other impacts. Tintri has seen the movement toward containerisation in hybrid IT environments and has adapted its intelligent analytics to enhance locality, security and predictive failure and recovery capabilities. “We are in close collaboration with our customers and partners and understand the challenges they continue to face as data and application implementation becomes more distributed,” said Phil Trickovic, SVP of Revenue, Tintri. “Because of our unique architecture meant specifically for virtual data sets, we are perfectly positioned to meet these new customer challenges and bring tremendous value by rapidly advancing the technology needed to address these new industry dynamics. By decoupling Tintri’s AI-powered software from our hardware platform, VMstore customers can now deploy the efficient, transparent and easy-to-use data management platform they’re accustomed to with Tintri.” Businesses have consistently turned to Tintri for ease of use, predictable performance and stable service. Customers rely on Tintri to help reduce overhead costs and resources required to manage IT operations, particularly when integrating a cloud strategy. Tintri enables customers to focus on strengthening business operations, leveraging the platform’s intelligence to stay ahead of the curve. Tintri VMstore is purpose-built for virtualised workloads and is now taking this same approach to develop the virtual version of VMstore technology, opening the door to new levels of infrastructure efficiency in hybrid cloud ecosystems. Fluke has launched an eBook describing the many benefits of using digitised acoustic leak detection technology for facility and maintenance managers. Entitled: Fluke leak detection tools – Guide to acoustic leak detection technology, the eBook showcases how customers can boost energy efficiency and productivity in process and manufacturing facilities using powerful handheld and online tools. A major global food and beverage production plant located in Germany confirmed Fluke’s innovative technology for detecting leaks in air, gas and vacuum systems has “already produced enormous savings”. The Plant Energy Manager estimated an energy cost saving of between EUR120,000 and EUR150,000 per year could be achieved. Available for download in English and German, the exclusive eBook includes in- depth technical information and customer case studies which illustrate how acoustic imaging can transform plant efficiency through the fast identification of leaks in compressed gas systems, which have long been the cause of wasted energy and increased costs. The eBook explains how the technology can be a game changer for factory managers seeking to meet an organisation’s energy efficiency and productivity goals. Maintenance teams used to rely on the archaic and time-consuming methods of listening out for leaks or using the soap and water technique to identify faults in compressed gas systems. Today, advanced leak detection tools from Fluke can achieve real-time results within minutes, eliminating the need for unscheduled downtime. Mark Bakker, Field Application Engineer at Fluke said: “Leaks are wasteful and can cause factory owners to overcompensate by using compressors that are larger than they need to be, increasing capital expenditure as well as the amount of energy used in a facility. Leaks can also lead to production delays, avoidable downtime and quality issues, as well as increased maintenance of factory equipment. “Not only can finding and fixing leaks save money, but it can remove the need to build additional capacity into existing systems. Every facility or maintenance engineer will benefit from the insights shared within our new eBook and develop a greater understanding of the most advanced leak detection tools available from Fluke.” Some of the most common areas where problematic and costly leaks can occur include couplings, hoses, tubes, fittings, threaded pipe joints, quick disconnects, FLT (filter, regulator and lubricator) combinations, condensate traps, valves, flanges, packings, air lines and pneumatic holding tanks. A series of in-depth technical articles are featured in the eBook covering how the digitisation of leak detection has finally caught up with high-tech processing and manufacturing, and how easy-to-use maintenance tools can deliver huge energy savings for factories while reducing their carbon footprint. The eBook also showcases Fluke’s online return-on-investment (ROI) calculator that enables users to demonstrate the level of savings that can be made by quantifying leaks using the Fluke ii900 Industrial Acoustic Imager and Fluke ii910 Precision Acoustic Imager. These sophisticated devices use an array of ultra-sensitive microphones with a range of 2kHz to 52kHz to locate the source of the problem. Capable of pinpointing leaks in even the noisiest of factory environments, the acoustic imagers provide users with a visual SoundMap of leaks displayed as a video or still image on a large 7in LCD touchscreen. Fluke Launches eBook to Improve Energy Efficiency and Productivity www.networkseuropemagazine.com 08 NEWS IN BRIEFNEWS IN BRIEF www.networkseuropemagazine.com 09 Vertiv Issues Recommendations for Data Centre Operators to Withstand Global Heat Waves Record-breaking heat waves are making headlines and straining economies around the globe, with no signs of cooling down in the immediate future. Beyond the impact on human lives, extreme heat is taking a major toll on data centre operations and infrastructure, from outages and disruptions at data centres in the UK to reduced production at power plants in France, to concerns over water usage in drought-affected areas across the world. Vertiv has issued recommendations to data centre operators and associated businesses to help them navigate these challenges. “If one thing is clear, it is that we need to be prepared for these extreme weather conditions to become more commonplace, so adapting to this inevitability is crucial,” said Karsten Winther, President for Vertiv in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). “Customers are becoming more aware of the challenges that extreme heat, for example, brings and are rightly looking at how they can mitigate the resulting risks when it comes to their data centre operations. Our service teams have proved invaluable in providing the guidance and support required to not only manage the immediate impact but to discuss with customers how they can plan ahead to build in resiliency moving forward.” In the UK, Thames Water is also considering the future of resources and the impact the high temperatures are having on the region. It has recently launched a review of the increasing demand data centres are putting on water, particularly in the Slough area, which is set to become the second biggest data centre hub in the world. To keep systems cool and help ensure data centre availability, Vertiv experts recommend these immediate actions: • Depending on the data hall load, run as many units as possible to reduce the load on each cooling unit. Typically, an organisation would run all redundant units, but if the IT load is not 100%, one should run enough units to get the per-cooling unit as close as possible. This keeps the refrigerant pressures lower so there is not a risk of trips on high pressure with the high ambient temperature. It also provides a more efficient operating point. • Schedule a regular maintenance plan. Vertiv recommends its customers schedule preventive maintenance quarterly. For compressor-based (DX) units, Vertiv recommends quarterly, or more frequent cleaning of the condenser coils. The lack of proper and regular cleaning of the condenser coil can cause more of a reduction in the overall thermal unit capacity than the ambient temperature itself. Additionally, properly maintaining the refrigerant charge level helps to enable the design capacity and operating efficiency to function smoothly. A refrigerant charge that is too low or too high, can cause operational inefficiencies. “The unprecedented temperatures we’re seeing across the globe are putting increased pressure on data centre operators and infrastructure providers, challenging them to maintain reliability and connectivity,” said Steve Madara, VP for thermal sales at Vertiv. “Extreme weather events underscore the importance of a robust preventive maintenance and cleaning plan, tailored to the specific conditions of an operator’s region. Data centre operators may need to be prepared for operating expense trade-offs to compensate for oversizing capacity. Partnering with a qualified data RtBrick Adds Support for Two Open Networking Switches from Edgecore Software RtBrick has expanded the number of bare-metal switches that carriers can use to build a new generation of broadband networks, integrating its Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) software with two new platforms from Edgecore. “Combining open software and hardware solutions helps our customers have more vendor choice, allowing our service provider customers to better control their network deployments,” said Heimdall Siao, President of Edgecore. “RtBrick has demonstrated that telco routing functions, such as the Broadband Network Gateway, can be rapidly integrated and hardened into new platforms, allowing for new features to be quickly added to meet customers’ requirements tailored for their specific networks.” The Edgecore AGR400 and AGR420 both use the latest Broadcom Qumran2C chipsets, delivering unprecedented levels of performance from open routing hardware. Now the AGR420 can operate as a standalone BNG and support tens of thousands of subscribers on a single switch, or it can be deployed with the AGR400 in a spine-leaf architecture to scale to huge numbers of connections. The adoption of open-networking-switches has slashed the hardware costs associated with delivering broadband services and given operators the flexibility to mix and match hardware and software from different vendors. “The evolution of merchant silicon has reached a point where open networking switches, like the Edgecore AGR portfolio, can now match or even outperform conventional routing systems,” said Pravin S. Bhandarkar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at RtBrick. “This means that carriers can finally break out of the cycle of vendor lock-in and build open networks with complete control over their own architectures.” RtBrick’s BNG software was recently selected by the TIP OpenBNG initiative, against criteria defined by five tier-1 carriers: BT, Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica, Telecom Italia Mobile and Vodafone, and has already been deployed in Deutsche Telekom’s production broadband network. Share your news! Press releases, company news, organisation restructures and product promotions! editor@networkseuropemagazine.comNext >