• Tier5 chose Dell’s Modular Data Centre solution (MDC) instead of building a traditional data centre to help maximise flexibility and save AUD$ millions.
• Tier5 estimates Dell’s MDC solution will save its Adelaide data centre customers AUD$8 million in power costs per year.
• Dell’s MDC solution provides Tier5 with the flexibility to grow its capacity incrementally to meet the precise IT needs of its customers.

Tier5 Chooses Dell MDC to Rapidly Grow Its Business

Tier5 is the first company globally to deploy Dell’s latest modular data centre (MDC) solution, an  innovative approach that is the result of three generations of Dell experience in the modular data centre space. 

The solution was developed by Dell’s Data Center Solutions (DCS) group and is a custom-designed, hyper-efficient data centre with IT, cooling and power modules that snap together. As Tier5’s business demand grows, it can incrementally add more building blocks, which will save the company money and maximise flexibility and energy savings for its customers.

Tier5 is pioneering new approaches to data centre services through developing multitenant data centre parks that are designed for the specific needs of wholesale tenants, including managed service providers, resellers and large users. Taking into account this unique business model, Dell’s DCS worked with Tier5 to design a flexible, modular data centre tailored to the company’s requirements. The technology is deployed within Tier 5's state-of-the-art green data centre that it is establishing within a portion of a former automobile manufacturing facility.

Customers in the ‘Virtual Era’ demand IT solutions that drive efficiency, rapidly deliver business value and drive innovation without locking organisations into proprietary technology. Harnessing more than 25 years of expertise in meeting customers’ requirements, Dell’s MDC solution preserves choice and helps customers such as Tier5 reduce the time required to build, manage and maintain an efficient data centre.

Dell’s MDC Drives Enterprise Efficiency

While container-style data centre designs offer flexibility and scalability, they bring their own set of challenges. Some modular designs require data centre managers to make compromises on thermal configuration, equipment size, capacity, accessibility, and redundancy. Given this, Dell’s DCS team created an MDC with fully-customisable, right-sized IT, cooling and power modules that snap together so customers can incrementally add the building blocks as needed.

Realising that Tier5 needed not just a containerised data centre, but a MDC solution designed for its unique requirements, the company turned to Dell DCS, an engineering-driven organisation that has helped build some of the world’s largest cloud computing environments.

The shell of Dell’s MDC solution is formed by a steel frame, rather than a standard rigid shipping container. Thanks to this design, Dell can deploy modules with different configurations to meet the needs of different customers.  Each module houses up to 12 standard server racks and up to 2,500 servers. The design gives Tier5 the flexibility to mix and match hardware components within a module to better serve the specific needs of its customers.

The MDC solution contains two rows of custom-built racks with a centre hot aisle, a design that allows  easy access to components for servicing and maintenance. The module offers an easily accessible connection point for power and cooling as well as IT management. It also offers multiple cooling options, including chilled water, evaporative cooling and outside air. This enables users to choose the cooling option that works best for the site and the climate.

The facility uses less power, supports the needs of Tier5’s wholesale customers precisely and enables Tier5 to expand capacity smoothly as incremental demand occurs.  Dell’s end-to-end deployment time for this solution is also a fraction of the time required to deploy alternative options with equivalent capacity.

Quotes

Marty Gauvin, founder Tier5 said, “Flexibility and scalability are among the keys to Tier5’s success and we were looking for a solution that allows data centre infrastructure to be deployed quickly and predictably to meet the demands of its customers as their businesses grow. Ultimately, the collaborative effort between Dell and Tier5 yielded a very practical solution designed not just by server people, but by data centre and server people working in tandem.

“We wanted the ability to go to any customer, anywhere, and install a wide variety of equipment and demonstrate, at least initially, that we could do the highest level of redundancy. We wanted a modular data centre where there would be no compromises, and that’s what Dell delivered.”

Forrest Norrod, vice president and general manager of Dell’s Server Platform Group, said, “In many hyperscale environments, customers require massive data centre capacity that is extremely cost-effective and efficient, and is highly scalable to respond to rapid business growth. In some cases, traditional data centres can force these customers to invest in space and infrastructure that won’t be fully utilised for months or even years.

“The MDC capability is as a key proof point of Dell becoming a leader in transforming customers’ infrastructures in the Virtual Era.” 

Joe Kremer, managing director of Dell Australia and New Zealand said, “Australia is experiencing a crisis with regard to data centre capacity.  Billions are being spent at fever pitch as government and corporate organisations race to develop new facilities as older data centres run out of power and space and present an increasing drag on the environment and our valuable resources. 

“Dell has a brilliant solution that changes the value proposition of data centres.  It’s an approach that is more flexible, reduces power consumption, uses free air for cooling and is highly scalable.”

About Dell

Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) is a leading technology provider to commercial enterprises around the world.

About Tier5

Tier5 is a company specialising in innovative data centre services and consulting.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Dell
Marty Filipowski
marty_filipowski@dell.com
+61 2 8972 5591

Andre Fuochi
andre_fuochi@dell.com
+1 512 413 4438

Scott McKenzie
scott.mckenzie@ppr.com.au
+61 3 8643 1636

Tier5
John Harris
jharris@impress.com.au
+61 8 8431 4000