PTS News Archives – 2010

December, 2010
Securing the Sensitive Systems
S+LSS

Peter Sacco, founder and president of PTS Data Center Solutions, explained that, from a cabling standpoint, intrusion-detection systems are about security and operational support. “An integrated access security solution is used to monitor both ingress and egress, meaning to track both entry and exit. The access control is linked to surveillance coverage where cameras reside both inside and outside of the computer room and the facility,” Sacco said.

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Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Developing a Preventive Maintenance Plan for Your Data Center

Data center maintenance is an important component in ensuring maximum data center availability. Maintenance is more than simply a set of procedures. It is an overall strategy that requires clear objectives, well-defined roles and responsibilities, sufficient resources to accomplish the goals, and an organization that is committed to continuous operations. This white paper provides a comprehensive approach to developing a preventive maintenance plan for your data center.

To Download the White Paper Please Click Here

Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Data Center Power Problems & Solutions
DataCenterPost

Michael Petrino, Vice President of PTS Data Center Solutions, discusses a variety of Data Center power problems and possible solutions in this posting. Visit to learn about approaches to solve common battery related issues, proper maintenance of the data center electrical power path, and challenges with voltage regulation.

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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Impact of IT Upgrades on Energy Usage and Operational Cost
Bitpipe.com

With the high costs of power, energy efficiency has rapidly become a critical consideration when evaluating data center performance. It is, perhaps, second only to performance when deciding upon data center facility and network design. Higher energy consumption is a recurring cost that can add dramatically to operating expense over time. Furthermore, devices that consume more power require more cooling which not only further increases energy costs but impacts the physical design of the data center. Through this white paper, PTS Data Center Solutions (PTS) personnel validate these energy efficiency savings estimates using the upgrade of the IT system within its own data center facility and operations as a test bed.

To Download the White Paper Please Click Here

Thursday, September 30, 2010
The 10 Best Data Center Education and Certification Opportunities
Internet.com, ServerWatch

Who better to offer training than the people who build and maintain data centers? Design, training and consulting from the guys who know the business from the slab to the light fixtures. They offer onsite specialized and custom training. You can add in a one-day data center assessment for a mere $5,000.

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Friday, September 24, 2010
Data Center Building Trends, A Look At What’s New In Size, Organization & Layout For Data Centers
Processor.com, Vol. 32, Issue 20

Although many data center managers might yearn for a center that can last a decade, very few will manage to stick it out that long, believes Peter Sacco, president of PTS Data Center Solutions (www.PTSdcs.com). “Build what you think you need for the next three to five years,” he advises. “At this point, facilities have become similar in their build cycles to replacement of IT hardware, and we’re finding that you’re lucky if you get two builds out of one facility.” Because facilities need to be tweaked far more often than in the past, here’s a look at the latest data center building trends.

Friday, August 27, 2010
Building a Data Center: Tips for a Smooth Process
Data Center Post

Michael Petrino, vice president at PTS Data Center Solutions (www.PTSdcs.com), says: How can you ensure a smooth process? Do not let prince be your guiding factor. When selecting a professional services firm, have a weighted ranking system when evaluating potential candidates (experience, references, overall impression, price, and approach). It is important to have synergy with your vendors, as much of your communication will be over email or phone, even with vendors who are local. I also recommend taking meeting minutes after conference calls and distributing them after the call, similar to construction meetings.

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Friday, August 27, 2010
Upgrading Building Wiring To Support Gigabit & Higher, Use the Newest Technologies & Follow Latest Standards
Processor.com, Vol. 32, Issue 18

Historically, IT resources are poorly utilized. A recent McKinsey & Co. report titled “Revolutionizing Data Center Energy Efficiency” points to “significant inefficiencies” and notes that typical server utilization rarely exceeds 6% and that overall facility utilization can be as low as 50%. Because data center costs account for about 25% of the typical IT budget, any inefficiently utilized segment of the data center can therefore have a significant impact on that budget. “That includes lighting. It sounds trivial, but just lighting your data center can cost as much as 3% of your overall energy budget,” according to Peter Sacco, president of PTS Data Center Solutions (www.PTSdcs.com). And if you’re lighting inefficiently, the numbers could be even higher.

Friday, July 30, 2010
Lighting, Save Energy & Money in the Data Center
Processor.com, Vol. 32, Issue 16

Historically, IT resources are poorly utilized. A recent McKinsey & Co. report titled “Revolutionizing Data Center Energy Efficiency” points to “significant inefficiencies” and notes that typical server utilization rarely exceeds 6% and that overall facility utilization can be as low as 50%.

Tuesday, July 29, 2010
Servers: Big on Energy
Data Center Post

Peter Sacco, president of PTS Data Center Solutions (www.PTSdcs.com), says: Servers are the largest energy consumer in the computer room and are just ahead of cooling as the single highest cost within the data center. They have the most potential to affect energy consumption in the data center.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
PTS Data Center Solutions Expands its IT Solutions Portfolio with Compellent Fluid Data Storage and ExaGrid Systems Disk-Based Backup Solutions

PTS Data Center Solutions has launched a strategic distribution relationship with Compellent Technologies and ExaGrid Systems. The relationship includes the full breadth of products from both manufacturers targeted for midsized enterprises.

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Thursday, July 1, 2010
Managing the Infrastructure Management Elephant
Mission Critical Magazine – July 1, 2010

Failure to manage is often the elephant in the room when troubleshooting data center problems. Asking six data center managers to define infrastructure management is a sure way to get six different answers. It is similar to the ancient story of the six blind men and the elephant. When each of the men approached the elephant, he came to the conclusion that the elephant was like a wall, a spear, a snake, a tree, a fan, and a rope. In the end, they were all wrong. Just as an elephant is more than the sum of its parts, a true data center management solution is more than the sum of the various infrastructure management tool sets.

To Read the Full Article Please Click Here

Friday, May 21, 2010
Physical Access To The Data Center
– May 21, 2010  Vol.32 Issue 11

“The only people who should have unrestricted data center access are those who are critical and have been trained in all aspects of the data center, both IT and facility,” says Pete Sacco, founder and president of PTS Data Center Solutions (www.ptsdcs.com). “Everybody else should be there with an escort and watched. All the time, I see people who have their electrical or air conditioning systems serviced and just leave the contractor alone to do his thing. Nobody checks on him. Nobody even makes sure the maintenance was done. Noncritical access should be like scuba diving. It’s a two-man effort.”

Friday, May 21, 2010
Budget For Power & Cooling, Processor.com
– May 21, 2010  Vol.32 Issue 11

For better cooling, take a look at how the room is insulated, notes Peter Sacco, president of PTS Data Center Solutions (www.ptsdcs.com). “Have sufficient insulation between the computer room and adjacent spaces, especially where windows or outside walls are considered,” he says. It might be advantageous to get rid of windows altogether, he adds, because they tend to have a “solar heat gain potential.”

Friday, May 21, 2010
Create A Hot Aisle/ Cold Aisle Setup, Processor.com
– May 21, 2010  Vol.32 Issue 11

Also, keep in mind that one size doesn’t fit all, says Peter Sacco, president of PTS Data Center Solutions (www.ptsdcs.com). What may work in one area may not be appropriate in another space. “There are few fixes that work for all instances,” he says. “However, any that reduce air mixing and promote effective air management are always a good idea.”

Monday, May 3, 2010
Five ways to reduce data center power consumption, SearchCIO
– May 21, 2010  Vol.32 Issue 11

Balancing the data center power load correctly can be a key way to realize extra power capacity in the facility. Pete Sacco, president of PTS Data Center Solutions, said that when many data centers install their three-phase uninterruptible power supplies (UPSes), they end up plugging it into a power panel in a way that doesn’t maximize potential. In particular, they might plug too much equipment into the “A” phase of the panel when there is plenty of capacity on the “B” and “C” phases. “If I have loads of 186, 52 and 31 amps on my phases, I know that I can take loads off of A and spread them to B and C,” he said. “I’ve actually done nothing to deliver more power. I’ve just load-balanced it.”

To Read the Full Article, Please Click Here

Monday, March 26, 2010
How To Save On Cooling In The Summer Months As The Temperature Climbs, So Does The Cooling Bill Processor.com
– March 26, 2010  Vol.32 Issue 7

As any homeowner knows, air conditioning is more expensive when the temperature spikes outside because the room unit or centralized equipment has to work harder to keep a steady temperature. The same is true with a data center, albeit on a much larger scale and with the added complication of heat rejection, notes Peter Sacco, president of PTS Data Center Solutions.

Monday, March 12, 2010
Data Center Design Snags Top Mistakes To Avoid When Building New Or Adding On To Your Data Center Processor.com
– March 12, 2010  Vol.32 Issue 6

“While it’s possible to acquire sufficient knowledge (to properly build a data center), why take the chance?” says Peter Sacco, president of PTS Data Center Solutions. “Also, not all data center facility design consultants are the same. Construction contractors or [strategy] consultants often don’t have the data center-specific knowledge required for a successful project given the pace of demand IT systems have put on facilities.”

Monday, March 8, 2010

PTS Data Center Solutions announced today at the Data Center World Spring 2010 Conference the availability of its revolutionary new Data Center Maintenance Management Software (DCMMS) Solution.