Inside NEXTDC's new Sydney data centre, S2

The S2 data centre is NEXTDC's latest facility to open, hot on the heels of its second Perth (P2) data centre which launched last week. The 30MW facility already has 20MW of its capacity taken by a range of cloud providers, enterprises, and partners working with smaller organisations.

Visitors to S2 are greeted with the first layer of biometric security upon checking in. After government-issued IDs, reception staff also scan entrants' fingerprints. Hand sanitiser is provided.

A scale model of S2 shows the east-west split between the infrastructure wing (left, behind the big red rectangle) and the data halls (right, behind the vertical red and black panels). The grey cells of the east wing support rapid, modular infrastructure deployment and each has its own fireproofing measures to contain the spread of any outbreak.

The second round of biometric checks: visitors must swipe their ID access card and scan their fingerprints again. Guests then step into the "anti-tailgating" chamber, where sensors in the ceiling make sure it's just one person. The chamber also prevents users from passing material between the secure area and the breakout space outside. When the sensors are satisfied you're alone (or not too tall to obscure their scan of the chamber), you can step out into the secure area.

NEXTDC has a range of spaces for users to take a break and relax. Unfortunately, some of the more communal ones like this massage chair are off limits at the moment due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Inside the data halls, customers can either purchase a full rack of server space (on the right), or quarter racks. Each has electronic locks with multiple layers of approval that plug into a customer's Active Directory, meaning enterprise IT managers don't have to call facilities around the country to blacklist former employees to prevent  access. The blue gates are where cooled air enters the equipment - on the other side is a closed off red corridor that prevents the recirculation of warmed air in the data hall, improving energy efficiency.

One of the breakout spaces, complete with espresso machine and vending machines for snacks and equipment customers may need for their hardware.

Not all collaborative spaces have been closed off - NEXTDC still has soundproof meeting rooms for customers to work in without having to return to their main office.

S2 from the air. S2 is Sydney's first certified Tier IV fault tolerant data centre. NEXTDC said the certification for fault tolerance means that
when individual equipment failures or distribution path interruptions occur, the effects of the events are stopped short of impacting business operations.