Structured Cabling SystemsCCS Commercial Overview - Session 1Server Rack Strategies

9th January 2009

Paul Mathews MInstSMM

Global Channel Manager

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

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 coolingdesigns and are ideal for data centreswith external storage

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

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

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)

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.

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 currentAC = alternating currentamps x volts x power factor = power Watts

Ventilation – 1kW of heat dissipation• Small to medium sized computer

rooms within SMEs

• Standard inset perspex door

• Horizontal fan unit

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

• Replace floor tiles with fan assisted grate tiles

• Add specialist fan units to top and base of rack

• Install a cabinet with a rear door utilised as a fan unit

These solutions willTake the heat dissipation

to approx. 6kW per rack

Ventilation – 6-20kW of heat dissipation• Typically computer room areas within data

centres

• Specialised racks required with dedicatedchilled 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 airdam kit

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

• Raise the temperature in the data centre (ASHRAE)to improve electrical use

• Exploit ‘free cooling’

• Design new data centres and computer rooms using modular cooling

Additional information can befound in the Gartner report ‘Howto Save a Million Kilowatt Hours

in your Data Centre’

Power Supply• Server racks need to be powered

- Europe typically specifies 32 Amp, 240 Vsingle phase feed

• x 2 feeds are required for redundancy andback 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

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 upAutomatic crossover switch between 2 suppliesStatus 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

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:

TemperatureSmokeWaterHumidityAccessVibrationAirflowAir quality (particles)

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 14http://www.connectixcablingsystems.com/library/detail.cfm?item=83

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 Training provider

CIBSE Continuing Professional Development BICSI Continuing Education Credits

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