The Data Center Frontier Executive Roundtable features insights from industry executives with lengthy experience in the data center industry. Here’s a look at the insights from Jeff Klaus of Intel.
JEFF KLAUS, Intel
As General Manager of Intel Data Center Manager (DCM) Solutions, Jeff Klaus leads a global team that designs, builds, sells and supports Intel DCM, the only software that provides real-time, server-level data on the power and thermal conditions across a wide range of data center servers and other equipment. Provided as an SDK, Intel DCM middleware is integrated into Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) consoles to increase data center power and thermal efficiency.
Since joining Intel in 2000, Klaus’ accomplishments have been recognized by multiple division awards. With a broad background in software solutions for the channel, client and SMB space, he has served as Director of Media Programs within Intel’s Digital Home Group, Entertainment Content Marketing Manager, Business Operations Manager, and Software Marketing Manager.
An accomplished speaker, Klaus has presented at such industry forums as Gartner Data Center Summit, AFCOM’s Data Center World, the Green IT Symposium, and the Green Gov conference. He has authored articles on data center power management in Data Center Post, IT Business Edge, Data Center Knowledge, Information Management and Data Centre Management. Klaus currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Green IT Council. Klaus earned his BS in Finance at Boston College and his MBA in Marketing at Boston University.
Here’s the full text of Jeff Klaus’ insights from our Executive Roundtable for the second quarter of 2016:
Data Center Frontier: In the first half of 2016 we’ve seen unusually strong demand for wholesale data center space from cloud builders and Internet enterprises. Is this a short-term phenomenon, or is cloud growth fueling a long-term shift toward larger requirements?
Jeff Klaus: As it stands, more organizations are evaluating the costs and benefits associated with migrating to some type of colo or cloud space. With more tools available from consultants in this space, evaluation is easier based on specific organizational needs.
Data Center Frontier: A growing number of data center providers are embracing renewable energy. Is it becoming easier to procure renewables at a scale and price that makes sense for data centers? Which approaches hold the most promise?
Jeff Klaus: In short, yes. Intel has been a leader embracing renewable energy for years. In fact, last year the US EPA’s Green Power Partnership recognized Intel for the seventh year in a row as the largest voluntary purchaser of green power in the US, purchasing enough renewable energy certificates to meet 100% of its US electricity use for the year. This amounts to approximately 3.1 billion kWh. Some companies and COUNTRIES make this part of their culture or strategy and based on location climate could determine if wind, solar or other forms are appropriate for them specifically. It’s much easier to procure as illustrated by a data point. For example, I understand that every 2 minutes a new solar energy system is installed in the united states last year – and that is significant progress.
The Intel Corp. headquarters building in Santa Clara, Calif. (Photo: Rich Miller)
Data Center Frontier: In recent years, the data center industry has made solid progress on energy efficiency. What are the most promising opportunities and strategies for continued improvement?
Jeff Klaus: I believe the best path for operators is to continue educating themselves on capabilities and technologies available to them for evaluation. Intel continues to develop new servers with increased telemetry which allow operators to have greater insight into the energy characteristics of their hardware, there are more analytics available to operators who can take complex data sets from this new telemetry and interpret it more easily into actionable decisions. Overall, most data center hardware and tools are being built with energy efficiency in mind.
Data Center Frontier: New technologies like the Internet of Things, virtual reality and artificial intelligence are generating excitement in the technology world. What are the implications of these new technologies for the data center sector?
Jeff Klaus: IoT evolved as chip architecture continued to follow Moore’s Law and shrink in size, while offering greater compute capabilities. IoT means more connected devices for employees, more devices for IT to support, secure and manage. Meaning we have compute devices with us everywhere, more apps, more need for data thus requiring more servers, it’s a vortex which fuels itself. IoT also contributes to more telemetry WITHIN the data center, allowing more devices to continuously report increased amounts of data on their health and status. The advance in technology is helping operators manage their complexity and changing needs of the business. Ultimately alleviating the pressure data centers feel from new IoT device support requirements and compute need. Additionally, IoT provides further insights into their facilities, which can be used to manage complex customer needs.