How to Design and

Build a Data Center

In this guide:

How to design and build a

Designing an efficient data center is no small feat. Review data center facility and
data center
infrastructure components and different standards before you begin, here.
What are the main
components of a data
center?

How to design a data

center

Physical space and data

center organization

Data center security

Data center power and

performance demands

Data center cooling

systems

Data center efficiency and

sustainability

Data center design best

practices

Data center design

challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
1 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

data center How to design and build a data center
What are the main STEPHEN BIGELOW, SENIOR TECHNOLOGY EDITOR
components of a data
center?
A data center is the technological hub of modern enterprise operations. The data center
How to design a data provides the critical IT infrastructure needed to deliver resources and services to business
center employees, partners and customers around the world.
Physical space and data
center organization A small or midsize business can often implement a useful "data center" within the confines

Data center security

of a closet or other convenient room with few modifications, if any. However, the sheer
scale involved in enterprise computing demands a large dedicated space that is carefully
Data center power and
designed to support the space, power, cooling, management, reliability and security needs of
performance demands
the IT infrastructure.
Data center cooling
systems
As a result, a data center facility represents the single largest and most expensive asset that
Data center efficiency and the business will possess -- both in terms of capital investment and recurring operational
sustainability
expenses. Business and IT leaders must pay close attention to the issues involved in data
Data center design best center design and construction to ensure that the resulting facility meets business needs
practices
throughout the facility's lifecycle and changing business circumstances.
Data center design
challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
2 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a WHAT ARE THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF A DATA CENTER?
data center

What are the main There are two principal aspects to any data center: the facility, and the IT infrastructure that
components of a data resides within the facility. These aspects coexist and work together, but they can be
center?
discussed separately.
How to design a data
center
Facility. The facility is the physical building used for the data center. In simplest terms, a data
Physical space and data center is just a big open space where infrastructure will be deployed. Although almost any
center organization
space has the potential to operate some amount of IT infrastructure, a properly designed
Data center security facility considers the following array of factors:

Data center power and

performance demands • Space. There must be sufficient floor space -- a simple measure of square feet or square
meters -- to hold all the IT infrastructure that the business intends to deploy now and in the
Data center cooling future. The space must be located on a well-considered site with affordable taxes and
systems access. The space is often subdivided to accommodate different purposes or use types.
• Power. There must be adequate power -- in watts, often as much as 100 megawatts -- to
Data center efficiency and
operate all the IT infrastructure. Power must be affordable, clean -- meaning free of
sustainability
fluctuation or disruption -- and reliable. Renewable and supplemental/auxiliary power must
Data center design best be included.
practices • Cooling. The enormous amount of power delivered to a data center is converted into
computing -- i.e., work -- and a lot of heat, which must be removed from the IT infrastructure
Data center design using conventional HVAC systems, as well as other unconventional cooling technologies.
challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
3 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

• Security. Considering the value of the data center and its critical importance to the business,
data center
the data center must include controlled access using a variety of tactics, ranging from
What are the main employee badge access to video surveillance.
components of a data • Management. Modern data centers typically incorporate a building management system
center? (BMS) designed to help IT and business leaders oversee the data center environment in real
time, including oversight of temperature, humidity, power and cooling levels, as well as
How to design a data
access and security logging.
center

Physical space and data

center organization

Data center security

Data center power and

performance demands

Data center cooling

systems

Data center efficiency and

sustainability

Data center design best

practices

Data center design

challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
4 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

Infrastructure. An infrastructure represents the vast array of IT gear deployed within the
data center
facility. This is the equipment that runs applications and provides services to the business and
What are the main its users. A typical IT infrastructure includes the following components:
components of a data
center?
• Servers. These computers host enterprise applications and perform computing tasks.
How to design a data • Storage. Subsystems, such as disk arrays, are used to store and protect application and
center business data.
• Networking. The gear needed to create a business network includes switches, routers,
Physical space and data
firewalls and other cybersecurity elements.
center organization
• Cables and racks. Miles of wires interconnect IT gear, and physical server racks are used to
Data center security organize servers and other gear within the facility space.
• Backup power. Uninterruptible power supply (UPS), flywheel and other emergency power
Data center power and systems are critical to ensure orderly infrastructure behavior in the event of a main power
performance demands disruption.
• Management platforms. One or more data center infrastructure management (DCIM)
Data center cooling
systems platforms are needed to oversee and manage the IT infrastructure reporting on system
health, availability, capacity and configuration.
Data center efficiency and
sustainability When a business decides to design and build a data center, the natural focus is on the design
and construction of the facility. But IT leaders must also consider the infrastructure that will go
Data center design best
practices into the facility to validate the project.

Data center design

challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
5 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a HOW TO DESIGN A DATA CENTER

data center

What are the main There are no required or obligated standards for data center design or construction; a data
components of a data center is intended to fit the unique needs of the overall business, not the reverse. However,
center?
the primary purpose of any standard is to establish a common platform of best practices. An
How to design a data assortment of current data center standards exists, and a business can incorporate one or
center
more standards -- or parts of standards -- into a data center project. Standards help ensure
Physical space and data adequate attention is placed on these factors, among others:
center organization

Data center security • conceptual design;

• layout and space planning;
Data center power and • building construction requirements;
performance demands
• physical security issues;
Data center cooling
• building internals (mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire systems);
systems • operations and workflows; and
• maintenance.
Data center efficiency and
sustainability Below are just some of the major data center design and infrastructure standards:

Data center design best

• Uptime Institute Tier Standard. The Uptime Institute Tier Standard focuses on data center
practices
design, construction and commissioning, and it is used to determine the resilience of the
Data center design facility as related to four levels of redundancy/reliability.
challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
6 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

• ANSI/TIA 942-B. This standard involves planning, design, construction and commissioning of
data center
building trades, as well as fire protection, IT and maintenance. It also uses four levels of
What are the main reliability ratings, implemented by BICSI-certified professionals.
components of a data • EN 50600 series. This series of standards focuses on IT cable and network design and has
center? various infrastructure redundancy and reliability concepts that are loosely based on the
Uptime Institute's Tier Standard.
How to design a data
• ASHRAE. The ASHRAE guidelines -- which are not specific to IT or data centers -- relate to the
center
design and implementation of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and related
Physical space and data fields.
center organization

Data center security

Data center power and

performance demands

Data center cooling

systems

Data center efficiency and

sustainability

Data center design best

practices

Data center design

challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
7 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

data center

What are the main

components of a data
center?

How to design a data

center

Physical space and data

center organization

Data center security

Data center power and

performance demands

Data center cooling

systems

Data center efficiency and

sustainability

Data center design best

practices

Data center design

challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
8 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

In addition, there are many varied regulatory and operational standards that can be applied
data center
to data centers. Regulatory standards include HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, SAS 70 Type I or II
What are the main and Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Operational standards can include ISO 9000 for quality, ISO
components of a data
center? 14000 for environmental management, ISO 27001 for information security, Payment Card
Industry Data Security Standard for payment card security and EN 50600-2-6 regarding
How to design a data
center management and operational information.
Standards help ensure proper data center design, construction and operation. In addition,
Physical space and data
center organization the adoption and careful documentation of relevant standards use can help a business
ensure adequate compliance through proper facility resilience, management and business
Data center security
continuance preparations.
Data center power and
performance demands
PHYSICAL SPACE AND DATA CENTER ORGANIZATION
Data center cooling
systems
At its heart, a data center facility is little more than a big open space -- a carefully prepared
Data center efficiency and warehouse intended to host and operate demanding IT infrastructure. Although an
sustainability
enterprise-class data center can be a large and complex undertaking, the foremost issue is a
Data center design best simple matter of space expressed as square feet or square meters.
practices

Data center design Perhaps the most significant and perplexing space issue is right-sizing the data center for the
challenges business. Data centers are incredibly expensive: too small, and the data center might not
Data center infrastructure
meet current or future business needs; too big, and enormous capital can be wasted in
management software
and tools
9 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

providing unused space. It's critical to establish a facility that offers capacity for growth yet
data center
optimizes utilization. Data center sizing is sometimes considered an art in itself. Myriad other
What are the main factors to consider within a data center space include the following:
components of a data
center?
• Lighting. Most data center lighting is low or off without human presence.
How to design a data • Temperature. Cooling demands can keep temperatures low, so humans might need some
center protective clothing.
Physical space and data
• Noise. The cooling fans in dozens -- even hundreds -- of servers can produce a cacophony
center organization that requires hearing protection.
• Weight. Equipment is heavy, and flooring must be designed to bear the extreme weight.
Data center security Special weight considerations might be needed for raised flooring used to handle cooling
airflows.
Data center power and
performance demands Beyond the physical space, data center designs must include a careful consideration of
Data center cooling equipment locations and layouts -- i.e., where the IT infrastructure is placed within the facility.
systems The most common feature of any data center layout is the server rack -- or, simply, rack. A rack
Data center efficiency and is an empty metal frame with standard spacing and mounting options intended to hold
sustainability standardized rack-mounted IT gear, such as servers, storage subsystems, networking gear,
Data center design best cabling, auxiliary power systems such as UPS devices, and I/O options such as keyboards and
practices monitors for administrative access.
Data center design
challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
10 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

data center

What are the main

components of a data
center?

How to design a data

center

Physical space and data

center organization

Data center security

Data center power and

performance demands

Data center cooling

systems
Racks also play a vital role in data center cooling schemes. Racks of gear are commonly
Data center efficiency and organized to create hot and cold aisles that can improve cooling efficiency by allowing
sustainability
the introduction of cooled air into a cold aisle, which is heated by gear and delivered
Data center design best into a hot aisle, where the heated air can be effectively removed from the room. The
practices
organization of aisles can also help facilitate the introduction of additional doors and
Data center design security measures at the ends of each aisle to limit human access.
challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
11 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a DATA CENTER SECURITY

data center

What are the main Data center security typically involves the three distinct aspects of access security, facility
components of a data security and cybersecurity.
center?

How to design a data Access security. Any discussion of data center facilities must involve a consideration of
center
physical security. Physical security is the management of human personnel and the
Physical space and data protection of the physical facility as well as its IT infrastructure. When implemented
center organization
properly, security ensures that only authorized personnel have access to the facility and
Data center security gear, and that all human activities are documented. Security can involve the following array
of measures:
Data center power and
performance demands
• badge access into and around the facility (including the equipment areas);
Data center cooling • key access to specific racks and servers;
systems • logs for employee and visitor/vendor access;
Data center efficiency and
• escorts for non-employees;
sustainability • video surveillance; and
• on-site security personnel.
Data center design best
practices Facility security. Physical security also extends to the integrity of the data center
environment, including temperature, humidity and smoke/fire/flood conditions. This aspect
Data center design
challenges of data center protection is often handled by a BMS that monitors and reports
environmental or emergency conditions to building managers.
Data center infrastructure
management software
and tools
12 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

Cybersecurity. Cybersecurity focuses on controlling access to enterprise data and
data center
applications hosted within the data center's IT infrastructure. Cybersecurity is intended to
What are the main ensure that only properly authenticated users can access data or use applications, and that
components of a data
center? any breaches are reported and addressed immediately. For example, physical security
prevents a human from touching a disk in the data center, while cybersecurity prevents that
How to design a data
center same human from accessing data on the disk from hundreds of miles away across a network.
Cybersecurity uses a mix of antimalware, configuration management, intrusion
Physical space and data
center organization detection/prevention, activity logging and other tools in order to oversee network activity
and identify potential threats.
Data center security

Data center power and

DATA CENTER POWER AND PERFORMANCE DEMANDS
performance demands

Data center cooling Power is a perpetual challenge for any enterprise-class data center. A large facility can
systems
consume about 100 megawatts -- enough to power around 80,000 homes -- and power
Data center efficiency and poses the single biggest Opex for an enterprise-class data center. Therefore, data center
sustainability
operators place the following demands on utility power:
Data center design best
practices • Capacity. There must be adequate power to run the data center.
• Cost. Power must be as inexpensive as possible.
Data center design
• Quality. Power must be electrically clean (i.e., free of undesirable electrical noise, surges and
challenges
spikes).
Data center infrastructure • Reliability. Power must be free of brownouts, blackouts or other disruptions.
management software
and tools
13 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

These issues are increasingly addressed with locally generated and increasingly renewable
data center
options, including wind, solar and on-site generation.
What are the main But for a business to understand power issues for any data center site, it's important that
components of a data
center? data center designers and IT leaders calculate the power demands of the facility and its IT
infrastructure. It's this benchmark that enables a business to understand approximate power
How to design a data
center costs and discuss capacity with regional utilities.

Physical space and data

There is no single means of estimating power requirements. For the facility, power is a
center organization
straightforward estimate of lighting and HVAC demands. IT infrastructure power demands
Data center security can be more convoluted because server power requirements fluctuate with workload -- i.e.,
Data center power and how much work the applications are doing -- and the configuration of each server, including
performance demands the selection of CPU, installed memory and other expansion devices, such as GPUs.
Data center cooling
systems Traditional power estimates include rack-based and nameplate-based approaches.

Data center efficiency and

sustainability The rack-based approach generally assigns a standardized power-per-rack estimate. For
example, an IT leader might assign an estimate of 7 kW to 10 kW per rack. If the data center
Data center design best
practices
plans to deploy 50 racks, the power estimate is a simple multiple. A similar approach is a
general estimate of data center in watts per square foot (W/ft2). However, since this
Data center design
approach pays little attention to the equipment installed in each rack, it is often the most
challenges
inaccurate means of power estimation.
Data center infrastructure
management software
and tools
14 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

The nameplate-based approach enables IT leaders to add up the power requirement listed
data center
on the nameplate of each server or other IT device. This is a more granular approach and can
What are the main typically yield better estimates. Still, the power demand listed on each device nameplate can
components of a data
center? be notoriously inaccurate and doesn't consider the actual work the device is doing.

How to design a data

center
A more recent approach is to use actual power measurements per server, taken with IT
power-handling devices, such as intelligent power distribution units (PDUs), located within
Physical space and data
each rack. Actual measurements can yield the most accurate estimates and give data center
center organization
operators a better sense of how power demands and costs can fluctuate with workload
Data center security demands.
Data center power and
performance demands Finally, utility power will inevitably experience occasional disruptions in generation and
distribution, so data centers must include one or more options for redundant or backup
Data center cooling
systems power. There can be several layers of secondary power put in place, depending on which
issues the business intends to guard against.
Data center efficiency and
sustainability
At the facility level, a data center can incorporate diesel or natural gas-powered backup
Data center design best
practices
generators capable of running the entire facility over the long term. Backup power can be
supplemented by local renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind farms. At the IT
Data center design
infrastructure level, racks can incorporate UPS options, which provide short-term battery
challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
15 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

backups to enable an orderly system shutdown when power disruptions become
data center
unavoidable.
What are the main
components of a data
center?

How to design a data

center

Physical space and data

center organization

Data center security

Data center power and

performance demands

Data center cooling

systems

Data center efficiency and

sustainability

Data center design best

practices

Data center design

challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
16 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a DATA CENTER COOLING SYSTEMS

data center

What are the main The power delivered to a data center is translated into work performed by the IT
components of a data infrastructure, as well as an undesirable byproduct: heat. This heat must be removed from
center?
servers and systems, and then exhausted from the data center. Consequently, cooling
How to design a data systems are a critical concern for data center designers and operators.
center

Physical space and data There are two primary cooling issues. The first issue is the amount of cooling required, which
center organization
ultimately defines the size or capacity of the data center's HVAC subsystems. However,
Data center security designers must make the translation from the data center's power demand in watts (W) to
cooling capacity gauged in tons (t) -- i.e., the amount of heat energy required to melt one ton
Data center power and
performance demands of ice at 32 degrees Fahrenheit in one hour. The typical calculation first requires the
conversion of watts into British thermal units (BTU) per hour, which can then be converted
Data center cooling
systems into tons:

Data center efficiency and

W x 3.41 = BTU/hour
sustainability

Data center design best BTU/hour / 12,000 = t

practices

Data center design The key is understanding the data center's power demands in watts and planned scalability,
challenges so it's important to right-size the building's cooling subsystem. If the cooling system is too
Data center infrastructure
management software
and tools
17 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

small, the data center can't hold or scale the expected amount of IT infrastructure. If the
data center
cooling system is too large, it poses a costly and inefficient utility for the business.
What are the main
components of a data
center? The second cooling issue for data centers is efficient use and handling of cooled and heated
air. For an ordinary human space, just introducing cooled air from one vent and then
How to design a data
center
exhausting warmed air from another vent elsewhere in the room causes mixing and
temperature averaging that yields adequate human comfort. But this common home and
Physical space and data
office approach doesn't work well in data centers, where racks of equipment create extreme
center organization
heat in concentrated spaces. Racks of extremely hot gear demand careful application of
Data center security cooled air, and then deliberate containment and removal of heated exhaust. Data center
Data center power and designers must take care to avoid the mixing of hot and cold air that keeps human air-
performance demands conditioned spaces so comfortable.
Data center cooling
systems Designers routinely address server room air handling through the use of containment
schemes, such as hot aisle/cold aisle layouts. Consider two rows of equipment racks, where
Data center efficiency and
sustainability the rears face each other (see second diagram below). Cold air from the HVAC system is
introduced into the aisles in front of each row of racks, while the heated air is collected and
Data center design best
practices exhausted from the common hot aisle. Additional physical barriers are added to prevent the
heated air from mixing with the cooled air. Such containment schemes offer a very efficient
Data center design
challenges use of HVAC capacity.

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
18 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

data center

What are the main

components of a data
center?

How to design a data

center

Physical space and data

center organization

Data center security

Data center power and

performance demands

Data center cooling

systems

Data center efficiency and

sustainability

Data center design best

practices

Data center design

challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
19 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

data center

What are the main

components of a data
center?

How to design a data

center

Physical space and data

center organization

Data center security

Data center power and

performance demands

Data center cooling

systems

Data center efficiency and

sustainability

Data center design best

practices

Data center design

challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
20 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

Other approaches to cooling include end of row and top of rack air-conditioning systems,
data center
which introduce cooled air into portions of a row of racks and exhaust heated air into hot
What are the main aisles.
components of a data
center?
Some data centers even embrace emerging liquid cooling technologies that immerse IT gear
How to design a data
center
in baths of chilled, electrically neutral liquids, such as mineral oils. The liquid chiller is small
and power-efficient, and liquids can offer many times more heat transfer efficiency than air
Physical space and data
cooling. However, liquid cooling faces other challenges, including leaks/flooding, part
center organization
corrosion or susceptibility to liquid intrusion, liquid filtering and cleanliness, and human
Data center security safety.
Data center power and
performance demands

Data center cooling

systems

Data center efficiency and

sustainability

Data center design best

practices

Data center design

challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
21 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a DATA CENTER EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY

data center

What are the main Today's concerns about the environmental impact of CO2 emissions from power generation
components of a data have prompted many organizations to place new emphasis on the efficiency and
center?
sustainability of the data center.
How to design a data
center
Efficiency is fundamentally a measure of work done versus the amount of energy used to do
Physical space and data that work. If all that input energy is successfully converted into useful work, the efficiency is
center organization
100%. If none of that input energy results in successful work, the efficiency is 0%. Businesses
Data center security seek to improve efficiency toward 100% so that every dollar spent in energy is driving useful
data center work.
Data center power and
performance demands
Measures such as power usage effectiveness (PUE) are available to help organizations gauge
Data center cooling
efficiency. PUE is calculated as the power entering the data center divided by the power
systems
used in the IT infrastructure. This yields a simple ratio that approaches 1.0 as efficiency
Data center efficiency and
approaches 100%, and the corresponding percentage is expressed as data center
sustainability
infrastructure efficiency. Businesses can improve the PUE ratio by reducing the amount of
Data center design best energy in non-IT uses, such as reducing lighting and cooling in non-IT spaces and
practices
implementing other energy-efficient building designs.
Data center design
challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
22 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

data center

What are the main

components of a data
center?

How to design a data

center

Physical space and data

center organization

Data center security

Data center power and

performance demands

Data center cooling

systems

Data center efficiency and Sustainability is another concern. Power generation creates pollution that is believed to
sustainability drive climate change and reduce the health of the planet. Creating a sustainable or green
Data center design best data center means to strive for net zero carbon emissions for the power that drives data
practices centers. Net zero means that energy is obtained from renewable sources that add zero CO2
Data center design
to the atmosphere.
challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
23 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

In some cases, the business can choose to approach net zero by using power from
data center
nonpolluting sources, such as solar or wind farms. In other cases, power can be purchased
What are the main from power providers capable of capturing or recovering an equivalent amount of CO2
components of a data
center? emitted in energy production, yielding net zero emissions. To achieve net zero, businesses
must embrace energy conservation, energy efficiency -- such as PUE initiatives -- and
How to design a data
center renewable nonpolluting energy sources.

Physical space and data

center organization

Data center security

Data center power and

performance demands

Data center cooling

systems

Data center efficiency and

sustainability

Data center design best

practices

Data center design

challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
24 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

data center

What are the main

components of a data
center?

How to design a data

center

Physical space and data

center organization

Data center security

Data center power and

performance demands

Data center cooling

systems

Data center efficiency and

sustainability

Data center design best

practices

Data center design

challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
25 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a DATA CENTER DESIGN BEST PRACTICES

data center

What are the main There is no single way to design a data center, and countless designs exist that cater to the
components of a data unique needs of each business. But the following strategies can produce a data center design
center?
with superior efficiency and sustainability:
How to design a data
center
• Measure power efficiency. Data center operators can't manage what they don't measure, so
Physical space and data use metrics such as PUE to oversee the efficiency of the data center. PUE should be a
center organization continuous measurement taken at frequent intervals, year-round, as seasons and weather
can affect power usage.
Data center security • Revisit airflow. Cooling is essential to safe operation of IT infrastructure, but airflow must be
managed and optimized. This can include limiting hot air/cold air mixing, using hot aisle/cold
Data center power and
performance demands
aisle containment schemes and even using blanking plates to cover unused rack openings,
which prevents cooled air from flowing to places that don't cool any gear.
Data center cooling • Raise the temperature. The colder a server room is, the more power-hungry and expensive
systems it is. Rather than keeping the server room colder, evaluate the effect of actually raising the
temperature. For example, rather than running a cold aisle at 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit,
Data center efficiency and consider running the cold aisle at 78 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Most IT gear can tolerate
sustainability
elevated temperatures in this way.
Data center design best • Try alternative cooling. An HVAC system might be standard for data centers, but consider
practices ways to reduce or eliminate dependence on conventional HVAC. For example, data centers
in cooler climates might reduce HVAC use and introduce cooler outside air -- termed free
Data center design cooling -- into the facility. Similarly, HVAC can be supplemented or replaced by water-cooled
challenges chillers -- i.e., economizers -- or other heat-exchange technologies that use far less energy.
Data center infrastructure
management software
and tools
26 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

• Improve power distribution. Data center power efficiency is often lost due to inefficiency in
data center
power-handling and distribution devices, such as equipment transformers, PDUs and UPS
What are the main gear. Use high-efficiency power distribution gear and minimize gear -- both of which result in
components of a data fewer steps and opportunities for loss.
center?

How to design a data DATA CENTER DESIGN CHALLENGES

center

Physical space and data Although there is no single uniform formula for data center design and construction, there
center organization are numerous perpetual challenges faced by data center designers and operators. Below are
Data center security
several broad considerations and challenges:

Data center power and • Scalability. A data center is a long-term installation that can remain in service for decades,
performance demands
but the data center operating today may differ significantly from the data center operating
Data center cooling one or two decades from now. Designers must consider ways of handling today's workloads
systems and services, while also considering how those resources should scale well into the future.
The challenge is in providing room for growth in space, power and cooling while mitigating
Data center efficiency and the costs of such capacity until it's needed.
sustainability • Flexibility. A data center is a bit like a heavy manufacturing floor: Equipment is put into place
but can be almost impossible to move and change as demands evolve. An inability to move
Data center design best
practices gear and shift aisles can prevent businesses from adapting and changing to meet new
business demands. The challenge is meeting the needs for change without downtime or
Data center design costly and time-consuming redesign.
challenges • Resilience. A business relies on its data center. If the data center doesn't work, the business
doesn't work. Power disruptions, network disruptions, environmental catastrophes and even
Data center infrastructure
management software
and tools
27 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

hacking and other acts of malice can take down a data center. Designers face the challenge
data center
of understanding the most prevalent threats and designing appropriate resilience to meet
What are the main those threats.
components of a data • Change. New computing technologies and new requirements are always being developed
center? and introduced. Data center designers must consider how to adapt and incorporate often-
unforeseeable changes without the need to fundamentally redesign the IT infrastructure to
How to design a data
accommodate each change.
center

Physical space and data

DATA CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AND TOOLS
center organization

Data center security Data centers are complex organisms that require continuous monitoring and management at
Data center power and both the facility and IT infrastructure levels. Data center operators typically employ DCIM
performance demands tools to provide perspective into the operation of both the facility and infrastructure. An

Data center cooling

array of common management tasks needed to operate a data center includes the following:
systems
• Observation and oversight. Observation tasks include monitoring power, temperature and
Data center efficiency and humidity within the facility. Observation within the infrastructure can include available
sustainability
capacity, meaning which systems are utilized and which are free; application health to
Data center design best monitor the proper operation of key enterprise workloads; and overall uptime or availability.
practices Observation tasks are commonly linked to alerting and ticketing systems for prioritizing and
remediating problems as they are detected.
Data center design • Preparation and remediation. Data center management also involves preparation tasks,
challenges such as disaster recovery and backup processes, as well as workload migration capabilities
Data center infrastructure
management software
and tools
28 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER
In this guide:

How to design and build a

for enabling timely system service tasks. Remediation tasks include routine service, along
data center
with periodic system upgrades and ad hoc system troubleshooting and repair.
What are the main • Capacity and capability. Data center management is also about planning for the future.
components of a data Management tools can oversee current capacity -- i.e., used versus free resources -- and help
center? data center operators track utilization in order to plan for more capacity. They also help
support regular improvements to data center capability, such as system upgrades,
How to design a data
technology refreshes and the introduction of new data center technologies.
center

Physical space and data

Management is a pivotal element in business service assurance and service level agreements
center organization (SLAs). Many data centers are bound by some form of SLA -- either to internal departments
or divisions or to external business partners and customers. Monitoring and management
Data center security
with DCIM and other tools are essential in guaranteeing adherence to an SLA or identifying
Data center power and
SLA violations that can be promptly isolated and remediated. In addition, comprehensive
performance demands
monitoring and management help ensure business continuance and disaster recovery, which
Data center cooling can be vital for today's regulatory compliance obligations.
systems

Data center efficiency and

sustainability

Data center design best

practices

Data center design

challenges

Data center infrastructure

management software
and tools
29 HOW TO DESIGN AND BUILD A DATA CENTER