Tài liệu Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment docx

Contents
Overview 1
Identifying the Data Center Environment 2
Identifying People Considerations 3
Identifying Data Center Processes 4
Identifying Technology Considerations 12
Identifying Facility Considerations 13
Microsoft Operations Framework: People,
Process, and Technology 15
Lab A: Planning a Data Center
Environment 17
Review 19


Module 2: Planning a
Data Center Environment



Information in this document is subject to change without notice. The names of companies,
products, people, characters, and/or data mentioned herein are fictitious and are in no way intended
to represent any real individual, company, product, or event, unless otherwise noted. Complying
with all applicable copyright laws is the responsibility of the user. No part of this document may
be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any
purpose, without the express written permission of Microsoft Corporation. If, however, your only

means of access is electronic, permission to print one copy is hereby granted.

Microsoft may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual
property rights covering subject matter in this document. Except as expressly provided in any
written license agreement from Microsoft, the furnishing of this document does not give you any
license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property.

 2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Microsoft, Active Directory, BackOffice, FrontPage, Outlook, PowerPoint, Visual Studio,
Windows, Windows Media, and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation in the U.S.A. and/or other countries.

Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective
owners.

Program Manager: Don Thompson
Product Manager: Greg Bulette
Instructional Designers: April Andrien, Kelley Umphrey
Subject Matter Experts: Conrad Cahill (Entirenet), Jack Creasey
Classroom Automation: Lorrin Smith-Bates
Graphic Designer: Andrea Heuston (Artitudes Layout & Design)
Editing Manager: Lynette Skinner
Editor: Lori Kane
Copy Editor: Gwen Bloomsburg (S&T Consulting)
Production Manager: Miracle Davis
Build Manager: Julie Challenger
Print Production: Lori Walker (S & T Consulting)
CD Production: Eric Wagoner
Test Manager: Eric R. Myers

Test Lead: Robertson Lee (Volt)
Creative Director: David Mahlmann
Media Program Manager: Scott Daniels
Media Producer: Dean Connolly
Lead Production Artist: Scott Serna
Localization Manager: Rick Terek
Operations Coordinator: John Williams
Manufacturing Support: Laura King; Kathy Hershey
Lead Product Manager, Release Management: Bo Galford
Lead Technology Manager: Sid Benavente
Lead Product Manager: Ken Rosen
Group Manager, Courseware Infrastructure: David Bramble
Group Product Manager, Content Development: Julie Truax
Director, Training & Certification Courseware Development: Dean Murray
General Manager: Robert Stewart



Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment iii


Instructor Notes
This module identifies the facility, process, technology, and people issues that
must be considered when planning a data center environment.
During the lab at the end of the module, students will have an opportunity to
practice planning a data center environment.
After completing this module, students will be able to:
 Identify the data center environment.
 Identify people considerations for managing a data center environment.
 Identify process considerations for managing a data center environment.

 Identify technology considerations for a data center environment.
 Identify facility considerations for a data center environment.
 Describe Microsoft® Operations Framework concepts and how they apply to
a data center environment.

Materials and Preparation
This section provides the materials and preparation tasks that you need to teach
this module.
Required Materials
To teach this module, you need the following materials:
 Microsoft PowerPoint® file 2089a_02.ppt
 Module 2, “Planning a Data Center Environment”
 Appendix A: Checklist 1 – Planning a Data Center Environment

Preparation Tasks
To prepare for this module, you should:
 Read all of the materials for this module.
 Complete the lab.
 Read the following white papers about Microsoft Operations Framework.
They are on the Trainer Materials and Student Materials compact discs:
• Executive Overview
• Team Model for Operations
• Process Model for Operations
• Best Practices in Change, Configuration and Problem Management

Presentation:
30 Minutes

Lab:
30 Minutes

iv Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment


Module Strategy

If you did not teach Module 1, “Introducing Windows 2000
Datacenter Server” in course 2089A, Planning a Windows 2000 Datacenter
Server Environment, be sure to define the difference between Microsoft
Windows
® 2000 Datacenter Server and the data center environment during the
Overview slide before you teach this module.

Use the following strategy to present this module:
 Identifying the Data Center Environment
This topic provides an opportunity to introduce how a data center
environment is more than just the technology. Explain how a data center
environment is a conglomeration of components that include people,
processes, technology, and facilities. The slide in this section introduces the
concept of the data center environment as a whole. The slides that follow
detail each of the four components of the data center environment.
 Identifying People Considerations
This topic provides an opportunity to identify the people considerations that
have an impact on planning for a data center environment The staff that
works directly with the systems, as well as the organization’s culture, can
significantly affect the availability and reliability of a data center
environment. Reinforce this topic by encouraging stories from your
participants about how people issues prevented or caused system problems.
This could include a discussion about effective and ineffective
communication.
 Identifying Data Center Processes

This topic provides an opportunity to identify the process considerations
that have an impact on planning for a highly reliable and available data
center environment. The most prevalent cause of unplanned downtime is
when system changes are made without careful planning and deliberate
justification. Implementing effective processes can eliminate these concerns.
Discuss process issues such as analysis, change management,
documentation, and security. Reinforce this topic by inviting participants to
share effective processes that they use. You may want to also provide
handouts showing samples of how these processes are used in real-world
situations.
 Identifying Technology Considerations
This topic provides an opportunity to identify the technology considerations
that have an impact on planning for a highly reliable and available data
center environment. Focus on the relationship between system components.
Discuss the importance of knowing how applications will function on the
server as well as with the operating system and other applications.
 Identifying Facility Considerations
This topic provides an opportunity to identify the facility considerations that
have an impact on planning for a highly reliable and available data center
environment. Discuss issues such as the physical manageability of the
facility, the physical impediments to availability, and the physical security
of the location. Reinforce this topic by encouraging students to tell stories
about how facility issues caused system problems such as unplanned
downtime. Discuss how these problems can be prevented with planning.
Im
p
ortan
t

Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment v

 Microsoft Operations Framework: People, Process, and Technology
This topic provides a brief introduction to Microsoft Operations Framework
(MOF). Briefly discuss the MOF process model and team model. For more
information about Microsoft Operations Framework, refer students to the
white papers on the Student Materials compact disc.
 Lab A: Planning a Data Center Environment
This lab gives students an opportunity to apply the planning considerations
that were identified throughout Module 2. Arrange students in small teams
and have them review a scenario that involves facilities, processes, people,
and technology. Each team identifies the point of failure in one or more of
these areas and then discusses how they could have prevented it.

Customization Information
Make sure that the students meet the following prerequisites before they are
taught this module. Students need to be able to:
 Differentiate between Windows 2000 Datacenter Server and a data center
environment.
 Discuss components of Microsoft Windows Datacenter Program.



Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment 1


Overview
 Identifying the Data Center Environment
 Identifying People Considerations
 Identifying Data Center Processes

 Identifying Technology Considerations
 Identifying Facility Considerations
 Microsoft Operations Framework: People, Process, and
Technology

*****************************I
LLEGAL FOR NON-TRAINER USE*****************************
Microsoft
® Windows® 2000 Datacenter Server is one of the many components
of a data center environment. It is important to consider the entire data center
when creating a highly available and reliable environment; implementing a data
center environment is different from implementing other environments, such as
server rooms or desktop computing infrastructures.
This module identifies the components that make up the data center
environment, and discusses how each component significantly contributes to
the whole.
This module then briefly introduces Microsoft Operations Framework and
provides technical guidance for achieving mission-critical production system
reliability, availability, supportability, and manageability on Microsoft products
and technologies.
After completing this module, you will be able to:
 Identify the data center environment.
 Identify people considerations for managing a data center environment.
 Identify process considerations for managing a data center environment.
 Identify technology considerations for a data center environment.
 Identify facility considerations for a data center environment.
 Describe Microsoft Operations Framework concepts and how they apply to
a data center environment.

Topic Objective

To provide an overview of
the module topics and
objectives.
Lead-in
In this module, you will learn
about components that
make up the data center
environment and discuss
how each component
contributes to the
environment.
2 Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment


Identifying the Data Center Environment
P
e
o
p
l
e
Technology
P
r
o
c
e
s
s
Facility

*****************************I
LLEGAL FOR NON-TRAINER USE*****************************
A data center is a computing facility and a set of management processes that
maintain mission-critical requirements in your organization. It is not simply a
server or group of servers providing an extremely high level of availability.
Rather, a data center must be treated as a conglomeration of components joined
together in a whole. A data center’s components do not include just technology
but also people, processes, and facilities. Even if you install the most reliable
technology, you can only obtain the highest level of reliability that the
technology has to offer if you have the right team of people correctly managing
a carefully designed process.
The components of a data center environment include:
 Management, operations, and support staff, as well as a corporate culture
that manages the data center environment as a whole.
 Clearly defined processes that detail security, analysis, change management
and documentation.
 Technology that emphasizes quality hardware and software, standardized
configuration, and testing.
 Manageable, available, and secure facilities.

Topic Objective
To identify the data center
environment.
Lead-in
A data center is a computing
facility and management
processes that maintain
mission-critical requirements
in your organization.

This slide provides an
opportunity to introduce how
a data center environment is
more than just the
technology. For a data
center environment to be
successful, the students
must also put equal
attention on people,
processes, and facilities.

Each of the items in the
bulleted list will be covered
in detail throughout the
module.
Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment 3


Identifying People Considerations
 Management, Operations, and Support Staff
 Corporate Culture

*****************************I
LLEGAL FOR NON-TRAINER USE*****************************
The importance of people extends beyond those working directly with the data
center. The culture of the organization must also support a data center that
provides high availability and reliability.
Management, Operations, and Support Staff
The people who manage and operate the data center must understand the
processes and technology and must be dedicated to preserving the integrity of

the data center. Personnel must be highly trained, disciplined, and dedicated to
the special concerns of the data center, and it is important that the organization
ensures that data center staff has redundant skills.
Corporate Culture
Even if your data center has the highest quality technology, people, and
processes, the entire operation will not work unless your organization has a data
center culture. A company that has a data center culture treats the data center as
more than just a collection of individual parts under the name of data center.
It is important to manage the data center as a whole. Consider the impact of
decisions on all parts of the data center. Avoid focusing exclusively on
technical concerns by also considering impacts to the people, processes, and
facility.
The data center culture is not limited to the staff of the data center, but must be
a commitment to availability that goes all the way to the executive support
level. After a process has been accepted and engaged, an executive who
requests that something be added to the data center cannot circumvent it.
Executive commitment ensures the integrity of the processes and provides the
stability required to achieve the goals of the data center.
Topic Objective
To identify the human
resource considerations for
the data center.
Lead-in
The importance of people
extends beyond those
working directly with the
data center.
4 Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment



 Identifying Data Center Processes
 Analysis of a Data Center Environment
 Change Management Process
 Data Center Documentation
 Data Center Security

*****************************I
LLEGAL FOR NON-TRAINER USE*****************************
The most prevalent cause of unplanned downtime is that someone makes an
untested change to a server and that change causes an issue. To maintain high
availability in the data center, all changes must be strictly controlled. And the
best way to control changes is by implementing unchangeable processes that
describe every aspect of the data center. Processes need to be strictly enforced,
difficult to change, and fully justified. Just as a modification to any business
process requires justification, so does modification to the data center.
In the data center, changes must be implemented with caution. Improvements
are good, but they must be fully justified changes. For example, if you change
the list of people who are allowed entry to the facility or change the air
conditioner in the data center, there must be a business justification. If you add
or reconfigure servers in the data center, there must be a business justification.
After the data center processes have been established, everyone must adhere to
them. The people in the data center, some of whom may be responsible for the
processes, are still bound by those processes. A legitimate alteration should be
submitted according to established process, evaluated, and justified. Only then
can it be a candidate for implementation.
Topic Objective
To identify the process
considerations in the data

center.
Lead-in
The most prevalent cause of
unplanned downtime is that
someone makes an
untested change to a server
and that change causes an
issue.
Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment 5


Analysis of a Data Center Environment
Workload
Resources
current point
in time
 Capacity Planning
 Performance Monitoring
 System Tuning

*****************************I
LLEGAL FOR NON-TRAINER USE*****************************
The data center environment must be analyzed to ensure proactive planning.
The three tools that can help you analyze and adjust the relationships between
workload and resources are capacity planning, performance monitoring, and
system tuning. You can use these tools to analyze and then adjust the
relationships between:
 Clients (workload) and resources.
 Processor transactions (workload) and utilization (resources).

Capacity Planning
Capacity planning is the process of predicting if and when system and resource
saturation will occur. One of the most important aspects of capacity planning is
the ability to perform predictive analyses of the current situation and the way in
which this situation is changing. Two examples are hardware and workload
profiles. Hardware profiles allow the analyst to theoretically reconfigure a
system to maximize resource use, and workload profiles allow the analyst to
map current user activities to predict the effects of changes to the user
population.
Performance Monitoring
Performance monitoring is the process of periodically checking hardware and
software to determine the load placed on it. Performance data must be collected
at regular intervals to provide useful information. The performance data
collection process relies on the discovery of the various servers on the network
and supports a single measurement type that collects a set number of counters
for all server types. The single measurement type reduces network congestion
caused by multiple system measurements during the transmission or retrieval of
performance data. All measurements are started, stopped, and managed from
the central console.
Topic Objective
To identify the analysis
needs of the data center.
Lead-in
The data center
environment must be
analyzed to ensure
proactive planning.
6 Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment

System Tuning
System tuning is the process of adjusting the hardware and software to achieve
maximum performance. After you identify problem areas through capacity
planning and performance monitoring, you are ready to make the appropriate
adjustments. You need to use caution when system tuning the data center.
Before making adjustments, you need to collect sufficient data about the system
to make decisions about how these changes will impact your data center.
Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment 7


Change Management Process
Justification
Justification
Document
Document
Implement
Implement
Approval
Approval
Identify Issue
Identify Issue
Test
Test

*****************************I
LLEGAL FOR NON-TRAINER USE*****************************
Change management is a process that ensures stability no matter what changes
are made to the data center environment. Changes can include installing,
deleting, and modifying services or applications as well as adding,
reconfiguring, or removing hardware. A proper change management process

ensures that full justification is received for every change to the data center
environment.
Change Management Process
Change management tends to operate at two levels: planned changes and
emergencies. With planned changes, usually one or more computers are
changed, typically at a scheduled interval. The following steps illustrate a
change management process. This process can be modified for both planned
and emergency changes.
1. Identify the Issue
Identify the improvement or problem that needs to be addressed.
2. Provide Justification for the Change
When dealing with an application or a service, you must not only justify the
immediate item but also any related applications or services. For example, there
is justification for moving messaging services to the data center. But in
deciding which messaging platform to use, other issues arise. Planning for
messaging with Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server requires more than just the
Exchange service. Exchange also requires access to a domain controller, Simple
Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) services, and Network News Transfer Protocol
(NNTP) services. So the justification for adding messaging on the Exchange
platform to the data center must also include justification for the ancillary
services it requires.
Topic Objective
To identify change
management processes in a
data center.
Lead-in
Change management is a
process that ensures
stability no matter what
changes are made to the

data center environment.
8 Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment


In this situation, not only do you introduce an application, but you also modify
services and perhaps generate a hardware requirement. As you examine every
aspect of the new application and service included in the data center, you must
also scrutinize the inclusion of any new hardware. The hardware added to the
data center must be high quality and reliable. But, above all else, all hardware
added to the data center must fulfill some fully justified need; it cannot be
extraneous. Each piece of equipment that you introduce establishes another
cause of possible failure and another need for management. In the data center,
the addition of more hardware and software introduces expense and takes up
valuable space and resources.
3. Obtain Approval for the Change
Obtain technical and budgetary approval of the change.
4. Test the Change
Implement the change on a test system to ensure stability and reliability.
5. Document the Change
Change control has two aspects: getting consensus on when to make a change
and making sure everyone knows what changes have been made. In many
situations, a bad problem is made worse when the people making changes are
unaware that others are making changes. This is why it is important that
everyone who maintains or makes changes to a server is aware of the
importance of good record-keeping and good communication. For information
about documenting changes, see the “Data Center Documentation” topic in this
module.
6. Implement the Change
Bring the change online and into production.

Be sure to research the OEM’s specific implementation of the
Microsoft Windows Datacenter Program requirements. Windows Datacenter
Program has a qualification process that requires OEMs to ensure that all
hardware components, hardware drivers, and software that works on the kernel
level work together smoothly on servers running Microsoft Windows 2000
Datacenter Server.

Importan
t

Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment 9


Data Center Documentation
 Original purpose
 Original configuration
Technical History
Technical History
 Day-to-day operations
 Implementing a new process
 Changing a current process
 Management of processes
Process Descriptions
Process Descriptions
1
1
1
2
2
2

3
3
3
What
changed?
What
What
changed?
changed?
When
changed?
When
When
changed?
changed?
Why was
it changed?
Why was
Why was
it changed?
it changed?
Test
results
Test
Test
results
results
Impacts
Impacts
Impacts

Who made
change?
Who made
Who made
change?
change?
Who
approved?
Who
Who
approved?
approved?
Change Log
Change Log

*****************************I
LLEGAL FOR NON-TRAINER USE*****************************
In a data center environment, the documentation explains the technical history,
the description of every process, and all of the changes. A change log works
best as an electronic document that can be reached from any computer. Often
the best change log uses a plain text file to store the changes.
The following table demonstrates the types and descriptions of documentation
in a data center environment:
Type of documentation Description

Technical history Original purpose of the data center
Original configuration of the data center
Process descriptions Day-to-day operations
Implementing a new process
Changing a current process

Managing processes
Changes log Current state of everything in the data center to provide
a comparison with the technical history
Change log for every server What was changed?
When was it changed?
Why was it changed?
What are the test results?
What impacts might be expected from the change?
Who made the change?
Who approved the change?
Topic Objective
To identify documentation in
the data needs in a data
center.
Lead-in
In a data center
environment, the
documentation explains the
technical history, the
descriptions of every
process, and all of the
changes.
10 Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment


Data Center Security
 Process for Admitting Personnel
 Process for Admitting Hardware
 Process for Admitting Software

*****************************I
LLEGAL FOR NON-TRAINER USE*****************************
Stringent policies and procedures must be implemented to secure your data
center. There must be a process that governs how security is implemented and
changed. There must also be a process for admitting personnel, hardware, and
software to the data center.
Process for Admitting Personnel
It is important to implement a process that describes who can be granted access
to the data center. Because data in the data center is critical, the personnel who
have physical access to this area must be qualified. You only want the most
highly qualified employees in the data center.
Security is anything that prevents unauthorized use of the data center. Security
management is the practice of managing those who are allowed into the facility,
the pattern of their movement while they are inside, and what they are allowed
to do along their path. To accomplish effective security management, you must
understand all the levels of access required in the data center. Who needs to
enter the facility? Who needs access to what rooms or cages so that they can
work on what server? Granularity in security management emerges as an
important requirement of the data center facility.
When reviewing the security that is in place for the data center, also review
your methods for restricting access to remote administration of servers. Make
sure only the individuals you designate have remote access to your
configuration information and your administration tools.
Process for Admitting Hardware
Before you can admit a piece of hardware to the data center, there must be a
process that determines what the disruption to service will be. Hardware ought
to be checked for functionality before it is introduced to the data center
environment. As with the original hardware, any additional hardware must meet
Windows Datacenter Program hardware requirements.
Topic Objective

To identify security issues in
the data center.
Lead-in
Stringent policies and
procedures must be
implemented to secure your
data center.
Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment 11


Process for Admitting Software
The introduction of new software to the data center also has an aspect that must
be covered by the security process. Before any software can be introduced to
the data center, it must be thoroughly tested for compatibility. Further, it must
be scanned for viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and other aggressive and
destructive programs.

Be sure to research the OEM’s specific implementation of the
Microsoft Windows Datacenter Program requirements. Windows Datacenter
Program has a qualification process that requires OEMs to ensure that all
hardware components, hardware drivers, and software that works on the kernel
level work together smoothly on servers running Microsoft Windows 2000
Datacenter Server.

Importan
t
12 Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment


Identifying Technology Considerations

Hardware
Hardware
Software
Software
Testing
Testing

*****************************I
LLEGAL FOR NON-TRAINER USE*****************************
Technology considerations include hardware, software, and testing components.
Hardware extends beyond the server to the networking infrastructure and other
required hardware for special needs. It is important to understand the
relationships between system components when selecting software.
Hardware
Adopt a standard and choose servers with a standard network card, disk
controller, graphics card, and other components. Use this standard server type
for all applications, even if it is more than is needed for some applications. The
only parameters that ought to be modified are the amount of memory, number
of CPUs, and the hard disk configurations.
Software
You need to understand about how each application runs and how it relates to
the operating system and other applications running on the server. For example,
does the application interact directly with the operating system kernel? Select
software that supports the high-availability features you require. Not all
software supports features such as redundancy, load balancing, or server
clusters.
Testing
Hardware and software components require thorough testing before installation
and continuous monitoring after installation. Testing concerns for the technical
part of the data center include servers and storage, networking, and software

qualification.
Topic Objective
To identify technology
considerations in the data
center.
Lead-in
Technology considerations
include hardware, software,
and testing components.
Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment 13


Identifying Facility Considerations
Smartcards &
Biometric Devices
Smartcards &
Biometric Devices
Locks
Locks
Electricity
Electricity
Diverse Network
Connectivity
Diverse Network
Connectivity
Video
Video
Natural Disasters
Natural Disasters
Climate Control

Climate Control
Access Levels
Access Levels
Staff 24/7
Staff 24/7
Protection from Dust
& Contaminants
Protection from Dust
& Contaminants
Electronic
Motion Sensors
Electronic
Motion Sensors
P
h
y
s
i
c
a
l

S
e
c
u
r
i
t
y

M
a
n
a
g
e
a
b
le

F
a
c
i
l
it
y
A
v
a
il
a
b
i
li
t
y

*****************************I
LLEGAL FOR NON-TRAINER USE*****************************

The data center facility is a critical component of the data center environment.
You must examine several aspects of the physical plant to make sure that you
have eliminated any single point of failure. Areas that must be covered are
physical manageability of the facility, physical availability, and the physical
security of the data center.
Managing a Data Center Facility
Managing a data center refers to the management of the facility that houses the
people, process, and technology. There are certain factors that must be
addressed when planning a manageable data center facility, including
temperature, humidity, dust, and contamination.
Assessing Single Points of Failure
The data center facility requires an analysis of every possible kind of failure so
that you can eliminate any single point of failure. As part of the analysis, you
should consider electricity, network connectivity, and natural disasters as
possible failure points. In addition, plan for power outages and identify the
resources that are most critical to the operation of the organization.
Maintaining Physical Security
To maintain security in your data center, you must partition areas to reflect the
security needs of those spaces. Partitions can be established through access
levels, locks, smart cards, biometric devices, and other security devices.
Topic Objective
To identify facility
considerations for a data
center environment.
Lead-in
The data center facility is a
critical component of the
data center environment.
14 Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment

Recommendations
The following table lists several physical plant considerations for a data center
and recommendations for managing a data center.
Physical considerations Recommendations

Climate control Keep the computers cool. Ensure that cooling fans are
functioning properly. Failure of computer cooling fans
could cause the processor or processors, hard disks, or
controller cards to overheat and fail.
Regulate the room temperature. When adding servers to a
computer room, make sure you do not exceed the cooling
capacity of the room. Computers are rated for cooling at
about 70º Fahrenheit.
Regulate the humidity. The humidity ought to be kept low
enough to prevent condensation but not so low that it
creates problems with static electricity. When necessary in
a dry climate, use static electricity suppression.
Proper air circulation. False floors and ceilings allow for
controlled air to be circulated throughout every area of the
data center facility.
Protection from dust and
contamination
Filter dust. Use air scrubbers or other filtering systems.
Maintain clean room. Avoid data center contamination by
using airlocks on the doors or by requiring that special
attire be worn in the room.
Power supply Use a redundant uninterruptible power supply.
Use double or triple redundant generators rated to supply
enough electricity to power the entire data center.

Network connectivity Set up easily accessible pathways for redundant sets of
cables. If multiple network connections are used, try to
route the cables feeding the cabinets from different points.
Use redundant Internet connectivity. The best situation is
two separate, diverse connections.
Natural disaster Locate the data center away from fault lines, flood plains,
and other areas where natural disasters are known to occur.
Use seismic racks to insulate servers from shaking.
Use a redundant fire suppression system that does not
damage the equipment.

Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment 15


Microsoft Operations Framework: People, Process, and
Technology
SLA
Review
Release
Readiness
Operations
Review
A
C
H
N
I
G
N
G

O
P
E
R
T
N
A
I
G
O
P
T
I
M
I
I
G
Z
N
S
P
P
O
R
G
U
N
T
I
IT

Service
Mgt
Implementation
Review
Implementation
Review
SLA
Review
Release
Readiness
Operations
Review
A
C
H
N
I
G
N
G
A
C
H
N
I
G
N
G
O
P

E
R
T
N
A
I
G
O
P
E
R
T
N
A
I
G
O
P
T
I
M
I
I
G
Z
N
O
P
T
I

M
I
I
G
Z
N
S
P
P
O
R
G
U
N
T
I
S
P
P
O
R
G
U
N
T
I
IT
Service
Mgt
P

e
o
p
l
e
Technology
P
r
o
c
e
s
s
Communication
Release and
Configuration
Operations
Security
Supplier
Infrastructure
Support

*****************************I
LLEGAL FOR NON-TRAINER USE*****************************
When planning a data center environment, you can also refer to Microsoft
Operations Framework (MOF), a collection of best practices, principles, and
models. It includes a comprehensive suite of operational guidance in the form
of white papers, operations guides, assessment tools, operations kits, best
practices, case studies, and support tools that address the people, process, and
technologies for effectively managing production systems within today’s

complex distributed IT environment.
The categories of people and process are explicitly defined models in Microsoft
Operations Framework. The technology component does not have its own
model. The technology focus for Microsoft Operations Framework is on both
enabling technologies and best practices for achieving high systems availability,
reliability, supportability, and manageability in the Microsoft operating
environment.
Microsoft Operations Framework
Microsoft Operations Framework is divided into three key categories: people,
process, and technology. The two models that make up the core elements of
Microsoft Operations Framework are the process model and the team model for
operation.
Topic Objective
To describe Microsoft
Operations Framework
solutions and how they
apply to the data center
environment.
Lead-in
Microsoft Operations
Framework (MOF) is a
collection of best practices,
principles, and models.
16 Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment


Process Model
These phases of a process model form a spiral life cycle that can be applied to a
data center or an entire operations environment with multiple data centers,
including outsourced operations and hosted applications. The Microsoft

Operations Framework process model consists of the following four integrated
phases:
1. Changing. The process model life cycle starts with a release readiness
review to determine if the release is ready for implementation in the target
environment. A release is any change that must be incorporated into a
managed information technology (IT) environment.
2. Operating. Assuming a successful installation, the release moves into the
operating phase. Day-to-day activities and tasks occur during this phase.
These activities ensure the smooth operation of the release.
3. Supporting. As with any process, system, application, or service, problems
and issues can arise when the operation begins. The operations staff must
identify, assign, and resolve problems quickly to meet the requirements set
forth in the service level agreements.
4. Optimizing. This phase recognizes that running IT operations successfully is
a prerequisite to achieving business success in the competitive marketplace.
The optimizing phase addresses business service reliability and cost.

Team Model
The team model offers guidelines for IT service management based on a set of
consistent quality goals that exist in successful IT operations organizations of
various sizes, from large corporate IT departments to smaller, growing e-
business data centers and application service providers (ASPs).
The six roles of the team model can be interpreted as high-level clusters of job
functions that need to be performed, rather than as an organization chart or a set
of job titles. The six roles are infrastructure, support, operations, supplier,
security, and release and configuration.
Individual IT organizations implement aspects differently, depending on the
size of the group, the scope and boundaries of the systems, the geographic
locations, the resources available to the team, and the specialties and
experiences of the individual staff.

For more information about Microsoft Operations Framework, read the
four Microsoft Operations Framework white papers on the Student Materials
compact disc. The white papers are titled:
 Executive Overview
 Team Model for Operations
 Process Model for Operations
 Best Practices in Change, Configuration, and Problem Management

Note
Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment 17


Lab A: Planning a Data Center Environment

*****************************I
LLEGAL FOR NON-TRAINER USE*****************************
Objective
After completing this lab, you will be able to plan a data center environment.
Prerequisites
Before working on this lab, you must have:
 Knowledge about people considerations.
 Knowledge about process considerations.
 Knowledge about technology considerations.
 Knowledge about facility considerations.
 Knowledge about Microsoft Operations Framework.

Topic Objective
To introduce the lab.
Lead-in

In this lab, you will plan for a
data center environment.
18 Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment


Exercise 1
This exercise provides an opportunity to apply the planning considerations you
identified throughout this module. In this exercise, you review a scenario
involving people, processes, technology, and facilities. There is a point of
failure in one or more of these areas. To complete this lab:
1. Divide into teams of three or four.
2. Using Checklist 1 – Planning a Data Center Environment located in
Appendix A, identify the point(s) of failure.

You will find an additional, blank copy of the checklist in
Appendix B, titled Job Aid: Planning a Data Center Environment. You can
use this blank copy to plan for your data center.

3. Using the team discussion questions at the end of this exercise, discuss how
to create a plan that would prevent the point of failure from occurring.

Scenario
An Internet startup company has just moved into an office building previously
used by a small law firm to meet its need for expanded facilities. The
employees realize that the new server rooms will not support the kind of
availability they need.
Possible Solutions
What improvements could they make to support highly available services?
What improvements will they need to make, beyond the typical office setting,
to reassure themselves that their data is safe?

Team Discussion
1. Using your checklist, identify any potential single point(s) of failure.




2. How can your team eliminate the point of failure? Consider all aspects of
the data center environment, including people, process, technology, and
facilities. Write a summary of your discussion.

Note
Module 2: Planning a Data Center Environment 19


Review
 Identifying the Data Center Environment
 Identifying People Considerations
 Identifying Data Center Processes
 Identifying Technology Considerations
 Identifying Facility Considerations
 Microsoft Operations Framework: People, Process, and
Technology

*****************************I
LLEGAL FOR NON-TRAINER USE*****************************
1. Name components of a data center environment.
People. Management, operations, and support staff, as well as a
corporate culture that manages the data center environment as a whole
Process. Clearly defined processes that detail analysis, change
management, documentation, and security

Technology. Technology that emphasizes quality hardware and
software, standardized configuration, and testing
Facilities. Manageable, available, and secure facilities


2. Why is a data center culture important?
The data center must be treated as a whole. Consider the impact of a
decision on all parts. People should be expected to support the facility,
processes, and technology.


3. Why is it important to have a change management process in a data center
environment?
A change management process ensures stability no matter what
changes are made to the data center environment.


Topic Objective
To reinforce module
objectives by reviewing key
points.
Lead-in
The review questions cover
some of the key concepts
taught in the module.