Data Center Relocation & Migration Services

Our Data Center Migration Framework enables secure, structured, and seamless IT infrastructure relocation, minimizing operational risks while ensuring service continuity through comprehensive planning, readiness, migration, testing, commissioning, and final handover.

Stage One: Assess, Plan, Design & Build

Old DC (DC Migration – Project Planning)

Project Kick-off meeting
Project Scope & Size
Resource & Budget allocation (Man, Materials, Tools…)
Time & Schedule Planning (Critical Path)
Risk Assessment and Register
Stakeholder Identification and Communication Planning
Quality Control and Assurance

old DC (Environment Assessment & Understanding)

Gathering & Collecting information (CMDB)
Gap analysis (Dependencies, Hidden Complexity)
Developing complete inventory of all existing DC equipment to be moved.
Studying old DC Documentation ( Configuration, Startup, Shutdown, Backup & Recovery)
Learning and Documenting Physical Connections (Type, Management and Labeling Schema)
Understanding DC architecture (LAN design, WAN detailed diagram, Servers & Storage, Applications, Database, Load balancing, Security and Backup)
Running workshops with to understand support structure, warranties, SLA’s, Maintenance Contracts, Key determining factors, Limitations, Future system requirements.
Understanding Operational expectations and Requirements during DC migration (RPO, RTO, Business and Technical interrelationship)
Surveying and Assessing the old DC facilities and infrastructure (Racks, Cabling, Power circuits, Redundancy, continuity, Power consumption, cooling requirements, Environmental, interconnections, weight, Size, Assembling tools and accessories.
Checking ETISALAT Connections (IPVPN, MPLS, DNS, Public IP’s, DID’s, Telephone Lines, Fax Lines and Time zone requirements)
Validating and Testing all collected data to reach a Baseline ( Acceptance, Functional, Integration Testing)
Planning Disaster Recovery, Fall Back Plans and Contingency Plans.

New DC

Analyze and Process Data Collected from the old DC environment
Conducting workshops with to check Requirements and Expectations for the new DC.
GAP analysis and Feasibility study (steady-state to steady-state versus steady-state to desired-state) to reduce Migration Risk.
Designing and Building the New DC
Implementing and Constructing of the New DC
- Power (Circuits, UPS, MCB & Sockets)
- Cooling (Hot/Cold Aisle)
- Fire Fighting
- Environmental
- lightning
- Interconnections
- Cabling
- Containment and Grommets
- Raised Flooring and Ramp
- Rack (layouts, Locations Row/Column, Orientation)
- Grounding and Bonding
- labeling Scheme
- Security ( CCTV & ACCESS Control)
- Safety

Stage Two: DC Pre-Migration

Confirming Zero Hour for the Migration start
Testing and Validating the Readiness of the New DC (Readiness Assessment)
Preparing staging area at the new site
Undertake a “Dry Run” to check that Migration plan in achievable.
Splitting the DC Migration into “MOVING GROUPS” collection of assets that support a key business function or an IT support function.
Preparing ( Communications, Resources, Tools, Equipment’s, Materials and Vehicles)
Putting all Plans Created on the Executable Position (QC, DR, Contingency, logistics….)
Ensuring Backup systems are in place and operational in the Old DC
Executing Data the Last minute Data & Configuration Backup
Creating a Step-by-Step decommissioning and equipment rebuilding plan
Checking the shifting pathway, Traffic, Weather, Building clearance, Elevators and Ramps.

Stage Three: DC Migration

Starting the Execution of all plans
Monitoring and Controlling Processes to be fully activated (QA/QC)
Powering Down all Systems gracefully (Moving groups) in the Old DC
Decommissioning, Dismantling and De-assembling.
Packing & Packaging
Moving & Uploading moving groups on transporting vehicles
Transporting and Shifting the moving groups to the new DC
Offloading the Vehicles and Delivering moving groups to the New DC
Unpacking, opening delivered packages and Staging Delivered moving groups
Assembling and Re-building racks at the new site
Attaching the Re-built racks to the New DC infrastructure and Facilities (Power, Cooling, Environmental…..)
Interconnecting Physically and Logically all shifted moving groups
Powering Up all equipment
Configuring ETISALAT and 3rd Party services for the new DC environment
Stating Testing & Commissioning Phase for all shifted items to ensure stability and services continuity & availability
Executing Fall Back, Disaster Recovery and Contingency plans in Case

Stage Four: DC Post-Migration

Post implementation Review and Staring Acceptance test procedure
Re-balance and Tweak all New DC facilities to comply with the shifted equipment requirements
Fitting Cable Management and System Accessories
Troubleshooting any failures or major incidents
Documentation of details final diagrams for the new DC
Submitting operational manuals for the new DC
Conducting Knowledge Transfer and Training sessions for the Operational Team
Signing the Completion Certificate and Handing over the NEW DC site
Register lessons learned