IT Infrastructure Planning Guide
How to plan, size and build a server and network foundation that will last.
Start with workloads, not hardware
List the applications you run, how many users they serve, how much data they hold and how much downtime you can accept. These answers drive every later decision.
Size for three years of growth
Plan capacity for the next three years: users, data growth and new applications. Buy the platform for that horizon, but add memory and disks as needed instead of paying for them on day one.
Design for failure
Every component eventually fails. Redundant power supplies, RAID, a second switch uplink and tested backups mean a failure becomes a minor event.
Plan the rack and room
Allow for power, cooling, cable management and room to add equipment. A tidy rack is easier and safer to maintain.
Planning checklist
- Applications, users and data volumes documented
- Recovery time and data-loss tolerance agreed
- Redundant power and network paths
- Backups with offsite copy and test restores
- Monitoring and a maintenance plan
Need help applying this?
Our consultants can review your environment and recommend next steps.