St Leonards, East Sussex-based Pro Audio Stash is well known for its off-the-shelf product ranges for home cinema and AV sectors, and also for creating bespoke metalwork solutions for the AV and IT industries. It was approached by Peer 1 to design and build a specially tailored server rack and shelving system to house multiple Juniper SSG5 firewall devices for its new data centre in Southampton.
The design brief had three main requirements. Firstly there had to be a dedicated channel for each firewall to keep the units stable and upright. Secondly, the SSG5 power supplies all needed to be positioned at the back of their individual racks to enable good ventilation and be easily identifiable for access and maintenance. Thirdly, each shelf had to accommodate between 10 and 11 firewall devices.
Says Pro Audio Stash managing director Robert Platt, "We have undertaken many IT related projects in the past, but this represents a real diversity and is one of the largest we have completed for this sector. With firewalls at the core of any internet based business, it was a challenging brief that required imagination and lateral thinking. It also resulted in some serious teamwork between us and Peer 1 to ensure that they received the appropriate solution."
The entire project - from conception to completion - was delivered in just three weeks, ready for installation by Peer 1 in Southampton.
Says Platt: "The quick turnaround was possible because we have all the talents, skills and resources in house to manufacture on this scale and to the highest standards. We are also geared to being flexible and able to react quickly to client ideas, needs and requirements."
(Jim Evans)
