How are Data Centers Managed?

Managing a data center with maximum efficiency and reliability requires the joint efforts of facilities and IT.

IT systems: servers, storage devices, and networks must be properly managed and updated. This includes things like operating systems, security patches, applications and system resources (memory, memory, and CPU).

Facility Infrastructure: All data center support systems are subject to heavy loads and must be properly maintained to continue to function satisfactorily. These systems include cooling, humidification, air treatment, power distribution, backup power generation and much more.

Monitoring: When a device, connection or application fails, it can stop critical operations. Sometimes a system error overlaps with applications from other systems that depend on the failed drive's data or services. For example, different systems, such as inventory control, credit card processing, accounting and more, will be involved in a complex process such as online payment. Failure in one will compromise everyone else. In addition, modern applications generally have a high degree of interdependence between devices and connections. Ensuring maximum availability requires 24/7 monitoring of the applications, systems and key connections involved in a company's various workflows.

Building management system: for large data centers, the building management system (BMS) will allow constant and centralized monitoring of the installation, including temperature, humidity, power, and cooling.

The management of IT installations and data centers are often outsourced to third-party companies specialized in monitoring, maintenance and correction of systems and installations based on shared services.

What is a Green Data Center?

An ecological data center is a center capable of operating with maximum energy efficiency and minimum environmental impact. This includes mechanical, lighting, electrical and IT equipment (server, storage, network, etc.). Within companies, the focus on green data centers is primarily driven by the desire to reduce the huge electricity costs associated with running a data center. In other words, going green is recognized as a way to significantly reduce operating expenses for IT infrastructure.

Interest in green data centers are also stimulated by the federal government. In 2006, Congress passed public-law 109-431 asking the EPA to "analyze the rapid growth and energy consumption of computer data centers by the federal government and private enterprises."

In response, the EPA has developed a comprehensive report that analyzes current energy use trends and the energy costs of data centers and servers in the United States and described existing and emerging opportunities to improve energy efficiency. It also made recommendations to exploit these energy efficiency opportunities across the country through the use of information programs and incentives.

According to the EPA the report, the two largest electricity consumers in the data center are:

• Support infrastructure: 50% of the total

• General servers: 34% of the total

Since then, significant progress has been made to improve server efficiency. Blade servers and high-density storage now offer much higher processing capacity per watt of energy. Server virtualization allows organizations to reduce the total number of servers they support, and the introduction of EnergyStar servers has combined to offer many options for the public and private sector to reduce 34% of electricity spent on generic servers.

Of course, the biggest opportunity for further savings is the data center support infrastructure itself. According to the EPA, most data centers consume 100% to 300% more energy for support systems than those used for their basic IT operations. Through a combination of best practices and migration to improvements in fast damping systems (such as ultrasonic humidification and airflow control), this additional costs can be reduced to approximately 30% of the IT load.