We’ve all been there: moving day. The boxes, the chaos, the inevitable moment when you wonder, “Why do I own so many things?” Now, imagine that instead of moving your apartment, you’re moving an entire data center. That’s right—servers, cables, storage, and all the digital lifeblood of a city. Oh, and you’re on a tight deadline. No pressure, right?
This was the challenge Seattle IT faced when the cost of renting space at the Liberty Lake data center near Spokane started climbing faster than a cat chasing a laser pointer. The solution? A bold plan to migrate to a new data center in Spokane, saving the City of Seattle a whopping $3.2 million over the next five years. But pulling it off? That was a whole other story.
The domino effect
Picture this: a game of dominoes where every piece has to fall perfectly in place, but you’re still setting up the board as you go. That’s what this project felt like. The team had to be out of Liberty Lake by January 31, or the City would face sky-high month-to-month lease costs. There was no room for error.
The first step was contracting. Seattle and Spokane worked together to hammer out terms, including financial agreements and ensuring Spokane could provide on-site support in case of emergencies. Once the ink was dry, the real work began.
A new design for a new era
Seattle IT didn’t just pack up the old equipment and move it to a new home. Oh no, they went full Marie Kondo on the data center. Out with the old, in with the new. The team designed a brand-new network core, complete with cutting-edge equipment that worked differently—and better—than before.
But designing a new system while simultaneously planning a physical migration? That’s like trying to assemble IKEA furniture while hosting a dinner party. Assumptions about the new setup didn’t always hold up, and the team had to make adjustments on the fly.
The big move
The physical migration was a project in itself. Teams worked tirelessly to move equipment from the old data center to the new one in Spokane, as well as to the Tukwila data center, which temporarily took on the load.
Here’s a quick rundown of the heavy lifting:
- Network team: Racked new storage drives, replaced end-of-life servers, and configured fiber connectivity.
- Unix team: Spent four days on-site in Spokane, completing cable work, updating firmware, and configuring network connections.
- Cleanup crew: Surplused old equipment at Liberty Lake once the migration was complete.
This was a true team effort, with collaboration across network services, server teams, backup and storage, telephone services, cable teams, and facilities. Shoutout to Executive Business Partner Kristeena Garcia, who somehow managed to coordinate last-minute travel plans like a pro.
A win-win partnership
The new data center isn’t just a win for Seattle—it’s a win for Spokane, too. The partnership brings revenue to Spokane while saving Seattle millions. The only hiccup? A minor parking faux pas when Kelly Eden parked in the mayor’s spot – it was just going to be for a minute! (Don’t worry, Kelly, we’ve all been there. Just maybe avoid VIP parking next time!)
The payoff
After months of long days, tight deadlines, and a whole lot of teamwork, the migration was a success. The City of Seattle is now set to save $3.2 million over the next five years, and the new data center is running smoothly.
Moving is never easy, but when it’s done right, the payoff is worth it. So, here’s to the Seattle IT team for pulling off the ultimate moving day—and proving that even the most stressful projects can have a happy ending.
Now, who’s ready to unpack?