Success Story: Data Centres

I. CUSTOMER ENVIRONMENT / PROJECT CONTEXT

Customer profile:

Switch Communications has built the data centre of the future in the middle of the Las Vegas desert in the U.S. It is called ‘SuperNAP' -- for Network Access Point. SuperNAP is the highest-density data centre ever built and is among the ten largest single-standing facilities in the world. Its clients include government groups, as well as healthcare and gaming companies, banks, and online retailers. Some require only a single cabinet, while others require as many as 400. Any business market across the globe that doesn't ever want to be off can find a home at SuperNAP. They offer 100% uptime guarantees. The biggest problem right now is they can't get the buildings built fast enough to accommodate demand.

The SuperNAP building itself is divided into six data centre zones, each about 47,000 square feet. It can handle 1,500 watts per square foot, as opposed to the standard 150 watts per square foot.

Switch's focus is to deliver and supply the interconnectivity, telecommunications and Tier-4 facility services necessary for businesses throughout the world to collaborate, to communicate and to profit -- all within its multi-campus environment. Switch provides highly-secure disaster avoidance colocation services within its S+S redundant, five-nine reliable, state of the art, tier-4 designed facilities. This space can be purchased or leased in increments as small as individual cabinets, private cages and separate suites or a customer's own turnkey 100,000 + sq./ft. datacentre located in the Switch secure data centre compound.

Customer objective and constraints:

Maximise capital investment

Minimise operating expenses

100% data centre availability

Speed of deployment

Standardised design and process

Modular solution approach

Energy efficient

One-stop source

Project management

II. SOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION

Implementation methodology (main phases):

-- The project team identified the pain points of the customer and organised a workshop. They completed the design of the datacentre with APC and Schneider Electric systems and presented the solution to the customer within one week.

-- APC Symmetra Megawatt, Square D power train and Schneider Electric electrical distribution solution met customer's expectation for Power Utilisation Efficiency.  

-- Building automation and security solutions also were applicable to Switch's installation.

-- Based on our experience in other Switch projects, we had a good understanding of quality, design, price and delivery expectations

-- The project team worked closely with Switch decision makers, consulting engineers and other suppliers. Switch management was convinced of our ability to meet and exceed expectations

Duration:

18 months

Solution overview (services, products, systems, architectures...):

APC megawatt UPS

APC racks

APC rack power distribution units

APC InfraStruXure Central

Pelco security

Schneider electrical distribution

Square D switchgear

TAC building automation

Professional Services

How did we estimate the energy savings (methodology, tools, ...)

APC's Symmetry Megawatt is guaranteed to be 95% efficient at half load

III. RESULTS / ACHIEVEMENT

Customer benefits:

SuperNAP guarantees 100% uptime;

Symmetra Megawatt will be over 95% efficient at half load;

With standardisation Switch Communications can build datacentres anywhere globally in just 18 months

Easy to do business with Schneider

Expertise in critical power

Quality systems and services for their customers

Maximum return on investment

Minimize operating costs

Customer testimonies (Verbatim):

"We were able to get a fully integrated infrastructure and best of breed/best of product in a one-stop location through Schneider. It's been an excellent relationship as far as response time, cost savings, and the total cost of ownership."
-Mike Borden President and Co-founder, Switch Communications

Schneider Electric differentiating values VS competitors:

• Best in class components
• Brand name you know and trust
• Global capabilities
• Modular scalable standardized approach to systems and components
• Experienced technical staff and services