Is it Time to Accessorize your Data Center?

Fashionistas aren't the only ones who have need to accessorize; sometimes data center managers rely on certain accessories that are designed to smooth a data center's daily operations, help things run more efficiently, and even extend the lifespan of their assets. Alongside the main components of a data center, there are other factors that need to be addressed to keep things running, including uninterruptible power, efficient cooling systems, and fire protection, to name a few. Beyond these mission-critical systems, there exists a variety of add-on products that serve specific needs that may apply to your situation.

A few of PTS' recommended data center accessories are as follows:

• PTS Aurora Wireless Temperature Monitoring Strips
• IEC Secure Power Connections
• Dycem CleanZone Mats
• Glass Apps Switchable Glass and Film
• Rackstuds: The Smart Rack Mounting System
• AirBlock Curtains and Strip Doors

Use of these accessories may save you time, may save you money, and may even change the way you run your data center's daily operations.  In any case, these, and other accessories, should be considered in all data centers.

Tintri: Smart Storage that Sees, Learns and Adapts

High-Performance VM-Aware Hybrid-Storage 

Our clients often come to realize that the performance demands of their virtualized databases, applications, and VDI are not being met by their current IT infrastructure technology. In our experience, we find the culprit to be the storage technology itself.

Introducing the Tintri VMstore Storage Systems

Tintri is a near "zero" management NFS storage solution built specifically to manage virtual environments for servers, desktops, test development, and production workloads. This means no LUN's, volumes, or tiers to manage. Tintri's file system is built from the ground up, allowing you to solve a lot of the complexities and inefficiencies traditional storage brings to the table.

Download Informative Tintri
White Papers,Videos, and Case Studies

PTS has partnered with Tintri to make available a no cost nor obligation, proof-of-concept (POC) array to test for yourself. Please contact PTS today to see if you qualify: (201) 337-3833 or email us at: TintriPOC@PTSdcs.com

Slideshow: PTS Data Center Solutions Headquarters and Cloud Data Center (Oakland, NJ)

PTS Data Center Solutions has a new Office Headquarters and Cloud Data Center in Oakland, NJ. To complete the project, PTS relied entirely on in-house expertise to perform planning, facility architectural and engineering through equipment migration planning and execution, and all phases in between. The PTS Headquarters now showcases cutting-edge office space, multiple conference rooms, a functioning NOC (network operations center), an IT build room, and warehouse facilities for PTS’ growing staff of experts.

View the slideshow below or request a personal tour.

PTS Announces Partnership with Intelligent Power Management Provider Enlogic

PTS Data Center Solutions, Inc. is proud to announce a partnership with intelligent power management provider Enlogic Systems. Enlogic continuously releases new & innovative products and their efficient product line reduces energy consumption, which, in turn, cuts utility costs. Enlogic’s award-winning product line of intelligent Power Distribution Units (iPDUs), Energy Meters, Locking Power Cables, and Environmental Sensors are designed to simplify rack management by providing automated real-time threat alerts, and capacity and load balancing data for energy use optimization and control.

Enlogic iPDU Features

For more information, please call us at (201) 337-3833 or visit:

• Enlogic Products Page
• PTS and Enlogic Partnership
• Enlogic White Papers
• Press Release: PTS/Enlogic Partnership

Issue of Comatose Servers & Findings in Uptime's Data Center Survey 2013 Report

In reading Uptime’s Data Center Survey 2013 report, the below stats from the report seem silly since there are simple inexpensive solutions to audit, identify and eliminate comatose servers.

 • 43% of respondents have no scheduled audit of their server environment
 • 33% of respondents report > 5% comatose servers
 • Decommissioning (1U) servers can result in a savings of $500 per year in energy costs, an additional $500 in operating system licenses and $1,500 in hardware maintenance costs.

In the Northeast, utilities such as ConEd, NYSERDA and PECO offer attractive incentives for eliminating comatose servers as well as virtualizing underutilized IT equipment so why are many still sitting on the sidelines in addressing this issue?

PTS Data Center Solutions Moves to a New Headquarters and Cloud Data Center in Oakland, NJ

PTS Data Center Solutions, a turnkey solutions provider offering expertise in IT, cabling, and facilities, relocates its headquarters to 16 Thornton Road, in the McBride Corporate Park in Oakland, NJ, 07436, to facilitate its growth and expansion in a wide array of services available to its customers.

After almost 15 years of operating out of Franklin Lakes, NJ, the PTS companies including PTS Data Center Solutions, Inc., PTS Information Technology Solutions Group, Inc., and PTS Design & Engineering, Inc., relocated its headquarters to a completely renovated 45,000 square foot facility located in nearby Oakland, NJ.

PTS' New Cutting-Edge Office Environment

From start to finish, PTS relied entirely on in-house expertise for the new innovative and technology-centric headquarters. PTS staff handled planning, facility architectural and engineering, network and IT systems design and implementation, data cable plant and pathway design and installation, facility construction management, commissioning, and equipment migration planning and execution.

Read the Entire PTS Press Release here

Got Cabling?

Not all data cabling contractors are the same. There are many companies and individuals who can perform adequate data cabling for data centers, computer rooms, server rooms, IDFs, desktops, etc. However, not all can capably manage a complex project with many moving parts such as demolition, construction, deployment, testing, troubleshooting, and integration. This is where PTS Data Center Solution's Data Cabling team excels.

Unlike many other contractors, PTS understands the keys to becoming your trusted data cabling provider:

• Be competitively priced
• Respond quickly to requests for quotes (RFQs)
• Produce quality work on time and on schedule
• Perform exceptional data cabling project management
• Deliver superior quality control
• Supply outstanding project closeouts with proper documentation, as built drawings, and test results

PTS has RCDD staff engineers, expertise installing cable per ANSI / IEEE / BICSI standards, 30+ years of industry experience.  Services include:

• Structured Cable Plant & Pathway Design Services
• Data Cabling Project Management Services
• Data and Voice Cabling Installation
• Fiber Optic Cabling Installation
• Video and CATV Deployment
• WIFI, Physical Security Installations
• PA & Noise Canceling Systems
• Aerial and Underground Deployments
• Data Center Cabling Installation
• Campus Environment
• Fiber Fusion Splicing

To learn more, check out our new website, Data Cabling Services

Are Company Owned Computer Room Deployments Making a Comeback?

Like many other market sectors, the data center space has its ebbs and flows. The latest trend and forecast is that cloud computing and colocation are continuing to grow in popularity and one day, due to cloud's promise of ubiquitous computer platforms, could nullify the need for company-premise-built data centers or computer rooms. That said, this promise has lingered for some time now without being realized. In fact, at PTS Data Center Solutions we see a different, more recent trend.

For example, in the last several years, the northeastern U.S. has experienced substantial utility outages due to inclement weather (Hurricanes Irene in 2011 and Sandy in 2012). Given these extended outages, for over a year now, PTS has been called upon to engineer and install more whole-facility backup power generation systems than ever before. Further, and in keeping with Levitt and Dubner's position in their book Freakonomics, that there is a hidden side to everything - so it seems to be the case with this whole-building generator boom.

For small- and mid-size companies, installing a generator is the single highest CAPEX obstacle to realizing a corporate computer room (what PTS refers to as a "Tenant-Space Computer Room"). However, it's those very companies that have realized their operations (much less their computer rooms) cannot go without power for an extended period of time and as a result are installing whole-facility backup power systems. What was once the largest financial impediment to computer room ownership is now gone. Along with this is the promise of eliminating the ever increasing OPEX of an outsourced IT model.

At the same time, given IT's ability to deliver operational resiliency, CIOs and CFOs alike are realizing not every data center facility needs to operate as a Tier IV bunker. It's even more premature to state that cloud computing is taking over. PTS is actually experiencing a resurgence in company built and operated data centers and computer rooms. As such, you can almost hear Yogi Berra's immortal words, "it ain't over 'til it's over".

It is likely the industry will hit a stasis point between in-sourced and out-sourced data center facility and IT operations. Many enterprises already have (or will have) a hybrid model whereby some applications are cloud based (i.e. Salesforce.com), while others are housed in company owned and operated data centers.

PTS, too, is currently undergoing a transformation by including our own cloud data center site and services offering as part of our new HQ facility build. This offering will complement our client premise-based IT and facility solutions. This way, PTS will be prepared for whichever way the wind blows (pun intended).

If you are considering expanding your data center or adding a generator to improve expected uptime, it may be prudent to reach out to a professional data center design & engineering team to discuss your requirements, options, and costs. Also, there are a variety of issues that should be discussed prior to considering a generator deployment for any enterprise.

Contact us to speak with a data center design professional. 

The Storm Is Coming: Check Your Generators, UPSs, and DR Plan

This year, don't leave your customers out in the rain. With the recent history of Metro New York hurricanes and storms, PTS Data Center Solutions engineers recommend you consider testing and verifying your generator, UPS, and Disaster Recovery solutions and systems. Make sure everything is in good working order well before any announcements of pending storms, power outages, or downed network services.

PTS provides Data Center Maintenance Management services for generator and UPS servicing as well as Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Assessment services. If you need help in procuring and commissioning the right solution for your IT environment, we can also help you validate your requirements for an emergency generator and make the right choice.

In addition, PTS recommends you perform a recover from backup or test your DR infrastructure whether it is at a DR co-location facility or offsite in another of your facilities. If you don't have offsite backup and DR functionality today, give us a call and we can discuss relatively inexpensive High Availability and DR appliances that might fit your budget and help you avoid soaking your customers.

Contact PTS.

Application of Nanotechnology to Cool a Data Center

As the latest heat wave in the Northeast passes, PTS Data Center Solutions engineers came across an interesting use of nanotechnology to overcome heating problems within a data center.

Mexico's Social Security and Health Administration (IMSS) had an issue with its data center in Monterrey, Mexico which holds patient medical records. Even though their data center was air conditioned, the heat coming through the roof during the summer raised the data center temperature enough to cause the servers to automatically shut down to prevent heat damage.

Nansulate® insulating coating, a patented, award winning clear coat technology, was used on the roof of the Cenati Data Center, applied at a 3-coat coverage. After application of Nansulate® effectively reduced the data center temperature to a safe level for the servers. The coating insulated the roof from excess heat transfer and stopped the server shut down due to high temperatures.

Read the Full Nansulate® Crystal Case Study