Renting the right amount of colocation space is a balancing act. If you rent too little, you outgrow it in a year. If you rent too much, you pay for empty rack units. Colocation is one of the most popular data management options for small to mid-sized companies, as well as many large corporations. While there are some disadvantages to this model, the advantages are overwhelming. Colocation services offer scalability, efficiency, and easy management. That makes them one of the most viable options for your company’s data needs.
As you may already know, colocation data centers charge mainly by the amount of space your hardware occupies. Other factors affect pricing too, but space is the metric most data centers use to set what each client pays per cycle.
Colocation Space: What Rack Units Actually Measure
In a data center colocation facility, providers measure occupied space in rack space. That is the room your hardware takes up on a standard server rack. Rack space comes in several unit sizes. Which one fits depends on your business and your data management needs.
Working out exactly what you will pay each month can seem complex and confusing, but the basic idea is simple. The more rack space you use, the less space is left in the colocation center. The data center also uses more power as a result. If you need a lot of space, you’ll end up paying more. If you can get by with less, you might save some money.
Providers measure rack space in two basic units. A single tray unit is the space one tray takes up in a server rack enclosure. A rack is an entire rack in a colocation center. Since colocation leases are highly customizable, these two units form the backbone of most colocation center pricing scales.
In addition to these two basic units, more precise measurements let you tailor your colocation space to your budget. In the following sections, we’ll look at each unit and discuss whether it fits the needs of your company. Let’s begin!
Unit Allocation
The smallest measurement of space in a data colocation center is one unit, written 1U in colocation shorthand. It is the space a single tray occupies in a data center rack enclosure. It measures roughly 19 inches (48.2 cm) wide, 36 inches (91.4 cm) deep, and 1.75 inches (4.4 cm) high.
If your needs can be met without larger units, other measures build on this basic 1U metric. Measures such as 2U, 3U, and 4U let you match your space to your needs, so you never overpay.
For many modest startups, 1U covers very basic data needs at first. For a basic server setup at a small but growing company, four units may handle most daily data management tasks. If the company grows past this point, chances are it will need more space.
One unit of space can vary widely in price. Location, available bandwidth, and other factors all play a part, but the price rarely exceeds $250 a month per unit. As your company grows, however, you will most likely need to move up to rack enclosures instead of single tray units.
Rack Allocation
Once a company reaches a certain size, single units become too expensive to maintain. Quarter racks, half racks, and full racks offer better pricing. These units are much roomier than single tray units, but they offer a lower cost per unit of space.
A ¼ rack is the smallest rack allocation. It has 10U of theoretical space and 8 to 9 units of usable space. That is typically more than enough for small companies with average data needs and medium companies with light needs. A ¼ rack usually costs $300 to $500 a month. Centrally located data centers typically charge much more.
Half rack allocation is the next step up. It has ample space for most small to mid-sized companies with a range of data needs. A typical ½ rack contains about 20U of space, with the usable amount being slightly less (18 to 19 units). Pricing also varies, but it typically starts around $500 a month and rarely exceeds $800. Full racks suit mid-sized and large companies, and small companies with very demanding needs. They offer plenty of space and scalability at a better price per unit. A full rack provides between 38 and 40U of space. You are unlikely to need more until your company grows very large. A full rack typically starts around $900 and can reach $2,000 a month in a centrally located data center.
Private Cages
The name may sound unrelated to data colocation, but private cages are worth considering before long. As your company grows and your data needs increase, a private cage may become a necessity for several reasons.
Private cages are simple in practice. For companies leasing entire racks, having that rack dedicated exclusively to your company can be very attractive. Leasing a private cage ensures that only your company has access to your colocation space. That eliminates many security and privacy concerns.
The next step after a private cage is a locked enclosure holding multiple racks. Only representatives of your company can access it. Private cages often include additional per-unit pricing incentives. They can be the best option as your company grows past its early stages.
Conclusion
In general, the economy of scale applies here as it does in most areas of business. The more of a product you buy, the lower the cost of each unit. Your cost per unit keeps falling as your company grows. Colocation is scalable and affordable, so it makes sense to buy more space from the beginning. That may work better than starting with small 1U or 2U increments.
Before you decide on your space needs, talk with your in-house IT department and a data center colocation specialist. They can help you determine exactly how much space you need. They can also help you balance your budget against the efficiency of your setup. We hope this article has helped you better understand colocation space needs!
About Volico’s Colocation Solutions
Volico Data Centers provides highly secure and scalable colocation solutions. They cover your data center space, power, and connectivity needs as your business grows. Discover how Volico’s built-to-suit colocation solutions let your business grow within its own secured space. You avoid the hassles of operating your own data center. Volico designs its colocation solutions from the ground up for the best possible customer experience.
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