by Shane Henson — February 1, 2012—MOBOTIX AG, recognized as a leading pioneer in network camera technology and for making high-resolution video systems cost efficient, recently released details of a project at a new state-of-the-art, multimillion-pound data center built by Oxford University that is benefiting from advanced MOBOTIX CCTV (closed-circuit television) technology to improve operational procedures.
Oxford University is one of the world’s leading academic and research communities, and at its heart is a complex and powerful IT (information technology) infrastructure. Although many of the colleges run their own computing environments, Oxford University Computing Services (OUCS) is tasked with providing many of the key shared facilities, services and core networks reaching all departments and colleges.
With the growth of virtualization technologies, the newest OUCS facility built at its South Parks Road site has been designed to allow IT to become a more fluid resource. As David Birds, Data Centre Manager for OUCS explains, from its inception, the design needed to be in-line with best practice in terms of remote management, provisioning and security.
“We had looked at how other modern data centers were constructed, and evaluated elements like rack design, cooling, PDUs, monitoring and security. From day one, we always envisioned the data center to be effectively “lights-out,” but with a high level of automation and security to ensure the safety of the site and any lone workers,” he said.
A “lights-out” data center contains a number of servers and is usually kept locked and in the dark under normal operation. The room is typically not entered by human administrators, and all operations are automated.
Working closely with J Brand, an Advanced MOBOTIX Partner and principal contractor for the data center fit-out, Birds conducted a comprehensive review of potential CCTV solutions. The system needed to integrate alongside a range of security measures such as biometric readers, radio-frequency identification keycards and anti-tailgating doors.
“It was clear from early on that the MOBOTIX solution was particularly well suited to our requirements as it offered high-quality images, proven reliability and hemispheric technology to allow us to cover the widest areas with as fewest possible cameras,” explains Birds. “The fact that the systems had scope to add additional features such as integration with access devices and audio also provided a strong case for the longevity of the solution.”
Just 16 cameras, including 14 x Q24 hemispheric models, cover the 12,000 square-foot facility.
