Commercial Overview SCS Session 1 Server Rack Strategies
- 1. Structured Cabling Systems CCS Commercial Overview - Session 1 Server Rack Strategies 9th January 2009 Paul Mathews MInstSMM Global Channel Manager
- 2. Introduction to Servers • A server hosts a mail server, management of files and printer resources • The server offers security to a companies processing resources • A server enables faster and efficient data processing • Servers support data backup and security • The server navigates traffic and supports operations for desktops and desktop applications
- 3. Brief overview of Servers • Tower servers offer inclusive server and storage solutions and are ideal for small, remote and branch office environments • Rack servers offer maximum computing power in compact, space saving design and are ideal for data centres with external storage • Blade servers offer maximum computing power in compact, space saving design with advanced power and cooling designs and are ideal for data centres with external storage
- 4. Introduction to Server racks/cabinets • A rack should hold and securely locate electronic equipment • A rack should provide organised routing of power and communications cabling • A rack should assist airflow and cooling of network equipment • A rack should provide aesthetically pleasing construction • Most popular racks are 42U (internal height) for 19” rack mount equipment, approx 2 metres tall and 80cm – 120cm deep
- 5. Facts about Data Centres and Computer Rooms • In the present day, servers are generating heat of around 2.5kW per rack (approx 5 servers loaded), this is typically 750kW per sq m • In the future, servers are expected to generate heat of up to 10kW as CPUs become even more densely packed • This impacts revenue costs of energy bills as CRAC units are used to compensate the heat • Energy efficiency can be improved by the choice of cabling, design and routing
- 6. Facts about Data Centres and Computer Rooms • On average – every $1 spent on hardware, an additional $0.50 is spent on power and cooling, more than double the amount 5 years ago (www.idc.com) • Data Centre managers claim power and cooling issues are the single largest problem in the data centre (www.gartner.com) • 48% of computer room LAN and data centre budget is being spent on energy, an increase of 8% in 5 years (www.gartner.com)
- 7. Introduction to energy use • Energy that is delivered by electrical utilities is expressed and charged for in kWh; kilowatt hours Examples • If a heater is rated at 1000 watts (1 kilowatt) and that heater is on for one hour then one kilowatt hour is used • Using a 60 watt light bulb for one hour consumes 0.06 kilowatt hours of electricity. Using a 60 watt light bulb for one thousand hours consumes 60 kilowatt hours of electricity. • If a 100 watt light bulb is on for one hour per day for 30 days that is 30 days X 100/1000 = 3 kilowatt hours.
- 8. What does increased energy use mean? • It’s not government green – new EU Code of Conduct legislation requirements http://www.connectixcablingsystems.com/news/detail.cfm?item=76 • Increased energy costs for businesses and governments • Increased emissions (inc. greenhouse gases and electricity generation) • Increased strain on the National Grid • Increased electricity demand • Increased capital costs for expansion of computer rooms and data centres • Increased capital costs for new computer room and data centre projects DC = direct current AC = alternating current amps x volts x power factor = power Watts
- 9. Ventilation – 1kW of heat dissipation • Small to medium sized computer rooms within SMEs • Standard inset perspex door • Horizontal fan unit
- 10. Ventilation – 2kW of heat dissipation • Ventilated rack and doors, horizontal fan unit • Chilled air access through floor tile access Ventilation – 2-6kW of heat dissipation • Escalation policy should be implemented • Increase floor tile vent size up to 75% open area These solutions will Take the heat dissipation • Replace floor tiles with fan assisted grate tiles to approx. 6kW per rack • Add specialist fan units to top and base of rack • Install a cabinet with a rear door utilised as a fan unit
- 11. Ventilation – 6-20kW of heat dissipation • Typically computer room areas within data centres • Specialised racks required with dedicated chilled water supply • Hot aisle and cold aisle floor design • No airflow compromised by gaps within the racks (see www.ashrae.org – Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments) • Air gaps within racks sealed with brush strips • Excessive gaps at side of rack sealed with air dam kit
- 12. Energy Efficiency Best Practices • Install blanking panels • Coordinate CRAC Units • Improve under floor airflow • Implement hot and cold aisles • Install sensors to monitor temperature • Implement cold aisle or hot aisle containment Additional information can be found in the Gartner report ‘How • Raise the temperature in the data centre (ASHRAE) to Save a Million Kilowatt Hours to improve electrical use in your Data Centre’ • Exploit ‘free cooling’ • Design new data centres and computer rooms using modular cooling
- 13. Power Supply • Server racks need to be powered - Europe typically specifies 32 Amp, 240 V single phase feed • x 2 feeds are required for redundancy and back up purposes • A dual 32 AMP feed is counted as supplying 32 Amps x 230 Volts = 7.36 kVA • For loads above 7 kVA then a 3 phase feed can be used to deliver 22 kW • Power cables need to be kept separate from data cables – see Connectix guidelines for proximity subject to 16/32 Amp power feeds
- 14. Power Distribution • The power is distributed by a unit of sockets through a Power Distribution Unit (PDU) • PDUs are responsible for providing clean/conditioned power to the racks internal network equipment • PDUs can also be utilised for: Intelligent sequential start up Automatic crossover switch between 2 supplies Status and power usage reports (LED or IP managed system) • If more than 1 server rack is operational, a separate circuit breaker for each rack power supply will isolate power surges and spikes
- 15. Building Automation Systems • Server racks must be secure and include a system to monitor environmental conditions (temperature and humidity) through a central location (BAS) • Rack sensor systems offer information on: Temperature Smoke Water Humidity Access Vibration Airflow Air quality (particles)
- 16. Server Rack Technical Articles • The Ideal Server Cabinet – Connectix Article 6 http://www.connectixcablingsystems.com/library/detail.cfm?item=38 • Improving Cooling and Airflow – Connectix Article 14 http://www.connectixcablingsystems.com/library/detail.cfm?item=83
- 17. Connectix Technical Articles • Log on to www.connectixcablingsystems.com for full access to our data centre and high speed LAN support articles • Log on to www.connectixcablingsystems.com/events for details of our Data Centre Design Principle Seminars run in association with The IET IET Endorsed CIBSE Continuing Training Professional Development BICSI Continuing Education Credits provider
- 18. Thanks for your time.