The town of Braunfels, located in the heart of Hesse in the Lahn-Dill district, is home to around 11,500 inhabitants and comprises six districts. The municipal administration has a wide range of tasks, from the operation of public facilities such as the daycare centers, the outdoor pool and the municipal library to the water supply. Around 180 employees are responsible for these tasks, working in the areas of administration, building services, the building yard and daycare centers. For a variety of reasons, the town of Braunfels decided to renew its IT infrastructure and secure it for the future. Following a public tender, the Data Center Group (DCG) was awarded the contract to implement a suitable solution. DCG impressed with its comprehensive overall package and the appropriate data center solution, a Micro Data Center.
Project requirements and challenges for a modern IT solution
The previous IT infrastructure of the town of Braunfels no longer met today's security and efficiency requirements. Although the server room in the basement had an air conditioning system, there was still a need for optimization in terms of fire protection standards and security requirements. In addition, the old air conditioning system caused high energy consumption and therefore high operating costs. However, the expenditure for a comprehensive renovation of the server room would have been considerable. In addition, there was a need for an advanced monitoring and reporting system that would provide real-time information such as server status and any faults.
Installation of the “DC IT Safe” mini data center as a compact and secure IT solution
After extensive consultation with DCG, the town of Braunfels opted for the DC IT Safe - a compact micro data center that securely and efficiently accommodates all central IT components and servers on just two square meters. The DC IT Safe meets the highest security and energy standards and is ideal for use in small spaces.
Thanks to the professional and efficient implementation, the installation was completed in just two days. “The installation was extremely efficient and professional, the DCG team worked hand in hand and ensured the handover within a very short time,” says Jörg Dinges, specialist service provider for central services and IT for the town of Braunfels.
Specific challenges in the implementation of the project
The project presented the team with structural challenges: The height and width of the basement rooms had to be carefully considered for the installation of the DC IT Safe. However, thanks to precise planning and coordination in advance, DCG managed to overcome these challenges without any problems. After installation, the DC IT Safe's climate control and alarm system was fine-tuned so that the city administration now has an advanced telemetry system that immediately monitors important environmental parameters and security-relevant changes such as temperature deviations or unauthorized access and notifies the user immediately by email or text message in the event of deviations. This preventative monitoring capability is invaluable to the council's IT team.
Sustainable benefits and increased energy efficiency thanks to DC IT Safe
By switching to the DC IT Safe, the town of Braunfels was able to significantly improve the operational reliability of its IT systems and reduce energy consumption at the same time. The previous air conditioning system, which had to cool a large room, was replaced by the targeted and more efficient air conditioning of the mini data center. This led to noticeable energy savings and significantly lower operating costs. The system is also equipped with an automatic fire alarm system, including a fire extinguishing system, which also provides the IT with a high level of availability.
Overall, the city of Braunfels and DCG consider the project to be extremely successful. The expectations in terms of security, efficiency and energy savings were fully met and even exceeded in many areas. Jörg Dinges summarizes: “Thanks to the rapid implementation and the well thought-out solution, we now benefit from a modern, secure and energy-saving infrastructure. We can recommend DCG to anyone who is faced with the decision of renovating a server room or using a compact solution such as the DC IT Safe.”
Facts & Figures
- DC IT Safe Single, 56 height units (HE)
- System-tested certifications in the following areas
Burglary protection (RC2)
Fire resistance (EI90)
Dust protection
Splash / water jet protection (IP56)
Flue gas tightness
Sound insulation (48dB/A)
- Air conditioning with up to 4.5 KW cooling capacity
- Fire alarm and fire extinguishing system
- DC IT Monitoring Agent 32.2 monitoring system
Title picture: © EKH-Pictures / #260404315 / stock.adobe.com (Standard licence)
Pictures: Stadt Braunfels
