Hello and Valar Morghulis,
So welcome to the only blog post about data centers that has Game of Thrones (GoT) references 😉 . What happens when a GoT fan falls in love with data centers? She draws parallels between the two! So, as the series nears to an end, I have actually made a list of good things that we, at the data center industry, can learn from the super hit series.
GoT is complex, holds your mind, and always exceeds every expectation. All of this stands equally true for data centers as well. So, here I am using these witty references to convey some legit points about data centers- the pre-requisites of a successful data center to shine in the market.
1. The smaller the better like Tyrion
Being a small person, Tyrion survived his sister, his father, and all the dwarf jokes, and is now the Hand of the ‘Real Queen’ (no questions about that). Same goes with data centers. In this millennial era, where spending on a bigger premise goes too expensive, the smallest packaged data centers are the need of the day and currently are the most efficient and power packed.
2. Durable and fire-resistant like Daenerys
Daenerys Stormborn Targaryen, The first of her name,… you know the drill right 😉
Your data center should be durable in all conditions, just like the mother of dragons who managed to flourish in all conditions. A data center should also be safe from all natural calamities, and fire resistant just like Dany.
(We decoded Dany’s fire-resistant properties, she is gypsum coated. Wink wink 😉 )
3. Arya teaches the data centers to be flexible and scalable
Arya acquires new skills and is ever-flexible to grow and develop. Similarly, a contemporary data center should be flexible enough to accommodate new technologies and scalable for future changes.
What do we say to static data centers – Not Today!! 😉
4. Planning well in advance like Sansa
She knew her enemies (read Ramsey), so she used her resources (read Lord Baelish) well and took back Winterfell by helping Jon. Similarly, deployment and running of an effective and efficient data center need full proof and diligent planning.
Planning is important because the night is dark and full of terrors 😛
5. Always up and running like Cersei
She might be pure evil, but she is awesome! And she has taught us that you win, or you die but whatever situation you are in, downtime is just not an option. She is always active. Beyond Westeros and in current times, we completely rely on data and here also the data centers cannot allow downtime, ever.
6. PUE management like Lord Varys
Game of Thrones tells you that more popular you are, the higher at risk you stand. Similarly, the more power your data center consumes, the worse it is, as it increases the carbon footprint of your organization. Lord Varys came from a background with minimum power and continues to serve the realm amazingly. Let’s be like him, low on power, high on the greater good.
7. Yes, location matters!
Choose your data center location to be like Kings landing – strategic, central, and near the masses. A data center should work effectively, be connected, and eliminate latency; all of these depend on an apt and strategic location.
Although, it doesn’t hurt if the location is cold like Winterfell. 😉
Because winter is here, and we love it!
8. Connectivity is the key in Westeros and in the real world
Don’t be like Theon who killed off all the Ravens in Winterfell when he captured it, and couldn’t call for help later when he was in trouble, as he did not have the resources. Your network is your net worth, more so true for data centers.
9. DCIM like Bran
Monitor and manage your data center remotely like Bran. He can warg, and we have the technology (which gives us power way beyond warging). Effective Data center monitoring and management allows the efficient working of a data center.
The night gathers and my watch begins!
10. Staff and productivity management with Jon Snow
There is no one who is more loved by the people. He got the wildlings to fight his war. He went from dead – to lord commander – to the king in the north – to Aegon Targaryen 😉 (Not necessarily in the same sequence 😛 ). The point here being he knows how to maximize productivity and manage his people; and we, at the data center industry, can definitely learn that from him.
BTW, what do you think is more amazing from Jon – coming back from the dead or riding a Dragon?
I vote for the latter 😛
11. Ned Stark teaches the data center to offer security and support
In the contemporary world where data practically run our lives, data and its transfer need to be as secure as a secret with Ned Stark. Also, the support for the data center should be as strong as Lord Eddard Stark’s support for Robert Baratheon’s rebellion. Security and support win the war of the data center throne as well.
I can go on and on about it, about Jamie, Night King, Joffrey, and so on. But I want you to tell me what you think, we, as a data center industry, can learn from the plot and characters of Game of Thrones. Let me know in the comments section below.
Disclaimer – All references have been used with sheer humor just to convey a point. The writer dearly loves all the characters mentioned above (Yes, Cersei too). Also, we, at Prasa, take two things very seriously- Data Centers and Game of Thrones. So, with our EdgeCenter, we contribute to streaming the content like Game of Thrones in real-time, i.e., without any latency/buffer in the Content Delivery Network apps (read Hotstar). You have to love us for that right? Right!?
