Background

Sunspeed was engaged by an international managed services provider to deliver a large scale data centre infrastructure deployment in support of a major platform expansion programme. Delivered across two implementation phases, the project involved the installation, configuration support and physical integration of 500 servers alongside a new high performance network environment.

Working within a live colocation facility, Sunspeed provided the on site engineering resource required to rapidly deploy infrastructure while maintaining strict standards around cabling quality, asset management, documentation and operational readiness.

The engagement combined structured deployment processes with close coordination between Sunspeed engineers, the client’s remote network teams and data centre operations staff to ensure all infrastructure was delivered ready for service.

The CHALLENGE

The client required a deployment partner capable of delivering high volumes of infrastructure installation work within tight operational windows and without disruption to existing services.

The project involved:

• 500 server installations across two deployment phases
• 31 network devices deployed across core, aggregation and top of rack layers
• Large scale structured power and network cabling
• BMC IP configuration across all deployed servers
• Firmware upgrades and hardware validation
• Coordination with remote engineers for live network configuration and testing
• Accurate labelling, documentation and spare inventory management
• Maintaining deployment quality and consistency across hundreds of physical assets

Alongside the technical requirements, the deployment needed to maintain high presentation standards within the data centre environment, including cable dressing, rack organisation, waste removal and photographic documentation of completed infrastructure.

OUR Solution

Sunspeed provided a dedicated deployment engineering team to manage the end to end physical implementation of the infrastructure environment.

Phase One Deployment

The first phase focused on the deployment of:

• 300 new servers
• 2 core network devices
• 4 aggregation switches
• 15 top of rack switches

Sunspeed engineers mounted and installed all server hardware, completed structured power connections and performed initial power on validation checks before preparing systems for remote configuration activities.

The team also:

• Installed operating systems via client supplied media
• Configured BMC networking across all servers
• Installed, routed and labelled all copper and fibre cabling
• Patched uplinks from patch panels to network infrastructure
• Completed firmware upgrades on deployed network devices
• Supported remote network engineers through Zoom and TeamViewer sessions during live configuration activities

Phase Two Deployment

Following the successful completion of phase one, Sunspeed delivered a second expansion phase consisting of:

• 200 additional servers
• 10 further top of rack switches

The second phase followed the same structured deployment methodology, enabling the client to maintain consistency across the wider environment while accelerating deployment times through repeatable engineering processes.

OUTCOMES

Sunspeed successfully delivered the infrastructure deployment across both phases, enabling the client to rapidly expand compute and network capacity within the data centre environment.

Key project outcomes included:

• 500 servers successfully deployed and commissioned
• 31 network devices installed and integrated
• Consistent cabling, labelling and rack presentation standards maintained throughout
• Streamlined collaboration between on site and remote engineering teams
• Accurate spare inventory tracking and infrastructure documentation
• Deployment completed with minimal operational disruption inside a live facility

The project demonstrated Sunspeed’s ability to support high volume infrastructure rollouts where deployment quality, operational coordination and speed of execution are equally critical.