Reflecting on my early days in the field, I had the unique chance to tackle significant inefficiencies within the data center environment. Judging by the server models captured in those photographs, one could roughly pinpoint the era— a time predating the widespread adoption of ITIL frameworks and the rigorous data center management practices we see today.

Engaging directly with the data center was always a highlight for me. The era brought numerous opportunities to participate in hardware refresh initiatives, where installing servers became routine. The focus then was on deploying images and leveraging automation for power management, a precursor to the virtualization technologies that would soon revolutionize our approach.

Today, the industry takes pride in consolidation and reducing the physical hardware footprint, embracing the concept of Software Defined Infrastructure (SDI). What used to be a stack of servers occupying space in a single data center has evolved. Now, such a stack might symbolize the operational capacity spanning several distinct data centers. This shift not only reflects technological advancement but also a change in mindset towards more efficient, scalable, and flexible infrastructure management.