Network Dictionary – Brownfield

Brownfield Data Centre refers to upgrading, rebuilding or overhauling an existing data centre so that it can be reused.

Abstract

This term is abstracted from government programs and property developers. Greenfield development refers to turning farmland into housing – as in, turning a green fields of grass into houses. As such, currently unpopular because of urban sprawl.

Brownfield development refers to taking land that has been abandoned or no longer viable and turning that into a new development. Brownfield developments often require the existing land from factory or industrial buildings to be “rehabilitated” so that it can be used for housing.

Networking

Brownfield Data Centre refers to upgrading, rebuilding or overhauling an existing data centre so that it can be reused. This rehabilitation process can mean different things to different companies. Some areas of change:

• upgrading cooling / chillers
• add airflow enhancements such as hot / cold aisles
• upgrading generators and UPS systems to new / upgraded capacity
• increase power density to 15KW per rack (insert number as needed)
• rip and replace of legacy cabling
• implementing new network designs
• implementing blade servers or new high performance brick servers

This term is often used by Resellers / Vendors to rapidly describe the opportunity to managers or non-execs who want a description of a multimillion pound project, with dozens of work streams, in a single paragraph.