Using data center infrastructure for non-production applications instead of keeping it idle lowers costs and reduces risk.

Cisco IT previously backed up its metro virtual data center pair in Richardson and Allen, Texas, to a disaster recovery facility in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, which in 2011 was approaching its limits for space, power, and cooling. Rather than set up a traditional disaster recovery facility that would remain idle most of the time, Cisco IT designed a data center that could support non-production applications most of the time, and be quickly repurposed for disaster recovery. The dual-purpose infrastructure costs significantly less than dedicating equipment for disaster recovery and having it operate in standby mode.

This case study describes how Cisco IT designed its dual-purpose data center to meet the following objectives:

• Repurpose infrastructure from non-production to disaster recovery using automated processes
• Virtualize to the fullest extent possible, approximately 80 percent of the applications
• Operate sustainably and efficiently by meeting requirements for U.S. LEED-NC 2.2 Gold certification for construction

Read How Cisco IT Designed a Data Center that Can be Quickly Transformed from Development to Disaster Recovery Case Study