Traditional data centers are known for their controlled environments. In order to keep servers running at optimal level they need the right amount of space, cooling, and power. This is why so many businesses choose to use a colocation provider, an expert in the tools needed to keep your IT systems ‘UP’. It is often expensive and time consuming to control and manage your own data center.
Cooling is a key feature in a data center facility, live servers get hot and heat can create infinite problems for technology. It is essential to create an consistently cool environment in your data center suite, here are some key factors to consider when thinking about the importance of cooling in your data center space:
- How are your servers spaced in the rack units? Does the cool air have enough space to pass freely? Does your cabinet need blank panels to increase its efficiency?
- Location? Is the data center located in a geographically cool environment? Can you utilize the outside air to keep your servers cool and reduce costs?
- Does the data center offer hot aisle/cold aisle services?
- How is the cooling being delivered? What is the route? Is the cooling infrastructure set up with a critical power supply?
- Is the data center using recycled air? If so, can you save money from this efficiency stream?
Image shows Flomerics software predicting thermal performance of data centers, courtesy of www.mentor.com
When air temperature isn’t controlled or monitored it can lead to a malfunction or a serious problem. An inadequate infrastructure can lead to the following:
- Thousands of dollars of destroyed or tarnished equipment
- Loss of data
- Downtime – A disruption in business could mean the loss of a loyal and long-standing customer.
There are several ways a data center can provide a robust infrastructure to enhance and maintain efficient cooling. Raised flooring provides the air circulation and distribution from the ground upwards which is advantageous in the management of warm and cool air throughout the entire data center space. Modern data centers also offer hot and cold aisle solutions to channel air in a specified, regulated zones where equipment is prone to heating. The best design/strategy will keep costs low and will ensure energy is used in the most efficient manner possible.