Keeping data centres up with the right planning and maintenance

Source: Eaton. Khoo.

Plan data centre facilities from the inside out, and not the outside in as is traditional. This is the advice for companies looking to set up a data centre in the Asia Pacific region from Teng Seen (TS) Khoo, East Asia VP of sales for Eaton, which offers backup power, DC power solutions as well as power management software.

"By selecting rack and cooling technologies first and then designing a structure around them, (businesses) can impact the productivity of their facility.  Although this approach may seem somewhat radical for some companies since most organisations have architected their data centres from the outside in for decades, this new way of thinking.. is proving capable of efficiently coping with steadily increasing power densities and operating temperatures. Moreover, designing data centers from the server rack out allows companies to select the ideal racks for their needs and (install) the optimal infrastructure for their new facility," he pointed out. 

Businesses which already have data centres at least a decade old should consider modernising their infrastructure, Khoo further advised. "Though most companies hope to get as many as 20 years of dependable service from their data centres, several obstacles prevent them from doing so – particularly some key mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) components which are not designed to withstand the operating environment. Modernising an existing facility is significantly less costly than constructing an entirely new facility, (with) significant improvements to reliability, efficiency and operational effectiveness," he said.

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, cost-effective MEP upgrades that companies can consider include replacing older UPSes, updating power distribution systems, and installing or upgrading monitoring and management systems, he added.  

For the highest availability Khoo highlighted that ageing equipment can impede operations. "The initial data centre design and building process ensure smooth operation throughout a data centre's life. However, regular maintenance and upgrading are also critical to ensure optimal operational functionality in the long run," he said. 

Regular maintenance can incorporate power audits, for example. Khoo shared that Eaton's PowerChain management audits include visual inspections, electrical measurements, interviews with onsite personnel and reviews of utility bills and data.  "In addition, companies can consider a dual bus architecture, containing two UPSes or sets of UPSe, each with its own proper path to the server racks. This approach allows critical workloads to remain operational even if one UPS fails or requires maintenance," he advised.