The Data Center Optimization Initiative (DCOI) is a US government mandate that requires agencies to develop on data center strategies to consolidate inefficient infrastructure, optimize existing facilities, achieve cost savings, and transition to a more efficient infrastructure such as cloud computing services and interagency shared services.
The DCOI expands upon the Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative (FDCCI) and identifies specific goals that must be achieved:
- Consolidate. Agencies are required to develop and report on strategies specifically around the consolidation of inefficient infrastructure. If a new data center is needed, a case showing that there is no better alternative must be presented. Also, at least 25% of tiered and 60% of non-tiered data centers must close.
- Optimize. Agencies must monitor and improve five key metrics: energy metering, power usage effectiveness (PUE), virtualization, server utilization and automated monitoring, and facility utilization.
- Utilize DCIM software tool. Agencies must replace the manual effort to collect and report on data center systems, software, and hardware inventory with Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software in all their data centers.
DCIM software allows data center managers to automatically monitor data center assets and measure energy usage, power usage, virtualization efforts, server utilization, and facility utilization. The resulting information can reduce costs while increasing energy and power efficiency and utilization, leading to better strategic decisions to comply with the regulations of DCOI. Using DCIM software in combination with the installation of meters, intelligent rack PDUs, and monitoring tools provides an optimal solution to achieving the goals set forth by DCOI.
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