As data centers continue to evolve, with trends such as virtualization emerging, so does the information on them. Surveys on the data center industry are becoming more detailed and more frequent. A recent Sever Technology blog explores the trend and discusses two recent research surveys by Datacenter Dynamics and the Uptime Institute.
The Uptime Institute, a provider of independent thought leadership, certification, education and professional services for the global data center industry, released results of its second annual data center industry survey, which focuses on 1,100 owners and operators from around the world and provides a picture of where the industry is headed.
Eighty percent of respondents have built new or upgraded data centers in the last five years, and 56 percent reported an increased budget to manage data centers compared with last year. Still, the Uptime Institute reported that by the end of this year 30 percent of enterprises will run out of the power, cooling or space needed to keep up data center operations.
Datacenter Dynamics says, “The 2011 Data Center Industry Census was designed to be the largest ever comparative study of data center operators and end-users, in order to: 1. Provide statistically valid snapshots of scope and direction of the global data center industry as of July 2011. 2. Collect information from all sides of the industry (owners, operators, suppliers, vendors) and make that information available back to the industry. 3. Enable comparison between markets to track individual market development. 4. Create opportunity for the industry to come together and help raise money for a worthy global cause - the UNICEF Children’s Emergency fund.”
These research projects—and the willingness of data center owners and operators to participate—are a leading indication that industry professionals are slowly coming around to the view that widespread sharing of information could be beneficial.
“Remember a very large number of professionals participated in this survey by sharing information, and received no compensation or direct benefit for doing so,” explained Kevin Heslin, Server Technology.
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Edited by Rich Steeves