The Configuration Centre, in operation since 2000, is situated above the main warehouse on the first floor of the Hatfield Operations Centre and is approximately 85,000 sq. ft. It has been designed to offer a range of services from desktop and server rollouts to complex infrastructure projects involving datacenter clusters and storage networks. This enables our customers to expand their own services without the need to invest themselves.

Why use CCD to pre-configure your systems before shipment ?

• Minimise DOA issues, ensuring your resources are not tied-up waiting for system issues to be fixed before implementation of the solution can begin.
• Maximise your IT resources by enabling them to focus on implementation of the overall solution rather than integration and testing of systems.
• Complement your existing IT resources, adding extra capacity at times when resources are stretched or unavailable and extra skills where there is a gap.

Configuration services available include:

• Desktop / Laptop hardware build (ie Mem, Disk etc)
• Server Hardware build
• Standard O/S and business software load
• Bespoke software setup or gold disk load
• Firmware settings
• Blade hardware build and enclosure integration
• Rack integration (ie PSUs, server install, KVMs etc.)
• HP EVA integration
• Project staging and rollout
• Asset tagging

To ensure that humidity and temperature falls within the required bounds the area is climate controlled. This helps to keep atmospheric particles to a minimum. ESD flooring is used to ensure that there is no build-up of static on personnel or any other object, which could lead to product damage during the configuration process. All configuration personnel use special ESD protective footwear with earthing straps for visitors. The site has a current capacity for 3,000 desktops a day and is equipped with a multitude of 13, 16, 32Amp connections as well as 3 phase supply for the larger environments.

The Configuration Centre has been designed to be flexible, with configurable bench locations, remote console, keyboard, mouse multiplexing, and network isolation. A single engineer can build 24 systems using a single keyboard on a single bench or 240 when 10 benches are daisy-chained. There are 2,000 download points and the site is capable of building 6,000 desktops in a 24-hour shift.

Product flow through the Configuration Centre is controlled by the tracking database. This allows monitoring of parts used including serial and revision number scanning. Any defective items are recorded and passed back to the warehouse to process and replace. Additional details about the customer’s build requirement are also recorded, along with manufacturer advice notes. This produces a useful history of product usage that can be passed back to the manufacturer for product improvements, field change orders or to the customer on request.

Any issues that cannot be resolved by the Configuration Engineers on site are escalated to the Technical Engineering team. Second level escalation is direct to vendor manufacturing for second or third line support and swift response.