How hard would it be to setup a small datacenter?

Shane_Elmore

Not like, super professional with cooling and DDoS protection, and all that fancy stuff. Why I ask is because I came up with a idea for when I'm older (around 19 or 20), or maybe sooner, who knows, to open up a datacenter here in Indianapolis as the only DCs here I can think of charge quite a bit for colo (~$300-400 a month). I know you have to get a space, bandwidth and all the necessary routing and networking equipment, but is there anything else that would deter a young adult from opening one? My entrepreneurship class got me thinking of that, as our teacher was talking to me about how it'd be a good idea since I said servers in Indy are quite expensive and overpriced, and if I could find out some way to offer them for less, he think it'd be successful.

EXAMPLE: nFrame (http://nframe.com), which is down the street from me (not literally but like 1 and a half miles away), quoted $75 a month for a 1mbps unmetered VPS as they "didn't do metered". Same with colo, overpriced ($300 a month).

Please do not post "oh but shane you're only 17 you cannot open a datacenter". I know that, which is why I said around a few years from now.

KnightSwarm_Phillip

Bad idea regardless of age, if you don't have the proper knowledge (and funding).

Shane_Elmore

@KnightSwarm_Phillip said: Bad idea regardless of age, if you don't have the proper knowledge (and funding).

Huh, yeah I know that.

Only thing was that a friend who's also computer-savvy showed interest, so it's not like it'd be a one-man show. :)

Not saying I want it done "NOW", just saying for later. :P

rds100

If you don't have or can't get at least $2M capital to start with better do something else.

Infinity

@Shane_Elmore said: Only thing was that a friend who's also computer-savvy showed interest, so it's not like it'd be a one-man show. :)

It's not just being computer-savvy, it's having lots of experience in working in datacenters etc. It also requires a massive amount of investment for buildings, HVAC and all that, just not a good idea.

Taz

Basement DC! Wht please.

24khost

Colostore is in SouthBend so not to far from you.

Liam

@rds100 said: If you don't have or can't get at least $2M capital to start with better do something else.

@william would not agree.

CVPS_Chris

There is a key point to your question here:

@Shane_Elmore said: if I could find out some way to offer them for less, he think it'd be successful.

That's a big IF, and always a reason as to why a certain area is more expensive than others. To be honest if the already existing companies cannot do it cheaper that are much much larger and established, it is doubtful you will even come close to their pricing trying to start out.

Shane_Elmore

@24khost said: Colostore is in SouthBend so not to far from you.

Right, but wouldn't that be considered more of a "Chicago-area" DC? I was thinking Indy cause it's central. Anyways, I do realize it requires lots of knowledge and funding.

rds100

@liam said: @william would not agree.

Expanding when you are an already established company is one thing, starting from zero is entirely different.

Spencer

If you start one your roi is going to be forever. You would need investors and such to make a good DC.

24khost

They are back hauling from Chicago but still there prices are really low compared to other DC's in your area.

I thought about opening a new datacenter in minnesota near where i live. The building, hvac and build out would cost, somewhere in the 2.78 million dollars. That is without first paying for bandwidth, power and such. You would have to have some major contracts to even really think about building your own datacenter.

Derek

Sad truth is your going to need a sufficient amount of money. What's pretty common is a bunch of friends teaming together to build one.

If I was you, I would get a job and work full time, in and around your school schedule and save it all. Buy stock, CD's, and most of all, real-estate. This will show the bank you'll have funds to cover any loses and possible enough to build a DC.

24khost

Plus i forgot to mention, Operating budget. You'll be running at a loss from the start as a typical datacenter most likely run about a 100,000 to 150,000 yearly operating cost.

qps

You're much better off starting with a rack or cage in someone else's facility and once you get big enough, you can start considering your own DC.

jarland

It's pretty easy. All you need is a 10mbit connection and some space under your bed. I saw a quickly deleted thread here the other day about a guy offering dedicated servers for $10 with 1Mbit unmetered. Perfect way to host the blog that no one visits.

Maounique

It needs much more than just routing, cabling, contracting internet uplinks, cooling, racks, fire equipment, alarms, redundant power, it needs people ! I think a minimum of 10 to have 2 each 8 hours in the day and one 8 hours in the night, it is already 5, one janitor, one cashier/accountant/receptionist, one mechanic, etc. I always thought that you can do the greatest investment and best equipment, if you dont get the right ppl, the customers will suffer and will leave. If, on the contrary, you have the right passionate ppl, with 2nd hand 3 yo equipment, the customers will not cease to recommend you. Finding the right ppl is the hardest thing to do, and even harder is to find someone to replace the leader, the business owner. M

Jacob

It's possible, Around in the UK, And other places housing places(like helena) have garages, next to houses, so say if you could Get House ---> 20 Foot away ---> Garage, and then lead power, and a internet connection towards the garage, and boom you space for 10 cabs atleast!

VirginMedia 100Mbps would work Fine. :-)

Just hope no one cuts the power cable! :P

Patrick

@Jacob Wouldn't have the best security, could easily break in at night and take away free servers and data lol

JTR

Shane, you need to scale back on your ideas. Barely 6 months ago you were going to open a VPS host, then you abandoned that, then now you want to open one again, and you want to run a gameserver host, and a gaming community, and now you want to open a datacenter?

You need a reality check. Badly.

24khost

You know he's a dreamer.

Jack

@Jacob said: VirginMedia 100Mbps would work Fine

You think the gits would give you over a /32 haha! don't be silly.

AsadHaider

@JTR said: You need a reality check. Badly.

It's entertaining.

jarland

The life of an LEB host is appealing. The cars, the women, the fame. Everyone wants a piece.

eastonch

Contact William_Edis -- He'll front you the 2M :]

MannDude

I can agree that there aren't many cheap/affordable datacenters in Indiana, because most of the ones that exist cater to a different market than hosting providers. They want the big business.

I agree with everyone else, setting up your own DC wouldn't be a good idea

There is http://www.thedatacave.com/ which is in Columbus, Indiana. I contacted them like 8 months ago, forget what they said but I believe they're going to be more affordable than your Indianapolis options.

And of course there is http://colostore.com which seems decent.

And I forgot who, but there was a fellow by the name of Jason who ran a company that I believe has servers in Colostore. He's also from Indiana and maybe you could get in touch with him if you want servers IN Indiana.

EDIT: Also, contact http://suso.com/ as they're located in Bloomington and house their servers locally. They don't offer it on their site, but contact them and they can offer collocation.

EDIT2: http://www.hostcolor.com/colocation/ has collocation out of Colostore.

MikHo

@Maounique said: I think a minimum of 10 to have 2 each 8 hours in the day and one 8 hours in the night, it is already 5, one janitor, one cashier/accountant/receptionist, one mechanic, etc.

I know a few DC here in Sweden that are unmanaged 24/7. Cameras monitoring, no on-site staff at all. Customers have access to the site, want anything done with your servers... do it yourself. Unless its cabling to/from your rack. Then you need to order it and it will be done in a "timely" fashion.

24khost

Colostore is about the best option for him close to home.

Pats

@jarland said: It's pretty easy. All you need is a 10mbit connection and some space under your bed

Jeezz, u never gave me ideas!! last weekend only i cleared much space under my bed removing the soft-toys, teddies... :P

Pats

@qps said: You're much better off starting with a rack or cage in someone else's facility and once you get big enough, you can start considering your own DC.

+1 but first Reseller Shared Hosting -> Reseller on own VPS -> own dedi -> own rack/cage