1. The external environment
It is necessary to carry out an adequate study of the location of the data processing center (DPC) where determining factors such as natural ones are suitable and favorable (seismic, meteorological, etc.).
1.1. If we have a data center, we will need to adapt it according to current regulations.
The location of the management devices in our data center must be carefully considered, as our servers will be housed there, and this is the heart of our company; without these elements, we could not operate. For this reason, the preparation and setup of the room are crucial. Its purpose is to provide the necessary elements and services for excellent operation and to achieve maximum efficiency and operability.
2. Layout.
This involves the appropriate distribution and separation of equipment and work elements by creating a floor plan of the room's components. This plan will allow for all types of testing, enabling the evaluation of all alternatives and facilitating the selection of the most suitable option. To create this layout, we must work with the floor plans, as these will be invaluable in determining and defining the location of the various elements. The plans we will need to use are the Civil and Architectural plans.
3. Physical Dimensions
The room's construction must be carried out according to the dimensions and layout of the power and climate control systems, taking into account the space required for these elements. Another crucial factor will be the servers to be located in the room, which will determine the layout of the aisles in the cabinets and allow space for their maintenance.
4. Room:
The availability of space will be analyzed, as well as equipment and personnel access, access to electrical power, climate control and thermal conditioning, adjacent storage areas, and control and security systems. Equipment space allocation is determined according to the manufacturers' technical specifications, which are found in the manuals provided by the supplier with the equipment.
It is crucial to consider these factors (columns, awkwardly shaped cutouts, etc.), aiming for an ideal rectangular room without any of the aforementioned elements. This will prevent a series of future problems.
5. Raised Access Flooring
5.1. If we install raised access flooring in our room, the load-bearing capacity per square meter must be considered to support the weight of the equipment and personnel.
5.2. It is best to use 600 mm square metal or pressed wood panels for better weight distribution on the raised access floor, supported by aluminum beams.
5.3. Leveling.
5.4. The seal must be airtight to prevent dirt, tripping hazards, etc.
5.5. The recommended height is 20 to 40 cm for 60 x 60 cm panels if the data center area is 100 square meters or less, to ensure proper airflow for the air conditioning and allow for adequate maintenance.
5.6. This system allows us to make structural changes and modifications to our room safely and quickly.
5.7. All communication elements (data and electrical wiring, connection boxes) must be separate, protected and comply with fireproof material regulations.
6. Data Center Structure: Walls and Ceiling
6.1. The walls must be painted with special, non-flammable, and washable paint for easy cleaning and to prevent erosion.
6.2. The existing ceiling, as well as the suspended ceiling panels and ties, must be painted to prevent corrosion, although the room should be equipped with a humidification system to further prevent it.
6.3. The clearance between the suspended floor and the suspended ceiling should be between 3.00 and 3.50 meters to allow for air circulation and maximum performance.
7. Access to the room
7.1. Take into account the maximum dimensions of the equipment if it is necessary to pass through doors and windows of other rooms.
7.2. Doors must be double-leaf and have a total width of 1.40 to 1.60 meters and a minimum height of 2,000 mm, and we must take into account the height if there is a raised floor.
7.3. Create an exit plan and a rapid
evacuation route in case of
emergency.
8. Spaces and Mobility:
Characteristics of the room's facilities, height, width, column placement, access space for equipment mobility, removable flooring. We must take these aspects into account. It must be located away from traffic areas, both ground and air; also away from electrical equipment such as radars and equipment that generates radio frequencies or electric fields, nuclear power plants, microwave equipment, etc.
9. Data Center Lighting.
The lighting system should use diffusers to avoid glare on the equipment. The entire room should have the same light intensity, and direct sunlight on the equipment should be avoided. Furthermore, my experience tells me that, for reasons of glare and climate control, the rooms should not have windows to the outside.
9.1. The lighting should not be powered from the same source as the equipment in the room; they should be on two separate circuits.
9.2. Of the total lighting, 25% should be allocated for emergency lighting and connected to the uninterruptible power supply.
9.3. Reactors should be located outside, as they generate magnetic fields, or in an isolated room.
9.4. In the computer area, a minimum average of 480 lumens should be maintained, measured approximately 75 cm from the raised floor.
9.5. Direct sunlight should be avoided to ensure proper viewing of the KVM screens.
10. Acoustic and vibration treatment
Noisy equipment such as air conditioners or equipment subject to high vibration, should be in areas where both noise and vibration are dampened with rubber supports and other specific noise-absorbing materials.
EXHIBIT
Equinsa Networking's 360 Data Center Cabinets: Infrastructure for large data centers
IMSERV Racks:
IMSERV racks offer high cooling capacity for high power density thanks to their natural ventilation system and can support loads of up to 1200 kg. Cable management is integrated into the ceiling via an overhead trunking system, allowing for better and more efficient management by separating electrical and data cabling (Figure 1). Access via a raised floor is also possible.
This architecture is adaptable to future growth needs.
The system accommodates servers with greater depth and load capacity due to the 1200 mm depth of the cabinets.
Power Distribution:
The electrical distribution of this solution offered by Equinsa Networking eliminates complex cabling networks, separating power from fiber optic cables.
The system is expandable, allowing for future growth and the addition of power capacity or increased autonomy times.
The power management unit (PDU) is equipped with IP-based management systems and IEC outlets, with
outlet-specific control of power supply recycling, power-on sequence, outlet-by-outlet control, current monitoring with alarm thresholds, remote monitoring, and a 32 A IEC309 power outlet. (Figure 2).
Cooling.
In terms of cooling, highly efficient solutions are available that facilitate future expansion and allow for the rapid installation of high-power-density generator sets (Figure 3). These solutions offer, among other possibilities and advantages:
- Enclosed cold aisle that prevents mixing with warm air to increase availability.
- Greater cooling capacity and system performance with warmer return temperatures.
- A design that increases reliability and reduces maintenance.
- The great flexibility of these Equinsa Networking solutions also allows them to be adapted to environments without raised floors, creating cold and warm aisles with maximum utilization and minimal loss.
Management:
These devices are easy to monitor and control via IT, with environmental monitoring systems. The management system is mounted on a 1U 19-inch rack. It is accessible via the internet, monitors access and environmental conditions, and sends notifications via SMS or email. It allows for the management of multiple devices (Figure 4).
Services provided by Equinsa Networking
: - Turnkey services tailored to each client's needs, based on a modular system that is easy to assemble and adaptable to any space.
- Remote monitoring service.
- Project management service. A service designed to help complete projects on time and within budget.
- Consulting services. On-site studies that provide clients with the information needed to design their installations for optimal performance.
- Network integration. The necessary support for migrating from the existing solution to the new one.
Author:
Antonio Poza, Networking Director of EQUINSA
