If you’re convinced that an on prem cluster is the way to go (for good reason) and the only thing holding you back is the fact that you don’t have a data center, colocation (housing your cluster at a third-party facility) is the answer. Colocation data centers offer the leasable space, cooling, bandwidth and security of your own on-prem data center– lowering costs and reducing operational overhead in the process.
You can lease space by the rack, cabinet, cage or room. Colocation facilities provide ventilation and cooling systems to support the high-density equipment, along with security and power backups.
In a traditional colocation model, customers own and operate their own equipment. The provider ensures the facility remains secure and operational but typically leaves the hardware alone. Some facilities might offer optional management services for an extra fee.
A colocation data center houses equipment in a facility specifically designed for reliability, efficiency and security, which are critical to HPC system hosting. Colocation facilities can help lower the operational expenses that come with HPC data center operations, which require a secure, climate-controlled space in a facility that can operate all day, every day, without interruption. In addition to the space itself, a colocation facility provides the operational infrastructure, as well as trained personnel to handle cable installation, power supply maintenance and HVAC system upkeep.
Colocation can also simplify the process of IT resource distribution across geographical regions when trying to accommodate data and user workflows. This makes it easier to scale systems as needed, without putting an unnecessary burden on internal IT resources.
The bottom line is that colocation is a way to get all the benefits of on prem HPC without an on prem datacenter.
Nor-Tech has resources and experts that can help you choose the best colocation facility for your needs. We frequently move HPC clusters across the U.S. safely and securely including takedown and startup .For more information about our high performance workstations and clusters in colocation environments, contact us at: 952-808-1000; engineering@nor-tech.com/ or click on the Contact tab at https://www.nor-tech.com/contact-2018/
About Nor-Tech
Nor-Tech is on CRN’s list of the top 40 Data Center Infrastructure Providers along with IBM, Oracle, Dell, and Supermicro and is also a member of Hyperion Research’s prestigious HPC Technical Computing Advisory Panel. The company is a complete high performance computer solution provider for 2015 and 2017 Nobel Physics Award-contending/winning projects. Nor-Tech engineers average 20+ years of experience. This strong industry reputation and deep partner relationships also enable the company to be a leading supplier of cost-effective Lenovo desktops, laptops, tablets and Chromebooks to schools and enterprises. All of Nor-Tech’s high performance technology is developed by Nor-Tech in Minnesota and supported by Nor-Tech around the world. The company is headquartered in Burnsville, Minn. just outside of Minneapolis. Nor-Tech holds the following contracts: Minnesota State IT, GSA, University of Wisconsin System, and NASA SEWP V. To contact Nor-Tech call 952-808-1000/toll free: 877-808-1010 or visit https://www.nor-tech.com.
