The main trends in the world market of data centers

2018

Intel against all. War for network interconnect between processors and memory began

As the Intel corporation and other players of the market in proivoves approaches a question of coherence of memory to it. Read more here.

2017

IDC: 10 key trends in the world market of data centers

In December, 2017 analysts of Research Firm IDC prepared the forecast for 10 top trends in the world market of data centers for 2018-2021. Among key trends experts listed upgrade of data processing centers, further transition to software-defined infrastructure, distribution of autonomous IT infrastructure and shift towards the payment model based on consumption.

1. Upgrade of data centers

Due to the raised workload generated by the next generation of applications and new IT architecture by 2020 55% of the enterprises will be forced to upgrade the DPCs due to upgrade of the existing resources and/or commissioning of additional capacities.

2. Rationalization of loading

By 2019 50% of the organizations will take actions for rationalization of loading and acceleration of implementation of the next generation of applications that will demand radical changes in terms of creation and placement of infrastructure and also models of IT transactions.

Data center in Dallas

3. Hybrid IT transactions

By the end of 2019 of 70% of the companies involved in digital transformation will experience difficulties with the embodiment of business needs in effective projects of IT investments and action plans. It will force the companies to correct the HR policy so that to provide presence of the skilled staff necessary for creation of digital supply chains.

4. Modularity of the DPC organization

By 2021 expanded use of power-intensive computing technologies will force the majority of chief operators of data centers to pass to modularity at placement on the objects of resources for power supply and cooling.

5. IT on the basis of consumption

By 2020 the scheme of purchase of resources of DPC on the basis of consumption will eclipse traditional purchasing models due to bigger flexibility and transparency of such pay structure.

6. Data management

By 2021 a quarter of large enterprises will envelop in own favor costs for ensuring compliance to mandatory requirements of the regulating bodies, using them for implementation of the automated control facilities behind data in the cloud capacities, the main DPCs and on boundary (peripheral) objects.

7. Software-defined IT infrastructure

By the end of 2019 the need for the improved dynamism, controllability and effective use of resources will force the companies passing on digital technologists to transfer more than a half of all IT infrastructure of the data centers and peripheral objects to software-defined model of work.

8. Smart peripheral DPCs (Smart edge data centers)

By 2021 key infrastructure in half of corporate data processing centers will independently work, and on peripheral computing nodes use of autonomous IT infrastructure will be even broader in connection with the aspiration of the organizations to connect the main and boundary resources for support of implementation of initiatives of digital transformation.

9. The periphery is ready to digitalization

By 2021 over 50% of the companies working in the industries focused on consumers will begin to direct to upgrade of network, computing powers and resources on data storage on peripheral objects more means, than on upgrade in the main DPCs.

10. Quality control of services

In 2019 at 60% of digital services implementation indicators among consumers will be below desirable level because suppliers of these services will not be able to control properly their quality, efficiency and cost and quickly to react to changes of these parameters.^[1]

Hyper convergence and disaggregation

It is no secret that for the best use of resources, in any systems, information not the exception, resources should be collected in the general pools they could be redistributed reasonablly. In computing optimization regarding use of resources began long ago, with the systems of distribution of time. Then virtualization queue came. In the second decade of the 21st century focus of attention was naturally displaced on hyper convergence and disaggregation because at this level of development of technologies it is possible to create resource pools by these two alternative methods.

New resource-centrichny approach to creation of DPCs - disaggregation of servers - can raise indicators of scalability and adaptation to loadings and also to lower capital and operating costs of provider [1] (in more detail).

Possible this approach becomes thanks to development of silicon photonics.

Hyper convergence allows to create program centrichnye infrastructures in which the various "hardware consumer goods" (commodity hardware) are closely integrated, but such infrastructures are brought to the market under a brand of one vendor.

2015: Migration on Open Source

At the beginning of August, 2015 the CRN edition published excerpts from an interview with the CEO of Brocade Lloyd Carney who among other statements expressed the opinion concerning capability of Cisco and other producers of network equipment successfully to work at the market of open solutions in which the top manager sees the future of the market of data centers

According to Carney, revenues of traditional vendors, such as Cisco, are tied to the closed architecture therefore to adapt under work on the Open Source projects which are more ground on program control to them it is extremely difficult.

According to the head of Brocade, Cisco will not be able to adapt under work on the Open Source projects

At the same time the head of Brocade held the company up as an example of successful transition of the producer to new generation of network products for data centers which differ in simplicity of operation, high extent of automation, orientation to the software and that is more important, in openness of architecture.

Lloyd Carney paid attention that the architecture of Cisco is ground only under servers and self-produced solid-state storage systems while the architecture of Brocade is optimized under any equipment of the client.

"Our attention is concentrated on involvement of new clients, and the best method to make it open approach which is characterized by high cost efficiency and scalability is. As for Cisco, they try to grow outside network business. They sell servers, disk storages, analytics for Internet of Things, hoping to become the new large computer company. We remain the net network player in the field of data centers, we are not going to sell storage systems, servers, etc. as our partners propose these solutions", – the head of Brocade noted.

On the journalist's question of accents of Brocade in 2015-2016 Carney listed the following: software-defined networks, virtualization of network functions (Network Functions Virtualization, NFV) and different software solutions.^[2]

2014

Forecast of growth of number of DPCs

Total number of data centers of all types in 2017 will grow to 8.6 million, and then will begin to decrease slowly: such conclusions are drawn by IDC in the report of Worldwide Datacenter Census and Construction 2014-2018 Forecast ^[3]. Changes will be caused by the fact that in 2016-2017 the companies will begin to reduce number of server rooms and cabinets in the internal data centers, – but all other categories of DPCs which are especially belonging to service providers will continue growth. Reduction of number of data centers does not mean decrease in demand: at smaller quantity of objects the total area of DPCs around the world in 2018 will reach 1.94 billion sq. feet (180 million sq.m) – against 1.58 billion sq. feet (147 million sq.m) in the 2013th.

Consolidation

In global sense the number of DPCs in 2018 will decrease as a result of consolidation, but the area them will increase, believe in IDC. Consolidation happens at all levels of provision of services already today and will only increase:

• Vendors – suppliers of servers, racks for data centers

Consolidation of such companies as HP and Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry) which main goal is intention jointly to optimize the general practices, examination and technologies concerning cloud computing shows aspiration of suppliers of servers for DPCs to consolidation of strengths of each other for satisfaction of the fast-growing sector of cloud computing and data centers.

• Service providers

In the market of commercial DPCs the strategic cooperation of data centers and telecom operators directed to increase in efficiency of provision of services on storage and data processing will proceed. Operators of data centers will integrate the strengths in different business models, thereby satisfying the bigger number of clients. And cooperation with telecom operators will allow to solve a problem of connection and to high-speed information exchange. Thereby aiming at vertically integrated structure.

Modular DPCs

Main article: Modular container DPCs

Modularity of creation of data centers is used practically by all players in the market. Vendors offer the improved versions of steel containers. Mobile data processing centers have a row advantage in comparison with stationary data centers. MTSODY more effective: they do not require special infrastructure, term construction is about 2-3 months, they are mobile and can be located with sources of cheap energy. Besides, they can be used for expansion of power of stationary DPCs.

MegadPCs come

In the report Worldwide Datacenter Census and Construction 2014-2018 Forecast IDC believes that in construction of data centers to the forefront there will be megadPCs – platforms where servers of large providers of services of a collocation and cloud services will be placed. By 2018 their share (on the area) in new construction of data centers of service providers will make 72.6%, and 44.6% of the areas of all new data centers of high-end in the world (in 2013 – 19.3%). IDC does not explain to what criteria megadPCs should answer, but Data Center Institute^[4] carries to them the having not less than 9000 racks or with the area of placement about 21 thousand sq.m.

Source: Data Center Institute, 2014

Virtualization and "green" DPCs

See Also: Virtualization See Also: Green DPC (world market)

According to assessment of the Uptime Institute organization of 20% of all IT equipment does not perform any useful functions and only "heats the atmosphere" (these spring of 2014). So those data processing centers (DPC) which go for dismantling of such equipment try to obtain significant economy. According to the forecast of Pike Research company, the market of "green" DPCs by 2016 will reach $45.5 billion in comparison with today's $25.5 billion.

Growth of the market of "green" technologies of data centers for regions

Source: Pike Research

Virtualization remains one of key trends in the world market of data centers, it will remain to like that and in 2015. Heads consider investments as in virtualization of servers, and networks. According to the report of Gartner Magic Quadrant for x86 Server Virtualization ^[5], for July, 2014 more than 70% of servers are already virtualized. More and more large companies use several hypervisors in private or public hybrid clouds at once.

"Magic" square of Gatner for virtualization of servers h86 architecture

Source: Gartner, 2014

The innovation materials and color of cabinets

On an equal basis with virtualization one of the most sensitive issues of modern DPCs - energy efficiency. The vast majority of owners of DPCs are puzzled with questions of energy efficiency. For ensuring energy efficiency new methods in design of data centers (an example, modular DPCs), new materials for lockers, acceleration of racks and even new colors of these lockers will be used.

As well as search of the best architecture of DPCs, modularity, etc., considerable number of recent innovations indicates that metalwork of racks of lockers can have a considerable impact on density of data processing centers and their cooling. Considered earlier as "simple pieces of iron", racks and cabinets become more and more important components of DPC. Its such characteristics as flexibility of infrastructure, efficiency of cooling and electricity consumption eventually depend on the choice of their construction. And density of the equipment and ports, along with architecture of infrastructure of DPC, generally is defined by the choice of cabinets and racks. In view of such large-scale influence when choosing this metalwork it is necessary to be based on the most comprehensive information, to consider the offered advantages to installation in the context of capital costs, not to lose sight of influence on future transactions and the subsequent expenses.

All industry organizations which are responsible for standardization of the equipment, in particular ISO/IEC, TIA/EIA and BICSI at installation of cable infrastructure of DPC recommend to provide a reserve for future growth. It allows to provide a free space for laying of cables and optimal routes and also to minimize movements, adding and changes in cable infrastructure which should support two-three generations of active electronics. The environment of DPC is dynamic, more than ever earlier: promptly requirements to data processing and capacity of their storage grow, and in relation to power they increased from several kilowatts (on average 5.5-6 kW) to 20 kW by a rack. Therefore the trend of providing with mobile and compact racks accrues.

A number of producers, in addition to traditional black cabinets, offer constructs of gray and white color. Besides the white cabinets which appeared in data processing centers of the companies HP and Cisco, stirred interest in this subject.

In DPC of the called companies when choosing coloring of cabinets first of all aimed to improve visibility. If white and gray surfaces reflect up to 80% of light, then black absorb up to 95% therefore, the premises filled dark objects need more lighting. However, reasonable approach is necessary everywhere, otherwise advantage will turn back a shortcoming. Glossy, snowy white coloring can blind and cause eye pain so are suitable for cabinets opaque better, muffled tone. Besides, white color promotes power saving.

Of course, lighting of premises of DPC — not the biggest column of expenses on electricity, is the share less than 5% of all energy consumption in DPC of it. However in case of large data processing centers each percent of economy — and even the percent share — is expressed in the considerable amounts. As showed researches, coloring of cabinets in white color allows to reduce energy costs for lighting on a third. So, in case of the 1 MW DPC five percent from general consumption make 50 kW, and reduction of this value for 30% gives economy in 15 kW. Respectively, in case of white cabinets on as much it is possible to reduce number of lighting instruments at construction of new platforms (by a third). At last, less energy will be required on cooling, cabinets of black color absorb more heat. Therefore, the trend of search of alternative solutions for bigger efficiency even is observed when choosing color of lockers.

Acceleration: increase in racks

According to results of the research Global Data Center Rack Market ^[6] conducted by TechNavio analytical company, racks "grow up" from year to year — for the last 10 years they were extended on average from 36 to 42U, and their volume doubled practically. At the same time about 60% of all world market of mounting constructs are the share of racks 42U high, and higher racks enjoy popularity. According to Feisel Gauss, the vice president of TechNavio, already now about 10% of the market are the share of racks 48 and 51U high, and in the nearest future their share will grow to 20%. More and more owners of DPCs when choosing the premises for new data centers pay attention to premises height.

Business drivers for upgrade of DPCs

Source: Veeam Data Center Availability Report 2014

DPCs are faced by relevant problems of increase in capacity, ensuring reliable data protection and also implementation of effective solutions in the field of energy costs. In this overview the top global trends in the market of DPCs are described.

The key directions in which owners of DPCs are going to invest

Source: Veeam Data Center Availability Report 2014

Data centers serve today as the main point of interaction and information exchange with employees, partners and clients and also basis for building of new models of business in which effective use of large volumes of data and elasticity of computer resources are crucial.

Clients and customers are active round the clock, employees need continuous access to data. Idle times are inadmissible, it is the lost money. Most the companies invest in virtualization, the newest technologies of DWH, cloud computing and this trend accrues. But also there is a trend of solution of the problem of limited availability or increase in indicators of RPO and RTO (or just RTPO), key indicators of backup.

• RPO - Recovery Point Objective
• RTO - Recovery Time Objective

RPO defines a rollback point — timepoint in the past on which data will be recovered, and RTO defines time necessary for recovery from the backup copy.

The Veeam Software company in the report of Veeam Data Center Availability Report ^[7] devoted to assessment of availability of IT resources of the companies notes what during the global poll of heads of IT departments became clear: 82% from them recognize that they are not capable to satisfy the need for continuous access to IT infrastructure. The problem of limited availability leads to direct loss of profit — annual losses of the enterprises from failures in operation of applications make more than 2 million US dollars — and also to decline in production and data loss because of impossibility of their recovery of backup copies.

The main directions which would like to improve in the data-center

Source: Veeam Data Center Availability Report 2014

Experts predicted that in 2015 the tendency to reduce these indicators (RTPO) up to 15 minutes and less for all applications will prove. It is also the concept of "Always-On Business" for the new level of data availability in modern DPCs directed to improvement of indicators of backup, verification of opportunities of recovery of files, prevention of data loss, high speed of recovery of files and also complex control of infrastructure.

DCIM are technologies of infrastructure management of DPCs

Together with virtualization of the environment densely there are DCIM (Data Center Infrastructure Management) - technology of infrastructure management of data centers. By estimates 451 ^[8], world turnover of the DCIM systems will grow from 886 million dollars to 1.2 billion in 2015.

Dynamics of the world market of DCIM

Source: 451 Research, 2014

The DCIM direction is connected with significant increase in number of corporate DPCs and process of consolidation in the industry of commercial DPCs. Main objectives of solutions in this direction is maximizing use of resources of DPC, increase in efficiency of service of operation and, as a result, achievement of the best indicators at the cost of ownership of DPC. In the context of DCIM resources of DPC are understood as IT as assets: servers, storage systems, network equipment, and the resources of DPC ensuring functioning of IT of assets: construction (server premises), engineering systems, systems of power supply and the electric power, systems of maintenance of necessary parameters of the environment of premises of DPC.

SDN/SDDC is the program configured DPC

In the world of IT many consider that all IT infrastructure needs to be virtualized and provided in the form of service, and control over a data processing center should be completely automated programmatically. This concept in VMware is called by SDDC (Software-Defined Data Center). Means a complex of the technologies allowing to virtualize not one computer, but all complex of technical means with the purpose to create the program configured DPC by SDDC. However, in the market of DPCs there are disagreements in the description of these terms: someone considers it only the marketing term, someone simple continuation SDN (SDN from engl. Software-defined Networking, also software-defined network), and someone the new concept.

How was, but the technology really goes in coordination with SDN which was also not initially widely accepted by the industry. However for today on a centralized basis the configured or programmable networks — one of the most relevant network technologies. Not accidentally last year analysts of Gartner turned on SDN (though considered still as insufficiently mature) in the top ten of the most perspective technologies, and messages on SDN began to flicker often in a news flow. According to forecasts of IDC, by 2016 turnover of the world market of SDN will reach 2 billion dollars. So one of the main visionaries will advance further the idea of SDDC.

Similar vision from Intel. A trend towards the defined DPC through one application

Source: Intel

Thereby the trend of coordination of virtualization of the environment, SDN, DCIM and SDDC will lead to the concept of DPC as some IT ecosystem. However, in practice still most part of such concepts is not implemented yet.

Dynamics of the market of SDN

Source: IDC, 2013

Source: Infonetics Research

According to forecasts of IDC, by 2016 turnover of the world market of SDN will reach 3.7 billion dollars. Let's add that, according to Infonetics ^[9], the world market of SDN/NFV will make of 11 billion dollars by 2018. According to the forecast ^[10], the market of the solutions SDN by 2018 can reach the volume of 35 billion dollars.

Source: SDN Central

2013

Technologies of cooling

In the report submitted by IHS 'World Market for Data Center Cooling —2013 ^[11] the new technologies of cooling directed to decrease in operating expenses in data processing centers will have the greatest annual average growth rate (CAGR) among all technologies of cooling, in 13.1 percent within the next five years. Reaching in 2017 market size exceeding 2.5 billion dollars.

Dynamics of the market of technologies of cooling

Source: IHS, 2013

Ambient cooling

Many of key components of DPCs, recently provided or being in development process by large service providers, such as Amazon, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft, will get almost into each new project of especially independent DPCs for multiple lease.

Such elements of equipment include ambient cooling which is used (for expense reduction) instead of conditioning with an intake of fresh air, new methods of the organization of flows of a hot and cold air without use of expensive raised floors and replacement of the majority, if not all, branded servers and DWH the inexpensive equipment of custom assembly which part will not be put even into the chassis.

This last component, not proprietary equipment, can attract interest of the solution providers aiming to offer inexpensive alternatives of the equipment to the customers expanding the corporate DPCs also.

Here It should be noted that the level of projects grows instead of with increase by the requirement of service providers to level and an infrastructure environment of data centers. So, for example, according to a research of Emulex company, 54% of IT administrators expect that by 2016 in their DPCs networks 100-Gbit/s Ethernet will be implemented, and 81% called the growing demand for the bandwidth of one of the major tasks. The need for the increasing bandwidth will increase and further together with the growing demand for a broad spectrum of the cloud services covering Big Data, backup, disaster recovery, stream transfer, etc.

See Also

• Overview of TAdviser: Commercial DPCs
• Data processing center (data center)
• Key services based on DPC
• Colocation
• Russian market of DPC
• Trends in the Russian market of data centers
• Cloud services (market of Russia)
• Russian IaaS market
• What is "green" data center?
• Measurement of profitability of DPC
• Container DPCs
• Technologies for DPC: Solid state drives (SSD)
• World market of DPC

Notes