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Data Center Staff Will Sleep Among the Racks For London Olympics

Posted by samzenpus on from the best-room-in-the-house dept.

1sockchuck writes "Staff at Interxion's London data center are ready to hunker down during the Olympic Games this summer, nestled in snug sleeping pods adjacent to the racks. The arrangement will ensure that the facility will be fully-staffed if London's transit system is taxed by the huge crowds expected for the Games. While staff in many industries might object to a plan that expects them to sleep in their office, data center firms have a primary calling of keeping their facilities operational at all times. Is this too much readiness, or just enough?"

13 of 210 comments (clear)

  1. Sounds kind of fun, actually. by Hero+Zzyzzx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As long as it's voluntary, compensated and not a long-term thing it can be enjoyable to "batten down the hatches" for an expected surge in demand.

    1. Re:Sounds kind of fun, actually. by ElScorcho · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yeah, if they are the types who actually enjoy their jobs and get along with their coworkers this could be a lot of fun. It might get old towards the end, but I personally wouldn't have a problem with it. If nothing else you'd be much closer as a group after something like that, plus I bet they'll all have fun stories to tell when it's over. Not to mention that if they have a decent employer who knows what they're asking for there'll probably be free food for that time.

      The only point of friction might be optimal sleeping spots. No one wants to sleep in the hot aisle, and you'd probably need earplugs.

      --
      Evil will always win, because Good is DUMB
    2. Re:Sounds kind of fun, actually. by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Interesting

      That's what I loved about my Japanese boss back when working for a Japanese company. He was there as long as I was. His rule was that he's the first in the office and the last one to go home. It may sound trivial considering that I didn't really need him for anything (me being technology, him being beancounting), but it is superior in morality to "ok, you stay here 'til midnight and finish that ... whatever, I'll be off for some golfing".

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  2. Sure, it's reasonable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If....

    a) It's for a short time (check)
    b) It's critical (check)
    c) There's enough people on-staff to rotate who's doing this (not sure)
    d) There's substantial reward/overtime/extra PTO/something for doing something like this (not sure)

    So, it's 50% reasonable, maybe completely reasonable IN THIS CASE.

  3. Sleep among the racks by necro81 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, that makes perfect sense! Do you know what a flat in London goes for these days? Twice that if you want climate control! I am thrilled to hear that the datacenter company cares so much about the well being of its employees.

  4. Re:Depends on pay by SJHillman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yes. In the US we call it being salaried.

  5. Re:Havn't they ever heard of shifts? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    From description...it sounds like the London transportation system may be overwhelmed and they simply may not be able to get replacement staff in the center in a timely manner.

  6. Re:Depends on pay by Anne_Nonymous · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Readiness" is just a cover story that they've told management; really it's going to be a month-long LAN party.

  7. Re:Havn't they ever heard of shifts? by Dan+Dankleton · · Score: 5, Insightful

    From how I read it the problem isn't that they don't have the shifts, it's that the shift workers may not be able to get into or home from work.

    This is simply risk management. There is a risk that staff might have trouble commuting, so they are mitigating that risk.

  8. Re:Havn't they ever heard of shifts? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Of course they know how shifts work: that's what they're doing now. The problem is the Olympics: most of the large data centres in London are right next door to the main Olympic site. Travelling in or around London, particularly anywhere near East London, during the Olympics is expected to be a complete nightmare. I was warning a previous employer two years ago that they had to start planing for the three months period when it was unlikely any of the staff would be able to travel to the data centre in London (let alone finding somewhere to stay overnight for out of hours work: the London Docklands Travelodge would be right out!)

    So yeah, knowing the density of data centres in the area and how close they will be to the Olympics, this sounds like a pretty damn sensible idea, to me.

  9. Re:Oh, that's bullshit! by Victor_0x53h · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...just weep silently in their sleeping pods all night.

  10. HP/MP restored! by game+kid · · Score: 5, Funny

    But you're still hungry.

    --
    You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
  11. Re:Oh, that's bullshit! by g0bshiTe · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can see their T-shirts now.

    Summer Olympics 2012
    I survived Wake on LAN

    --
    I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!