Joe Farsetta

Business continuity. A new and exciting catchphrase? For some, perhaps. Traditional business continuity planning involves many aspects of corporate activities, from call center rerouting and alternative raw material suppliers to policies requiring executives to fly on separate planes. or the IT professional, business continuity usually equates to off-site data storage, along with contracting for data center space with recovery sites such as Sunguard. For the seasoned IT professional, it has long been the somewhat elusive prize at the end of the day. It’s the delicate balance between data center heartiness and capital expenditure, between overkill and practicality, and between business needs and shrinking IT budgets. In the end, it’s an exercise in risk assessment. And, as with any insurance policy, the more protection you want, the more it’s going to cost. As many b... (more)

Electrical Supply Versus Demand

Power. Electrical power, that is. The very lifeblood of any functioning data center. It doesn't matter if it's the electricity that keeps your server at home running, or the electricity that keeps your employer in business, power is probably the single most important necessity in any IT process. You see, it doesn't matter how well you've developed the application, or how powerful your processing engines are; without electricity to run them, they may as well be boat anchors. Close examination of how your data center is electrically fed is an absolute necessity. If you're planning... (more)

Out of the Blue: Things to know when installing WebSphere Portal

In the past, I've written about operational readiness and operational excellence as performance models for data center environments. I'm an ops guy; a gear-head; the imperious overlord of all things within my domain. I'm the person you typically hand your space, equipment, applications, and business models to, and say, "Make it all work, then manage it." The investment in the human aspect of a project is typically what will make or break any major IT undertaking. This asset can never be overlooked or taken for granted. It's where the rubber hits the road - where the planning, or... (more)

Building An Application Server Data Center

Your latest assignment includes building those applications and application servers that will propel your firm's business to the next level. Where to physically locate these new servers is the question, though. So, it's up to you to help design or evaluate new or existing data center space. Not sure of how to do this? It's not an insurmountable task if you know the basic building blocks which go into every comprehensive data center. This article will steer you through the many options available, and the factors that affect a data center's design. Data centers no longer only incl... (more)

Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is...

Pervasive computing. Sounds awesome, doesn't it? But, what is pervasive computing, exactly? Well, IBM defines it as the ability to manage information easily. More specifically, it will enable people to accomplish an increasing number of personal and professional transactions using a new class of intelligent and portable devices giving them convenient access to relevant information anywhere, anytime. Wow. What a mouthful! In theory, pervasive computing will simplify life by combining open standards-based applications with everyday activities. It will remove the complexity of new... (more)