Whenever there is talk about data center efficiency, energy
is usually the first thing that comes to mind, especially server power and
cooling efficiency. However, there is so
much more to an efficient data center.
Efficiency should be thought through and achieved across the
entire physical infrastructure of the data center. Some key components of the data
center’s physical infrastructure are:
- Power/cooling systems
- Space
- Assets
- Bandwidth (connectivity)
- Lighting systems
I believe that the data center of the future will be one
that is optimized for efficiency across the entire physical infrastructure.
At the 2015
AFCOM Data Center World global conference in Las Vegas, I will be
discussing the connected and efficient data center. The conference will take
place at the Mirage Hotel from April 19-23. My presentation will be Monday,
April 20 at 11:30 a.m. in the Barbados A&B room. I will discuss how focusing
only on the power aspect of the data center might cause organizations to miss
an opportunity to have a truly efficient data center.
Focusing on energy efficiency alone, data center operators
can realize operating expense savings in electricity bills; however, when
considering and achieving efficiency through the entire physical infrastructure,
data center operators can more efficiently scale, manage and operate their data
centers. The components of the physical infrastructure are not isolated; they
are actually inter-dependent.
For example, when designing a data center, design it for
modularity at various levels such as the rack level, pod level, computer hall
level and building level. Modular design at various levels provides efficiency
in scalability. Another example can be found when data center servers are
connected to their primary data networks using twisted pair cabling. Other key
components of physical infrastructure can be connected to out of band
management networks using twisted pair cabling. Low voltage wiring of data
centers such as security camera networks, facility access wiring, and lighting
wiring can be deployed using twisted pair cabling as well. Managing these
infrastructure components using one type of cabling provides management
efficiency.
I also suggest that operating a physical infrastructure
through the use of single monitoring system, such as data
center infrastructure management (DCIM), instead of multiple monitoring
systems, can provide more operational efficiency.
If you use a holistic approach with consideration to energy
and the physical infrastructure, then you will have a chance to take your data
and put it in a usable format to make better business decisions - that’s a
connected and efficient data center.
If you are attending the AFCOM Data Center World show, I
hope you can attend my presentation. Otherwise, if you have any questions about
achieving a connected and efficient data center, leave a comment below and I
will be sure to respond.