IBM completes its ‘high resiliency’ data centre

IBM designs, builds and manages more data storage centres than any other IT company – globally it has over 400 such facilities – and its brand-new facility in Auckland’s Highbrook Business Park incorporates the very latest innovations in design.

Greg Farmer, general manager of global technology services for IBM New Zealand, in front of IBM’s new data centre in Highbrook Business Park.

Globally, IBM’s data centres are characterised by energy efficiency, green technologies, scalability, and the latest power and cooling technologies, so when the decision was made to build a new data centre in Auckland, the goal was not only a highly efficient facility, but one that would minimise its environmental impact.

The main requirements for a data centre, however, are a ‘without fail’ supply of power and state-of-the-art security. Greg Farmer, general manager of global technology services for IBM New Zealand, explains that the initial site selection was a long and considered process. “It’s essential that a data centre has power supplied 24/7, so that immediately ruled out a city site – in the event of a power failure, you don’t want to be competing for power with residential users, nor stuck in the middle of a cordon if a natural disaster strikes.

“We then looked south – north of the Harbour Bridge was ruled out due to its weak infrastructure – and Highbrook Business Park caught our eye. It’s in a low-risk area geologically and geographically, in that it’s not on a known fault line, and is a safe distance above sea level; it’s well off the airport flight path; it’s close to the Otahuhu power exchange; and it’s accessible, with good transport routes nearby. Besides all that, it’s an attractive business park – it’s a place we’d like to be seen.”

The Highbrook developers, Goodman, are renowned for their high standards and quality properties, and offered IBM an attractive package. Resource consent for the data centre was approved in October 2009, and groundworks commenced in November that year.

Track record

With a track record of building high-tech highsecurity facilities worldwide, Brookfield Multiplex was awarded the contract to build IBM’s new data centre. “It’s a niche market that we specialise in,” explains Tim Pope, Brookfield Multiplex’s regional managing director. “We lead the market in New Zealand in these types of facilities, with a dedicated project team that covers the spectrum of needs for these facilities.

“The timing worked well for us too – we completed a data centre for the ANZ Bank in 2009, so were ‘match fit’ for this project, plus we have another project in the pipeline that we’ll roll straight into once we’re finished with the IBM facility.”

IBM provided Brookfield Multiplex with a comprehensive brief, to which it applied its superior service skills to refine. “Every data centre is bespoke, but there are fundamental aspects that are not dissimilar,” Tim Pope explains. “The exterior is essentially a conventional warehouse, with an incredibly specialised interior fitout and services. They all have the same needs regarding fail-safe power and high-tech security.”

Green Star efficiency

IBM partnered with Schneider Electric – which is also headquartered in Highbrook – to design and deliver the energy management Greg Farmer, general manager of global technology services for IBM New Zealand, in front of IBM’s new data centre in Highbrook Business Park system, all aspects of which have targeted either four or five Green Star ratings.

The 5200 sq m facility houses a 1500 sq m columnfree raised floor – a room within a room, so to speak – upon which the data servers are housed. Cool air is vented in from below the raised floor, and hot air is blown out the top and recirculated via a refrigerated system. Large-capacity high-efficiency computer room air-conditioning (CRAC) units have been utilised to obtain optimum system efficiency.

Humidification and dehumidification processes have been centralised into the data hall’s incoming fresh air system, leaving the CRAC units to undertake temperature control only. This central plant-type air-treatment process was able to incorporate two high-efficiency ultrasonic humidifiers rather than 12 smaller decentralised units.

The lighting system within the data hall is fully automated to only turn on those rows where required. The data hall remains a ‘lights out’ environment for the majority of the time, reducing the area to be lit, thus saving energy and improving the life of fittings.

Power is supplied via a very complex system that ‘cleans’ the power and regulates it to guarantee a consistent supply without surges or lulls. A backup power supply is available via a bank of batteries plus the centre’s own power generators. The battery rooms are well insulated to reduce solar heat gains/losses and reduce energy costs.

Rainwater is harvested by unconventional means. Rather than installing tanks at high capital cost, the data centre was built with an oversized underground pipework collection system, into which the roof rainwater downpipes discharge, and these are used as the grey water storage system in lieu of a tank.

Dedicated security system

Situated on a secured site with just one boundary with an adjoining neighbour, the data centre building is set back a minimum of 10 m and incorporates controlled access points for visitors, IT support, facilities maintenance and deliveries.

There is a dedicated security control room within the building, resourced 24/7 and supporting IBM’s access and monitoring system, which includes three forms of access control into secure areas, CCTV with storage for 90 days, intercom at all entry points with a master key system throughout, 24/7 alarm monitoring, biometric screening and vehicle control points.

The facility operates as a ‘cloud environment’, meaning all services are available via the internet, so although based in Auckland, the data centre is available for commercial customers worldwide. “Businesses no longer need to have their own costly server in a back room somewhere on their own site,” Greg Farmer explains. “Some enterprises are required by legislation to store their information within the country – government departments, for example – but with this new facility, we can provide a viable offshore alternative for clients throughout the Asia-Pacific region.”

The data centre’s modular design and large site mean there are repeatable options for expansion, allowing for further stages of the same scale to be developed to meet an estimated 15 years’ demand.

Following six weeks of rigorous testing, the building is now fully operational. “Prior to migration of systems into the new facility, we took the chance to test everything, quality assuring every facet of operation. We are currently working with clients to ensure a smooth migration into what we believe is the very best commercially available data centre in New Zealand,” Greg says.

For a virtual tour of the new data centre, visit www.ibm.co.nz