Comments on: Digital Realty, Uptime Debate Tier System

By: Tom Deaderick

Tom Deaderick — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:50:15 +0000

Come on guys. One of you data center vendors step up and buy yourself some credibility. If you really believe the Tier Classifications aren’t superior, go through the process and publish your results. THEN your comments will look like something other than just self serving avoidance.

By: Tom Deaderick

Tom Deaderick — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:25:37 +0000

I’ve yet to read any rational and objective argument against Tier Certification. I think the number one reason any data center operator is against using the Tier system is BECAUSE the standard is so exacting. In too many other industries there are amorphous benchmarks that vendors can easily manipulate. I think it’s interesting that the one example of a clear and precisely identified standard is attacked by all the vendors who’ve either never gone through the certification process, or have chosen not to publish their results.

I think consumers NEED strict benchmarks. I don’t think ANYONE should video themselves asking people to believe them after three failures in a year’s time.

Let’s be honest, there’s just no reason a data center vendor would spend tens of millions on a data center and then decide NOT to have the design reviewed by an objective and qualified third party.

Everyone has a bias. We have gone through the process and done things the right way to ensure our promises match our capabilities, so I favor the process.

Those who own existing data centers, who chose not to get their facilities reviewed also have a bias. Most of them know their data centers wouldn’t pass the Certification review. I think when we see one of these guys go through the process and publish their Certification results AND THEN decide the system doesn’t provide value to the consumer THEN maybe we should listen to them. Until then, it’s just a bunch of guys with data centers that don’t meet muster whining.

By: Greening the data center: Dry your tiers … « The Server Room

Greening the data center: Dry your tiers … « The Server Room — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:42:49 +0000

[...] } Today’s commentary comes from reading Digital Realty, Uptime Debate Tier System. I believe that the tier designation system is not only irrelevant now but also holds us [...]

By: XenonCJ

XenonCJ — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:43:44 +0000

I’ve never like the “Tier” system… It’s a bit too vague.

How about a “Class system”?

Class 0 : No fault tolerance
Class 1: UPS only
Class 2: UPS and 24hr air
Class 3: UPS, 24hr air, & Generator
Class 4: Concurrently Maintainable Fault tolerant UPS, 24hr air, & Generator
Class 5: Concurrently Maintainable Fault tolerant UPS, 24hr air, & Generator + built to withstand attack (enhanced security, armor shielding, etc…)