The Australian IT is reporting here that the NSW state government has decided to consolidate their data centre footprint from 130 locations to two large purpose built data centres, in support of the state government’s IT systems.   I find this interesting in the fact that they are consolidating real estate, but there seems to be a lack of an announcement on how they will actually reduce the equipment or systems being installed into these two new facilities.  Using a public/private partnership, the NSW state governement have asked for companies to reply to Expression of Interest to develop these data centres, and provide long term access to the constructed space.

Fundamental to reducing the required floor space, power and air-conditioning requirements of a data centre, is capacity planning and understanding system usage.  In a previous lifetime, I worked on a commentary for the Australian Federal Government review of Data Centre usage, and how they should look to consolidate systems and develop smarter infrastructure services, before thinking about developing the bricks and mortar of a data centre.  There is obviously some merit, both financially and environmentally in consolidating data centres, but they must take it further to achieve long term benefits, to reduce the power consumption and remove the cost of operating the whole of government IT systems.  Shared infrastructure services (in this I mean, sharing the building blocks) and improvements in service management must occur.

The Victorian State government has a similar view of providing these services, through a shared services organisation called CenITex, and it will be interesting to see how this organisation succeeds through the next 3-5 years.

I think it’s great that technical innovators have had an opportunity to get into the halls of Parliament and explain their case for data centre consolidation.  I also see merit in using regional centres to supply the site and resources for delivery of these data centres.  It makes sense to locate them outside the CBD and use free-cooling.

Let’s hope they don’t make the same mistakes of the past, and make sure regional suppliers can provide enough power…

and I also hope that it’s not just spin before the impending NSW election…