A data center relocation has many pre-move items to be completed. The common tasks you will encounter for most every data center move are:
- Identify the machines, components, and applications by name
- Physically label everything
- Document reconnection details for network and storage components
- Backup all systems, devices, appliances, raid configurations, and storage switches
- Identify the business owners of all systems
- Identify who is shutting down the machines, packaging, transporting, unpacking, re-assembling, trouble-shooting, and verifying
- Identify who must be notified both internally and externally
- Identify the date and time of the move
- Identify contingency labor for all phases
- Prepare a master timeline
- Prepare a master contact list
- Prepare a project plan
- Ensure the destination location has the proper power, network connections, disk storage, and bandwidth
- Complete elevation drawings for the destination showing equipment locations
- Identify all move-related changes required (IP address changes, DNS changes, monitoring changes, circuit changes, and routing changes)
- Pre-configure all destination elements like the connectivity, firewalls, and network switches
- Pre-cable the destination
- Verify the backups can be restored
- Rehearse the move, document the results, modify your plan
- Document the Go/No-Go criteria
- Add contingency for high-risk items independent of their probability
- Complete the notifications to stakeholders