Meryll Lynch v3 19/12/08 12:50 Page 25
End-User Focus
required to provide that edge is a
constant challenge.”
Barnes’ team focuses on building
solutions for the firm’s businesses
based on internally developed
architectural standards. Their remit
spans the firm’s technology
infrastructure and includes desktop,
servers, storage, networking and
voice technologies.
How many primary/backup DC sites
does Merrill Lynch have locally and
globally?
“For the US and Europe we each have
two main DCs, a primary and a
secondary in each region. These are
supplemented by smaller ‘comms
rooms’ in branch offices as required.
The picture is different in the Pacific existing planning permission the time market data and market access
Rim where the larger geographic area to bring the DC live was significantly vendors who provide the pricing
leads to a more diverse spread of DCs.” shorter than a Greenfield information and connectivity to
development.” exchanges that our business uses.
How big is the UK regional centre? We’ve designed the facility with
“The DC was sized to hold over How was the data centre designed security at every cabinet so that the
20,000 processors. Or, within the to facilitate longer term growth and third party equipment can be
building you could park two 747 business demands? interspersed with our equipment
jumbo jets back to back, yet there are “Much of the cost of a DC is driven by whilst still controlling access.”
only about 25 people on site. Most of the underlying site and mechanical
the support is done remotely in and electrical infrastructure, so it’s What are some of the demands
London and around the world.” prudent to plan for the future. placed on IT by the nature of Merrill
Lynch’s business?
Why did Merrill Lynch choose the Generally DCs have a 10-20 year life “I think in terms of challenges one of
particular location of its UK regional span. We looked at a 15 year life for our biggest hurdles is the diverse
site and how did the firm acquire it? our site and projected growth within nature of our businesses. Each one
“Sites suitable for DC development that timeframe, leading to provision has different demands and is driven
are difficult to come by - there are a for 50% growth within the building. by the market they are in, and, the
number of factors that you look at: We have put in the minimum regulations imposed upon them. For
availability of power, communications infrastructure that will allow us to some cost is the most important
connectivity, flight path and flood risk, bring on line this additional capacity demand, for others it’s speed.
naming a few. Our initial search without impacting the existing space.”
identified over 200 sites that were Balancing the simplicity and cost
right on paper. By applying our What are some of Merrill Lynch’s efficiency that a ‘one size fits all’
criteria we reduced it to around five, key DC areas? approach provides while enabling
which we then did further due “The DC isn’t internally segregated; competitive advantage, is not
diligence on. The site we chose was the equipment is spread throughout straightforward. Flexibility and
based on suitability, cost and time to the facility to balance the load. Some scalability is key. We need to be able
market. Merrill Lynch acquired a of the equipment generates less heat to flex so that we are always providing
‘warehouse style’ building in to which than others and so this drives how it the right capability at the right cost
a DC was built Because this was an is spread across the facility. We also with appropriate controls for any given
existing building with some pre- have third party equipment from business.”
Winter 2008 www.datacentresols.com | DATA CENTRE SOLUTIONS | 25
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