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What Would You Like to See in an Ops Center?

Posted by Cliff on from the visual-and-functional-improvements dept.

binaryspiral asks: "I work in a network operations center that has a fair amount of tours and escorted customer traffic. We (the ops employees) have been given the option of submitting ideas for a redesign that would upgrade our ops center to something more functional and visually impressive to potential customers who visit. I'm also looking into software applications that monitor our systems and put them on large displays but a lot of it looks ho-hum. Unfortunately, one of the criteria is that this redesign be functional and visually appealing. I would ask the Slashdor crowd to share with me the things you hate or love about your ops center. Any suggestions or ideas from this crowd might actually be what I'm looking for!"

5 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. Big Red Button by ericspinder · · Score: 3, Insightful
    A big red button near the door, uncovered, and at the right height for a twelve yo to punch. The real question would be wether or not to hook the halon up to it. :)

    Really, other than software, I'd suggest a good look at layout; are the work areas separate from the racks, perhaps even a separate area for 'problem' servers? Is there a good size parts room (perhaps off the 'beaten path'). Can you keep people away from the cabinets by having large windows to view the 'magic area'. Nothing says 'professional' like all LCD monitors (dual is better).

    Just don't let them forget the break room and the bathrooms. Also be sure to have plenty of cameras For a touch of fun, you could install UV lighting, and reactive cables. Taking another page from the case mode handbook, liquid cooling might really 'wow' them.

    --
    The grass is only greener, if you don't take care of your own lawn.
    1. Re:Big Red Button by binaryspiral · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Remember this isn't a datacenter - it's an operations center I'm speaking about. Our DC is currently very well taken care of, we just need our Ops center to meet that level.

      We all are based on Thinkpad Laptops with 17" secondary LCDs and docking stations.

      Oh, and by code there are big red buttons on every exit from the DC (covered with acrylic break away covers)... it kills the power to all racks instantly. Don't even joke about pushing it...

    2. Re:Big Red Button by drsmithy · · Score: 2, Insightful
      We all are based on Thinkpad Laptops with 17" secondary LCDs and docking stations.

      Do you really need laptops ? I ask because when I started at my current job, they offered to get me a laptop (with an external LCD) "like everyone else". Since the job didn't require any on-the-road work, I asked why "everyone" had laptops. "The just do" was the response. Now, having been there a few months and not seeing a single laptop ever leave it's docking station in that time, I just wonder why "everyone" wants laptops.

      Since then, I've not once regretted getting the dual-CPU PC with SCSI RAID, 2GB RAM and dual 21" LCDs instead :).

  2. Tell them thanks but no thanks. by hackwrench · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Since you seem to be having trouble coming up with general areas in which you want improvement the obvious answer is to tell them that you are doing as well as you can given the current state of technology and notning should be done. Your customers and shareholders will thank you.

  3. You only have to live up to Hollywood by nortcele · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The expectation of your visitors will only be what they have seen in movies. You meet or exceed that... excellent. If you are below that, visitors will think the system is below par. Personally. I like glass, lights, and large screens. Screens like NASA has. For the glass, I think machines behind glass like in the movie Sneakers is neat. Large glass windows like one sees in a shopping mall. Depends what you want the visitors to be impressed with. Security? Cool security things. Not some exit door alarm like the local bookstore has. First define the impression you want to make on visitors, then work from there.