Good question about all of the different hardware combinations. We order several base server configs. Those orders are based on our most commonly requested server configurations. Beyond that, we analyze the various configuration statistics and then go out on the dc floor and pre-build some of the most common “one-off” configs. Since there is no way to pre-build *every* config for every customer order, we do have to do some on-demand builds, but we do what we can to keep that to a minimum.

rackaid:

Thanks for the props. There is a lot of planning and prep work that goes into each delivery and it’s fun to see it all come together each month.

And in regards to “pre-configured racks” - I like the way you think. I’ve toured Sun’s BlackBox product and while it is interesting, there isn’t much practical use for it in *our* environment. They are very intriguing for specific uses - such as emergency relief management, off shore environments, etc. But, they are way too limited in all aspects for the high density environments in this industry. As an alternative, I would agree with what Lance described in one of his blog posts about “Your Datacenter is Obsolete” (http://theinnerlayer.softlayer.com/2007/your-datacenter-is-obsolete/). That’s a good picture of the datacenter of the future.

As for pre-configured racks? We have had server vendors offer to provide such a service, we have had third party companies offer to provide the service and we have had individuals offer to come on site and do the work. The fact is, regardless of *who* does it, it still has to be done. After delving into pricing and all of the caveats that go into such services, it was determined that we can actually do it better and cheaper and more “on-demand” than any of the offers we have seen to date. The product is out there and available. It just doesn’t fit our model at this time.

Besides - what would be the fun of Truck Day if everything was done for us?

Sam F

Now to another point — how absurd is this process? Think about it. You have all of this staff sorting, transporting, taking inventory and getting servers ready. Though I don’t know if Sun’s BlackBox Project (http://www.sun.com/emrkt/blackbox/index.jsp) will be the way of the future, I think there is significant strides to be made in deployment of servers.

Presumably, the server vendor they could send you modular racks to install. Pre-loaded with the servers, pre-wired and then use integrated connectors to tap into power, network and management infrastructure? How much time would that save you. Perhaps the number of clients needing such infrastructure has not (yet) reached critical mass.

When we get servers and take them out of the box, I just think how antiquated the entire process is. Processors, disks and networks have improved leaps and bounds over the past few years, but when it comes to the nuts and bolts of the servers, I’ve seen few improvements.

I would love to be order a pre-built 1/4, 1/2 or full rack of servers, neatly wired and ready to go. Yet, I see few large vendors supplying this type of service.

I’d like to know how SL copes with the multiple options available on each server: they setup 1,000 new servers on a single day - but do you have to spend each day in the month then opening up each server to stick in an extra hard drive or extra RAM?