1998 - 2002: First Generation
Retail co-lo data centers emerge. Businesses that move their racks and servers out of their offices and into a co-lo data center are charged on a per rack basis. Average demand: 20kVA to 175 kVA. NOTE: This type of arrangement is still viable today for small to mid-size companies.
2003 - 2016: Second Generation
Wholesale data centers enter the market. With larger footprints — more square footage — and greater Kw capacity, wholesale data centers provide a way for larger businesses to defray the costs of an enterprise data center while still operating with state-of-the-art data center technology. Average demand: 10,000 sq. ft., 750kW-1.8MW
2016-Present: Third Generation
Today’s 3rd generation data center functions at a hyperscale level, as drivers are based on the mega processing needs of today’s big businesses. Offering cloud services, the 3rd generation data center is being driven by the IoT as well as big data. Average demand: 4-12MW.
Data Center As A Service (DCaaS), Colocation Offer Data Center Flexibility, Expandability
Tips for FMs Who Run Colocation and DCaaS Data Centers
A Brief History Of Colocation
