Data center planning and design is highly dependent on initial and lifetime load profiles. Typically, three to five IT hardware lifetimes exist within the single lifetime of the building power and cooling systems. Now, consider that each hardware lifetime can have one or more software lifetime and these profiles have a disproportionately high impact on lifetime capital and operating expenses. The author examines the software workload, knowledge of current and future trends in technology hardware, software, its users, and business needs, as well as understanding ASHRAE datacom trend charts.