Enterprise server racks with network switches, structured cabling, compute servers and storage

PRIVATE AI & DATA CENTER UPGRADE SEASON 2026

Build the Infrastructure Behind Your Next AI Project

Plan private inference, RAG and business AI agents around the servers, storage, secure networking and deployment requirements your project actually needs.

Request an Infrastructure BOM Review Explore Data Center Hardware

Workload first infrastructure second procurement with the details checked

PRIVATE AI & DATA CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE

Start with the workload. Build the infrastructure around it.

On-premises AI projects vary widely. A small team running document search and a business agent has different compute, storage and network needs from a multi-node GPU deployment. Define the model, users, data boundaries and operating environment before selecting hardware.

01 / WORKLOAD

What will your infrastructure run?

Choose the closest starting point. This is a planning input, not a hardware sizing result.

Training a foundation model from scratch is a separate, high-end scoping exercise. It should not be inferred from a standard private AI request.

02 / ENVIRONMENT

Where will it operate?

The same workload changes shape when the site, team and delivery model change.

SMB

Server room

Compact on-premises compute, storage, cooling, backup and manageable switching.

EDUCATION

Campus AI lab

Shared access, separated teaching and administration traffic, and predictable growth.

RETAIL

Chain back office

Centralized data services and controlled links to stores, users and operational systems.

PARTNER

MSP / SI project

Repeatable BOMs, product compatibility, supply options and customer handoff.

ENTERPRISE

Department data center

Multiple workloads, stronger isolation, capacity planning and phased expansion.

03 / ARCHITECTURE

Follow the data path through the rack.

Each connection should be chosen for the workload, interface and failure impact it carries.

  1. 01Users & applicationsIdentity, access and request volume
  2. 02Security gatewaySegmentation and policy boundaries
  3. 03ToR / leaf switching10/25G server access when justified
  4. 04Compute & GPU serversModel, memory and concurrency needs
  5. 05Local / shared storageCapacity, throughput and recovery

Management, backup, rack power and cooling are part of the design. A 100/400G fabric or leaf-spine topology belongs in the plan only when the actual scale and traffic justify it.

04 / HARDWARE & PROCUREMENT

Connect requirements to real equipment categories.

Browse current networking products, or request a project quote for compute and storage. Availability, configuration, licenses and lead time are checked before any offer.

01

Data center switches

Compare server-facing ports, uplinks, software and optical interfaces.

Browse switches
02

Firewalls & segmentation

Review policy boundaries, inspection requirements and license dependencies.

Browse firewalls
03

Optics, DAC & fiber

Match port speed, reach, media type and vendor compatibility for every link.

Browse optics

05 / SOLUTION PATTERNS

Three starting points, sized to your project.

A / DEPARTMENT

Private RAG & agent

For a team connecting approved documents and business tools to a private model.

  • Check model and concurrent users
  • Separate application, data and management paths
  • Plan retrieval storage and backups
Review this pattern
B / CAMPUS & SMB

Compact private AI

For a small server room or shared campus lab with multiple users and managed growth.

  • Confirm rack power and thermal headroom
  • Review access and server network speeds
  • Include identity, licensing and recovery
Review this pattern
C / ENTERPRISE

Multi-node expansion

For projects that may need several accelerators, shared services and more network capacity.

  • Model east-west traffic and storage I/O
  • Validate optics and switch interfaces
  • Phase scale, resilience and procurement
Review this pattern

These are scoping patterns, not fixed bills of materials or performance guarantees.

PROJECT EVIDENCE

See the infrastructure decisions behind real projects.

These documented data center and HPC projects show how site limits, cabling, network capacity and resilience shape a design. They are related experience, not claims that each customer deployed private AI.

High-density cabling layout for a small telecom data center CASE STUDY / SMALL DATA CENTERExpanding a compact telecom data centerHow a Vancouver telecom client addressed space and cabling constraints.Read the case study HPC network design for a digital media company CASE STUDY / HPC NETWORKINGSupporting compute-intensive media workloadsA Brazil media project covering high-performance network architecture.Read the case study Magyar Telekom IPTV data center architecture white paper cover PROJECT WHITE PAPERCarrier-grade IPTV data center architectureExplore the Magyar Telekom project background, design and white paper.Explore the white paper

RELATED SOLUTION DESIGNS

Use these references to compare a compact site with a larger AI compute environment.

Micro Data Center for Small and Medium EnterprisesSpace, power, cooling and networking for smaller sites AI Compute Center Deployment SolutionFacility, compute and network design considerations

For broader lifecycle and compatibility planning, see Business Network Readiness & Modernization.

06 / VALIDATION

What belongs in an infrastructure BOM review?

A useful quote connects the hardware list to the workload, site and delivery requirements.

Send your project details
  • Model size, context, users and concurrency
  • GPU memory, server RAM and CPU roles
  • Storage capacity, IOPS and backup objectives
  • 10/25/100G needs and optical compatibility
  • Identity, isolation and agent tool permissions
  • Rack power, UPS and cooling constraints
  • Software licenses and support coverage
  • Stock confidence, region and delivery timeline

PROJECT PROCUREMENT

Get the infrastructure plan and supply options checked together.

Request an initial BOM compatibility review or compare current networking categories. Project pricing, stock, alternatives and delivery details are confirmed during quotation.

Request a Project Quote Browse Data Center Switches

QUESTIONS BEFORE PROCUREMENT

Private AI infrastructure FAQ

Start with the decision that changes the equipment list.

Do I need to train a model to deploy a private business AI agent?

No. Many business agents use an existing model for inference and connect it to approved data or tools. Training a foundation model from scratch is a different scope; fine-tuning an existing model is a separate workload too.

How do inference, RAG, fine-tuning and model training differ?

Inference runs a model. RAG retrieves information for that model without changing its weights. Fine-tuning adapts an existing model. Training a foundation model from scratch needs a separate, much larger compute and data plan.

Do AI servers require 10G, 25G or 100G networking?

There is no universal speed. Review server interfaces, east-west traffic, storage paths, model distribution, backups and expected growth. Small deployments may not need a high-speed fabric; multi-node systems need a workload-specific network review.

Can existing NAS or SAN storage support a private AI workload?

Possibly. Assess usable capacity, read/write patterns, throughput, latency, protocol support, resilience and backup. The model and retrieval workflow determine whether existing storage is suitable.

How should AI workloads be separated from office and guest networks?

Define distinct access and management paths for users, model services, data stores and agent tools. Apply identity, permissions, logging and network policies appropriate to the application. On-premises hosting alone does not make a deployment secure.

What should I send for an infrastructure BOM review?

Share the use case, expected users or concurrency, preferred model if known, site location, existing equipment, preliminary BOM, power and cooling limits, timeline and any brand or budget constraints. An incomplete list is a useful starting point.

Can servers, storage, switches, firewalls and optics be quoted together?

Submit the project list and destination. We will confirm which items can be sourced, then review interfaces, licenses, condition, warranty and lead time before providing a project quote. A requested item is not automatically available.

How are stock, licenses, warranty and shipping confirmed?

These details are checked for each exact configuration and destination during quotation. Product pages and initial discussions do not replace written confirmation of availability, support coverage, regional restrictions and delivery terms.

PROJECT REVIEW

Send the workload and the equipment list you have.

We can start with an incomplete BOM. Tell us what the project must run, where it will be deployed and which parts need sourcing or compatibility review.

Useful inputs

  • Current server, storage and switch models
  • Target users, concurrency or model preference
  • Site location, rack power and cooling limits
  • Required delivery window and brand constraints

Do not include passwords, private keys, sensitive customer data or internal documents you are not authorized to share. Submit the form first; we will arrange an appropriate channel for any BOM or diagram files.

For an existing BOM or diagram, describe it above. We will arrange file transfer after the initial request.