UA Little Rock has recently undertaken a significant infrastructure enhancement in its data center. As the University recognizes the evolving needs of academic and administrative operations, such a step ensures the best resources are in place to facilitate growth and technological advancement.
Replacing the existing infrastructure, IT Services has introduced new fibre channel switches that boast an impressive bandwidth of 32 Gbps, a significant jump from the earlier switches. The increase in bandwidth represents the university’s commitment to investing in faster, more efficient data management solutions that cater to the university’s escalating data needs.
Apart from simply upgrading the switches, the process involved a comprehensive reconfiguration of the data center layout. Such a reconfiguration is instrumental in optimizing space, facilitating better air flow, and ensuring more efficient power distribution.
To complement the new switches and leverage their full potential, new optical fiber was installed, connecting servers and the storage array. This ensures that the maximum potential bandwidth is realized, providing seamless, high-speed data transfers. The new optical fiber also adds another layer of redundancy, ensuring that data access remains continuous and reliable.
So, what does this mean for the UA Little Rock community?
- Faster Access to Data: With increased bandwidth, students, faculty, and administrators can expect quicker access to stored data. This translates to faster load times for databases, more efficient backups, and overall improved data management operations.
- Enhanced Reliability: The restructured layout, combined with the new optical fibers, ensures that data outages or slow-downs will be minimized. This is crucial, especially during peak times like enrollment or examination periods.
- Scalability for the Future: With the new infrastructure in place, UA Little Rock is well-positioned to accommodate future technological enhancements and increased data loads.
- Sustainability and Efficiency: A modern, well-organized data center tends to be more energy-efficient, translating to both cost savings for the university and a reduced carbon footprint.