NNSS employees cut the ribbon to Area 6’s state-of-the-art Modular Data Center (MDC) Jan. 24.
Featuring equipment with a smaller footprint, the MDC is a joint venture between NNSS Procurement, Enterprise Infrastructure Programs and Information Technology that will support Site modernization for years to come.
“It’s a very, very successful project,” said Mission Support Senior Director Ray Alexander. “This is a key facility that will help support the experimentation. We like to celebrate our achievements—specifically, the achievements of our people.”
“The team came up with unique ways to efficiently and effectively ensure we were good stewards of government funds,” said Information Technology Director Chris Rankin. “We’re a team of options. We’re always looking at how can we do things better, faster, more efficient. It’s one team, one mission.”
The facility’s interior features cooling and heat extractors, a moisture control center and fire suppression system. Minimal surface space ensures clutter or waste is kept to a minimum. Overhead wiring allows for improved ventilation. “Everything about this building is remotely monitored – we know what’s happening,” Rankin said.
Thanks to technological advances that make equipment more compact and efficient, the MDC has capacity to support mission expansion along with future IT resource consolidation. Even with the current minimal space used, the existing system has duplicate data boxes to create a stable environment.
“It’s deployed in a manner that uses standards,” said Rankin, adding that components are not older than three to five years and are constantly rotated through new installation, repair and replacement processes for stability and flexibility.
A key feature of the MDC’s design is its scalability. The concept of the structure, used by major technology companies, allows for expansion in the future if space is needed.
“We didn’t want to build a new building,” said Principal Infrastructure Analyst Ron Duplex. “We wanted a modular-type facility that’s dedicated to the data center.”