Cisco in the Data Center? (Big question.) 1

[webmeist]

Hi all.
Thank you for the existence of this forum.
My first post here, so please be gentle?

I have been working in Houston for the past two years for a network building contractor. We build entire networks from running simple new add/cable drops for existing customers, to big projects like a complete new 10G system, underground fiber backbone and interconnectivity etc for an entire university, to building the infrastructure for global data centers. One of the things I've noticed in my present position is the trend toward data center locations. (Or perhaps I just never knew of their existence, never having been in one). Even the relatively small university I worked at is building their own data center, miles off campus!

Along the way also I have installed numbers of the 6500 series switches, and many of the smaller (3750, etc) ones. (No configuration of them though. Just the physical install.)

Previously I worked in an office setting, so i have learned a whole new "vision" of a network on this job, but one of the things that has constantly intrigued me is how the whole system is designed, either on the campus or enterprise level. And I'd like to move more toward a job involved with supporting or working with the system, rather than just building it on a construction (and i mean construction) level.

Can anyone give me advice on what they would think might be a good bridge from my present job to one working at a data center or more system/administrative/design one? I have seen that there is actually a Cisco course:
642-961 CDCNID
Cisco Data Center Networking Infrastructure Design
but from what I can see that requires a CCDA.

Could that be a realistic direction for me to go in, or would it be better for me to just consider the CCNA direction? I am not really thinking of trying to complete the certification before getting a new job, just getting some of the coursework and tests underway as a way to get in somewhere. Unfortunately my present company has no educational benefits for the most part. I am also looking at Red Hat certification, as I have used unix somewhat in the past.

Also, could someone speak to the differences between the Cisco setup in a typical web hosting company, or a true global data center?

I know, that's a lot, but I just thought I'd see what I could find out.

Thanks so much for any help.

Daniel Smith
Houston, TX

 

[burtsbees]

If you want to enhance your current position by being able to design Cisco networks along with physically building them (would possibly make more sense), I would go for the CCDA first. CCNA can follow, but after seeing what CCDA involves, you may want to stick with that part. CCNA would pretty much be somewhat of a career change rather than career enhancement, so it would therefor be a greater challenge getting a job as a network support engineer, admin, etc.
The data centers are designed to withstand earthquakes and nuclear missile attacks (not exaggerrating!), and save companies room, and also are professionally staffed with their own IT personnel.

HTH

Burt

 

[namesrhard2pick]

Welcome Web! I got a question for you. I am in the process of installing two new 6509e swithes. These switches are replacing 5500s. The computer room and closet are not cold enough to keep the modules at an acceptable temperature. The sup boards are running anywhere from 48c to 51c. We got the room AC down to the max and still have some challenges. Any idea how we can futher cool these switches???

 

[CiscoGuy33]

namesrhard2pick,

It is done all the time in MDFs and IDFs that were never intended to house that equipment and the heat that comes with it - portable A/C units such as Spot Cooler -

http://www.spot-cooler.com/

These are also used as backup when the main A/C goes down - heat will kill this equipment!

Hope this helps!

E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[maczen]

Thanks for the link!

 

[burtsbees]

Do you have the fan trays installed in the 6509's? Very important to have 2 feet of space between the left side (looking at the module side) and the wall, if a fan tray is installed. The heat won't exhaust out otherwise.

Burt

 

[webmeist]

Yes, there were many unplanned and overlooked heating problems in my experience with the switches at the university I mentioned above.

Many rooms had to be left with doors cracked or open (and I'm talking for months). Again, this is only from residual observation/memory. I only installed them and heard/saw some of the "feedback" and results.

There were many different MDF and IDF configurations.
Of course, the newer buildings had modern cooling standards built into their construction. But some of the buildings were even as much as 100 years old! And many had very very limited dimensions. In many of them it was practically impossible to work behind the racks after install of the Ciscos.

This is the recap that I saw going on there, coolingwise.
For most of the older existing closets, they installed dedicated cooling systems, I assume with their own proprietary atmospheric measuring and adjustment.

They seemed pretty expensive. From free-standing units mounted in the floor (these were about 2'x 2'x 4') for bigger (again, older) MDFs, to ones installed in the walls or ceiling.

In some buildings where I assume either the electrical wiring or building code or general situation (I remember one such where the temperament of the woman who had an office next to the closet, and her aversion to excess noise, was a major consideration.) In that place they installed a new ac duct right into the ceiling of the room, directly above the racks (only two there), and somehow created a low-noise slow exhaust fan to vent the room. I don't really know, perhaps they had a way to install the separate ac system in the ceiling area, or create a separate feed to the environmental system to allow this room to be cooled separate from the overall climate. But my read was that there was a continual air flow in and out.

My thought about those portable ac units above is that they had better be on the same building's emergency backup power as the switches. That was the nice thing about them designing the whole thing as one, that they were able to weave the cooling in with the other building systems. Because these systems were used for the entirety of campus police/security, emergency communications, card systems to get into buildings, etc.

I can remember the old-school phone manager there telling me that a lot of schools were shying away from relying solely on digital for everything because in an emergency it would all go down.

'meist

 

[namesrhard2pick]

Thanks for the link. I am running the VS-S720-10G-3C x2 sup modules. I have plenty of room on either side. I suspect the fans are not pulling enough cold error across. Could be the portable unit I have today has a lower CFM output than what the tray fan is capable of pulling.

 

[burtsbees]

I think those fan trays are for exhausting heat, not pulling in air...

Burt