The room specifications include sound-insulating walls, large doors for equipment access, antistatic flooring to prevent electrostatic discharge, and a number of windows to aid in room security and temperature control.
Equipment considerations include the required power density (measured in watts per square meter or kilowatts per rack), seismic support and power grounding for the server racks, the clearance needed for equipment mobility (with a typical height of 9 feet), ceiling height to accommodate duct ventilation above the room's clearance, and the inclusion of at least one telephone in the room.
Fire prevention considerations include the use of non-liquid fire suppression systems and the desired fire rating for server rooms, especially if cabling runs through the ceiling or floors.
Cooling considerations include floor-level air distribution or ceiling ducts that supply cool air to hot spots, or a hot aisle/cold aisle configuration that promotes optimized ventilation and cooling.
Server room services
Server rooms will have additional considerations regarding their daily management and standard operating procedures, including the installation of new equipment and the disposal of faulty or legacy equipment. The following areas outline general best practice considerations that should be reviewed periodically.
Server Installation: Installations must include redundant power supplies, separation of power and data cables, classified and certified cabling, rack weight distribution favoring lighter configurations, reduced fiber and data cable lengths, and fiber that does not exceed the permitted bend radius.
Network Layout: Switches and other network equipment must be logically positioned to minimize cable lengths, and critical systems requiring redundancy must have additional switches and routers connected to redundant power supplies.
Server Removal: All server cables and equipment must be removed and properly labeled before disposal, and the asset database must be updated to reflect the server's removal.
Emergency Response Management: Emergency policies must be defined and established, and an emergency response procedure must be practiced. Emergency communication policies must be in place, and emergency kits and fire extinguishers must be readily available on site.
Procedure and Policy Development: Manuals outlining all policies and procedures must be available, and policies must be reviewed and updated annually.
Management of center support tools and equipment: A record of the center's inventory must be maintained. Procedures must be established for accounting for equipment and tools and their maintenance.
Server room design and infrastructure options
Server room design options are plentiful. As the demand for computing capacity increases and technology advances alongside this growth, the market will continue to see new vendors and technology offerings covering both general and specialized server room solutions. The following information will help you choose the right components to meet your unique needs.
Racks and cabinets
Server racks, cabinets, and enclosures provide a structure to protect your servers within the server room. They will typically be able to house uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and other equipment. Choosing the best server racks comes down to determining the size, type, cooling strategy, power distribution, and security required for your organization's space.
Server rack sizes are standardized and primarily measured in rack units (RU or U), which indicates how many servers a rack can accommodate. Several types are available, ranging from simple to rugged, including small racks, portable racks, standard-sized data center racks, and fully enclosed, water- and dust-resistant cabinets.
Power supply: Redundancy and distribution
Power system options are designed to protect critical systems from damaging fluctuations in the electrical grid while maintaining continuous server operations. They encompass systems for emergency backup power, power distribution, and power monitoring. Common solutions include:
Rack power distribution units (PDUs): These rack PDUs provide multiple power outlets to distribute electricity to various devices and come in form factors to fit almost any server rack. Typically, rack PDUs include surge protection, and more advanced models offer power metering and remote power controls.
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS): Also known as a backup power supply, a UPS provides a buffer between the main power line and the server devices. In the event of a power outage, these units supply power until the main power grid or an alternative source takes over.
Power monitoring software: In organizations where downtime is a critical concern, the use of smart rack PDUs, sensors, and data center monitoring software is essential for optimizing operations and ensuring business continuity.
Learn more: Critical Power Products
Temperature control
Small server rooms may be adequately cooled using a building's general cooling system, but larger or denser server rooms may require more precise thermal management using cooling solutions specifically designed for critical IT equipment. For high-performance computing applications, liquid cooling systems may be the most suitable solution.
Accessibility (access control)
Securing server rooms and controlling access is a critical concern for most organizations. But beyond simply locking the server room or cabinet door, there are many devices that help organizations protect their IT assets while increasing productivity. KVM-over-IP switches enhance security by minimizing the need for on-site access, allowing administrators to control equipment remotely.
