[Category: Innovations. If you are new to my blog please read the "About itimes3" page first]

In recent months, there has been a lot of talk in the IT media about the new data centers that are being put up by the likes of Microsoft and others.

These data centers apparently have their kit located in sea containers, and thus massive amounts of processing power can be shifted as quickly as a sea container can be shifted from one location to another. A useful idea: standardized packaging for ease of deployment.

However in many cases, it can be useful to be able to shift smaller amounts of processing power quickly from one location to another, or within a location.

I have been in situations where there were events, and servers had to be shifted in and out for the duration of that event, usually just a few days. This tended to mean unpacking stacks of boxes, finding out what was what, getting everything wired up, and having the individual servers, switches, routers, firewalls, etc. also configured up. Then after a few days, tearing it all down, packing it all up again, and trying not to lose any bits and pieces in the process.

There are many other situations where it can be handy to shift stacks of equipment that is already wired up and configured, for quick and easy deployment in a new location.

However today, the rule is still to shift individual equipment, and screw everything into racks which is a time consuming exercise.

So what I am suggesting is the development of a shopping-trolley like device that would conform to data center standards. A user could load individual components into the trolley and wire them up together, so the setup could be wheeled to any location and plugged in.

Data centers could be equipped with anchor points for the trolleys, and allow stacking by a system in which the trolleys could be jacked up into a rack-like enclosure, for example allowing stacks of two or three or even more trolleys.

The trolleys are not to be confused with half-height racks, which are unwieldy and despite usually having castors, cannot easily be shifted.

The emphasis with the trolleys would be on ease of movement, so they would have large wheels, a handlebar to steer the trolley, and would also need shock absorbers to allow for travel across uneven city streets etc.

They would fit in a standard-sized van such as a Toyota Hiace and not require special treatment as their design, their shock absorbers, and perhaps a weather-protection cover, would protect the equipment to a sufficient degree to allow for reliable and safe transport by anyone capable of operating a shopping trolley.

If you like this idea and you work in a type of industry where this is relevant, I would be happy to discuss in more detail, answer questions or assist in other ways. For details and contact information please see the “About itimes3″ page.

George Spark

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