Merit Network announces Online Learning for 'Data Center Infrastructure Management,' Nov. 16-18

For the first time Merit offers Professional Learning opportunity to the Education Community Nationwide

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Merit Network Inc. announced today that it is hosting "Data Center Infrastructure Management" as its first online learning class. The three-day course is provided through Merit's Professional Learning program and will take place on November 16-18, 2010.

This is the first time the national education community will have the ability to attend a Merit Professional Learning course online.

Andy Rosenzweig, manager of professional learning at Merit, is pleased that Merit is able to offer expanded online learning opportunities.

"Providing this course and others via a desktop interface helps shrink the tremendous distances between Merit's Members throughout Michigan," he said. "Online learning also provides a way for us to serve organizations that are part of other research and education communities nationwide."

Elwood Downing, Merit's vice president of member relations, communications and services, views online learning as an integral part of Merit Professional Learning moving forward.

"Merit Professional Learning provides current information about trends and advances in networking and technology for research and education, as well as opportunities in which like-minded community members can learn from each other's work and spark collaboration," Downing said.

"Merit Professional Learning will continue to facilitate personal networking interaction. A virtual element will be utilized more to improve learning and help the community grow."

"Data Center Infrastructure Management" will provide knowledge about the professional management of data facilities, which is increasingly important for organizations of all types and sizes. It is of interest to individuals who manage data centers or server rooms, IT staff with hardware responsibilities, and facilities staff.

"This course is highly relevant as changes in technology heighten the need for highly functional data centers," said Rosenzweig.

"Trends like cloud computing and desktop virtualization are adding to the services that are provided from centralized computing facilities," he added. "At the same time, today's higher-performance servers place new demands on power management and cooling, and it is important for organizations to have ongoing knowledge about meeting those needs."

Significant savings are available for individuals from any organization to attend "Data Center Infrastructure Management," made possible through the contributions of Merit's Community Supporter Program.

Registration and more information are available at: www.merit.edu/learning/dcim/

SOURCE Merit Network, Inc.