Few technologies divide owner-operator opinion like the installation of full data center automation software. While the introduction of localised monitoring and management technologies represent one of the most predominant areas of data center evolution, the move towards full data center automation is seen as a difference of kind, not of degree. This is because the scope of a full data center operation is not so much about technology but about data center orientation.

Full data center automation software was adopted by one in five organisations in 2007, and this proportion has not risen in 2008. Consideration of the software is higher in both 2007 and 2008.

It is clear from facility profile information that adoption and consideration correlates with larger portfolios in terms of racks and dedicated space. Actual adoption correlates with larger amounts of dedicated space and also high maximum power demands (averaged at 12.5kW/rack).

The adoption/consideration profile raises the issue of what is prompting interest in this technology and, as with any technology that displays higher levels of consideration than adoption, what is inhibiting its takeup.

In terms of motivation towards adoption, the maintenance of availability emerges as the most powerful, although the reduction of ongoing costs emerges stronger than for those who have not yet adopted as well.

Interest in the adoption of this technology can be related to attitudes held about the role of IT in the data center, and more broadly to beliefs about the interaction between IT and FM in operating the data center. Deployment tends to correlate with other IT architecture and IT strategy initiatives – it is most likely to be part of a process that includes IT continuity planning, the adoption of blade servers, application and data capacity planning, the integration of IT and FM functions, the development of remote ‘lights-out’ facilities and virtualisation.

Adoption appears linked to the belief that greater IT control over the data center is a positive thing – automation software is seen as an IT control issue, even though it may be merely the means to IT enablement in the data center.