On the Move What you Need to Know When Moving Your Facility

(1)

On the Move – What you Need to

Know When Moving Your

Facility

Jonathan Jew

J&M Consultants, Inc

jew@j

[email protected] 415

415--292292--77347734

(2)

Preparation - Develop Organization

Obtain high level management support for

the project

At least one dedicated project manager with

adequate authority or reporting to manager

with adequate authority

Project managers and sub

-

teams for each of

the major areas

–

network, facilities,

operations, applications, systems

(3)

Preparation – Assumptions &

Strategy

Document the project assumptions and

goals

–

the team all needs to be on the same

page regarding project requirements,

limitations, and assumptions

Develop a strategy and obtain management

and team consensus on the strategy

Develop a budget based on the approved

strategy

(4)

Preparation – Detailed Project Plans

Each sub_{Each sub}--team should develop a detailed project team should develop a detailed project plan based on the approved strategy

plan based on the approved strategy

_{These plans should be reviewed by the other sub}_{These plans should be reviewed by the other sub}_-

-teams

teams

_{The project manager will need to integrate the}_{The project manager will need to integrate the}

project plans, adding interdependencies between

the plans as appropriate

There should be high level plan that incorporates _{There should be high level plan that incorporates}

major milestones and interdependencies between

teams

(5)

Coordination with Data Center Build

Data Center migration plan needs to be _{Data Center migration plan needs to be}

coordinated with data center construction project

Install carrier facilities, telecom cabling _{Install carrier facilities, telecom cabling}

infrastructure, cabinets, racks, cable trays, and

receptacles before construction is complete

Install and test network, SANs, and swing _{Install and test network, SANs, and swing}

equipment during commissioning if properly

coordinated

_{Install and label channel cabling and patch cables}_{Install and label channel cabling and patch cables}

for the initial moves

(6)

Preparation in Old Data Centers

Prepare network and storage infrastructure for _{Prepare network and storage infrastructure for}

extension to the new data center

Defer installation of normal upgrades and deploy _{Defer installation of normal upgrades and deploy}

upgrades as swing equipment

Test new technologies to be used during the move _{Test new technologies to be used during the move}

(channel extension, mirroring, SANs)

Identify and separate systems/subnets/applications _{Identify and separate systems/subnets/applications}

into groups that can be moved independently

(7)

Keeping the data up and running

Change freeze on system, application, & network _{Change freeze on system, application, & network}

changes prior to and during moves

_{Break move into manageable pieces}_{Break move into manageable pieces}

_{Never move more than you can undo during each}_{Never move more than you can undo during each}

move window

Coordinate moves with business activities_{Coordinate moves with business activities}

_{Mirror or backup data}_{Mirror or backup data}

Develop contingency and back off plans_{Develop contingency and back off plans}

(8)

Scripting Moves (1 of 2)

Script the moves in great detail_{Script the moves in great detail}

_{Walk through the script with all participants prior}_{Walk through the script with all participants prior}

to each move

to each move –– everyone should know when they everyone should know when they should show up, where they should be, what they

should show up, where they should be, what they

should be doing, and during which points in the

plan they need an approval to proceed

_{Participants need to check in when they show up}_{Participants need to check in when they show up}

and ask for permission to leave

_{Coordination with external organizations needs}_{Coordination with external organizations needs}

special attention

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Scripting Moves (2 of 2)

The script should clearly identify key coordination _{The script should clearly identify key coordination}

and decision points

_{Perform dress}_{Perform dress}_-_-_{rehearsals of complex moves (e.g.}_{rehearsals of complex moves (e.g.}

relocation of mainframe systems)

_{The script should have full contact info for all}_{The script should have full contact info for all}

participants including backups and vendors

_{Need a procedure for reporting and dealing with}_{Need a procedure for reporting and dealing with}

problems, including management escalation

_{End of script should have a wrap up to identify}_{End of script should have a wrap up to identify}

outstanding issues and provide turnover

(10)

Hiring Outside Help

Data center relocation is often the biggest project a _{Data center relocation is often the biggest project a}

IT organization will undertake.

Data center relocation is a specialty_{Data center relocation is a specialty}

_{Experts in data center relocation could be helpful}_{Experts in data center relocation could be helpful}

in project management and developing the major

documents (strategy, project plan, scripts)

Relocation and testing will require extensive _{Relocation and testing will require extensive}

weekend and evening work

Outside help is helpful to backfill for staff _{Outside help is helpful to backfill for staff}

assigned to the project