DC125 SG Module2

Student Guide
Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process
Data Centers and the Design Process

Objective
This introductory module is meant to introduce the basic concepts associated
with data centers and data center design. After completing this section, students
should be able to:
Identify and distinguish the 3 primary types of data
centers
Identify the typical structures and systems that make up
a data center
Identify the 4 basic stages of data center design
Summary
There are three basic types of data centers; Enterprise Data Centers, Internet
Data Centers, and Collocation Data Centers.
The data center design process comprises of the physical components and the
infrastructure systems, such as the electrical systems, the cooling systems, the
telecommunications systems, and the automation control systems.
There are four essential steps in designing data centers, Risk Analysis, Problem
Definition, Solution Development, and Implementation
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DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

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Student Guide
Data Center Overview

Reference
Slide 1 of 42
Data Centers contain mission critical computer systems. In addition to computer
hardware, they typically include:
Special environmental controls and cooling systems
Special electrical systems and backup power supplies
Redundant data communication connections
Special high-security systems
Building automation & control systems
Data Center Types

Reference
Slide 2 of 42
There are three basic types of data centers:
Enterprise Data Centers
Internet Data Centers
Collocation Data Centers
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Enterprise Data Centers

Reference
Slide 3 of 42
Serve a single clients data processing and IT equipment storage needs and
typically possess:
Placement on the same physical site as a clients other
business operations
Less redundancy
Cost management and time to market as primary design
drivers
More control over the applications and systems
An example of an Enterprise data center is a bank that
has commissioned the data center at the corporate
office
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Internet Data Centers

Reference
Slide 4-5 of 42
Or managed hosting facility manages IT systems and applications for off-site
customers and hosting facilities typically encompass:
Higher hardware densities to maximize potential
revenue
Greater redundancy
Availability/uptime and Scalability as the primary design
drivers
Staff available 24/7 to provide maintenance and
monitoring
Many Internet Data Centers host e-Commerce
applications which need high security and quick
response
The hosting facility and computer equipment are owned
by the data center owner
Shared hosting in which multiple websites/customers
share the same server
Dedicated servers in which a customer rents
single/multiple servers
Cloud hosting in which a customers applications
operate on multiple servers providing computing
power on demand
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Collocation Data Center

Reference
Slide 6 of 42
Provides space, power, cooling, network connectivity, fire protection, and
security for different customers IT equipment and typically possess:
Larger floor areas than Enterprise and Internet data
centers
Customer equipment can be hosted in a dedicated
private data room, a secure data cage, or a lockable
cabinet or rack
Lower equipment densities
More centralized patch fields and distributed networks
Security and spacing requirements as primary design
drivers
Scalability and growth for customers
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Data Center Design-Structures vs. Systems

Reference
Slide 7 of 42
Data Center design involves not only building design and layout, but also the
design and layout of infrastructure systems
Figure 2.1
Component Structures and Infrastructure Systems
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Component Structures
Reference
Slide 8 of 42
The physical components of data centers include:
The computer room
The building support spaces
The supporting off-site services and structures
Figure 2.2
Physical Components
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The Computer Room

Reference
Slide 9-10 of 42
The heart of a data center is a computer room housing IT equipment racks, a
main cabling distribution area, and often a special area for digital information
storage (or Storage Area Network (SAN))
The computer room should be designed in a manner to

provide adequate space for current equipment, growth,
circulation, and support equipment
To determine the expected life of the facility, review
past growth trends, and allow for a minimum of 20 to 40
percent above the trend growth for each 5 to 8 years of
life expectancy
Figure 2.3
Computer Room
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The Computer Room Location Within a Building

Reference
Slide 11 of 42
This needs to be designed with power, security, cabling, and cooling
requirements foremost in mind
The computer room should be located in close proximity
to the communications distribution point (carrier
entrance rooms) of the building
Figure 2.4
Conceptual Layout of data center
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The Building Support Spaces

Reference
Slide 12 of 42
The spaces outside the computer room that are dedicated to supporting the data
center facility include:
Telecom Entrance Room
Electrical Room / Battery Room
Control Room
Printing Room
Emergency Response Room
Tape/ Media Storage Room
Mechanical/Chiller Room
Secure Loading Dock
Storage/Receiving Room
IT Personnel Spaces
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Off-site Components
Reference
Slide 13 of 42
Power and Telecom Access Providers and Feeds
External Generators
External Thermal Storage / Water Tanks
Data Storage/ Disaster Recovery Facilities
Figure 2.5
Off Site components
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Data Center Infrastructure

Reference
Slide 14 of 42
In addition to the physical components, data center design encompasses
infrastructure systems and their inter-relations. These systems include:
The Electrical Systems
The Heating and Cooling Systems
The Telecommunications Systems
The Automation Control Systems
Data Center Electrical Systems

Reference
Slide 15 of 42
Data Centers require redundant electrical systems and generators to ensure
continuous operations and must serve increasingly high electrical loads to higher
density blade servers and other networking equipment.
Data Center Heating and Cooling Systems

Reference
Slide 16 of 42
Most of the electrical load delivered to data center IT equipment will be
converted to heat which must be removed to prevent the equipment from
malfunctioning.
Data Center Telecommunications & Cabling

Reference
Slide 17 of 42
The IT equipment in the data center will need to be connected with both internal
and external computer networks, creating uniquely dense cabling requirements.
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Data Center Automation Control Systems

Reference
Slide 18 of 42
Data Centers are increasingly designed with a lights out philosophy, minimizing
access to equipment and creating the need for unique monitoring and control
functions.
Data Center vs. Standard Facility Design

Reference
Slide 19 of 42
As a mission-critical facility, Data Center design differs from standard facility
design in many ways, including:
Consume a lot more power than standard office space
Comprise of greater equipment densities as compared
standard office space
Higher operating cost than standard office space
Enhanced cooling/air conditioning needs than standard
office space
Security considerations may be more complex
Physical security of assets
Threat over Internet
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Traditional Technology Design Process vs. Data Center Design Process

Reference
Slide 20 of 42
The traditional design process is focused on the people space and flow, but
data center design process is focused on network and computer equipment
space and flow
The traditional technology design process often starts
after the physical design of the facility has been
completed and is sometimes done with little or no
coordination with the architectural and engineering
design teams.
This may result in inadequate telecommunications
spaces and pathway
Figure 2.6
Traditional A/E Design Process
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Traditional Technology Design Process vs. Data Center Design Process

Reference
Slide 21 of 42
The data center design process starts with a thorough
understanding of the technology (network, servers,
connectivity) requirements and engineering
requirements (power and cooling)
This drives the need to start the technology design
along with the facility design
Figure 2.7
Data Center A/E Design Process
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Integrated Design
Reference
Slide 22 of 42
The data center design process needs to reflect the different nature of data
center requirements
Data center design should be integrated rather than
linear to ensure efficient use of IT, power, and cooling
assets
Maximum coordination is required during the earliest
planning stages for efficient data center power usage,
cooling, and cabling architectures
Both user and application requirements tend to drive the
reliability of the data center
Data Center Design

Reference
Slide 23 of 42
There are 4 key considerations in data center design:
Availability
Scalability
Security
Efficiency/Cost
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Availability
Reference
Slide 24 of 42
The primary purpose of the data center is to ensure customer and employee
access to data and computer applications whenever it is needed
Table 2.1
Sample Downtime Costs Per Industry, per minute
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Scalability
Reference
Slide 25 of 42
The potential for growth must also be considered in the data centers design
Large businesses typically experience 50% growth in
data per year
Power requirements for a data center may double over
the course of 2 years
IT equipment will often completely turnover over the
course of 3 years
Security
Reference
Slide 26 of 42
In addition to ensuring reliable access, the data center designer must also
protect against unauthorized access and loss of physical assets. Security
questions data center designers need to address:
How is the data center to be protected from criminal
threat?
How is the data center to be protected from natural
disasters?
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Efficiency/Cost
Reference
Slide 27 of 42
Data center design must consider not only initial costs, but also the total cost of
a facility over its lifetime. Considerations regarding efficiency that designers
should address include:
How much redundancy is it worth paying for to ensure
availability?
Are the power requirements being met efficiently?
Is the increased cost of newer equipment justifiable,
given its higher power and cooling requirements?
Is the building space being utilized efficiently?
Client Communication and the Design Process

Reference
Slide 28 of 42
The data center design process is driven more by unique client IT equipment
needs rather than standard personnel spacing and flow requirements
Because of this, the data center designer must gather as
much information from the client as possible about their
information technology needs, plans, and goals
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Data Centers and the Mission Critical Design Process

Reference
Slide 29 of 42
There are four essential steps in designing mission critical facilities such as data
centers:
Risk Analysis
Problem Definition
Solution Development
Implementation
Figure 2.8
Planning process for a mission-critical facility
The Design Process, Phase I: Risk Analysis

Reference
Slide 30 of 42
Risk analysis is the process of balancing future costs of downtime with the
present costs of prevention
Data Center risk analysis addresses three key design
features:
Operational requirementsthe opportunity to
suspend operations for maintenance
Availability requirementsthe targeted uptime of the
system during operations
Impact of downtimethe impact of unplanned
disruptions
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Risk Analysis & the High Nines of Reliability

Reference
Slide 31 of 42
While customers and clients may seek 6 nines in terms of reliability, risk
analysis is the process of balancing that desire against the high costs associated
with insuring limited downtime
Table 2.2
Availability and Disruption Time per Year
Availability
Disruption Time per Year
99%
88 hours
99.9%
8.8 hours
99.99%
53 Minutes
99.999%
5.3 Minutes
99.9999%
32 seconds
The Design Process, Phase II: Problem Definition

Reference
Slide 32 of 42
Risk-analysis establishes a target reliability level for a facility while problem
definition concerns the task of meeting this target in terms of:
Facility space
IT assets
Project location
Project budget
The end result of the problem definition phase of design is the creation of the
facility program.
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The Design Process, Phase III: Solution Development

Reference
Slide 33 of 42
The third stage of Data Center design is the development of one (occasionally
two) design solution(s) to be submitted to the client for approval
The solution development phase usually involves:
Capacity Planning
Space Programming
Cost Estimation
Construction Documentation
Solution Development: Planning

Reference
Slide 34 of 42
Planning typically involves coordination between technological consultants and
architects regarding:
Space
Power
Cooling
Security
Floor loading
Grounding
Electrical protection
Telecommunication pathways
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Solution Development: Space Programming

Reference
Slide 35 of 42
Space Programming requires estimating data center requirements at full
capacity for:
IT hardware & racks
Electrical equipment
HVAC equipment and airflow
Space for personnel and airflow
Telecommunications equipment and cabling
Solution Development: Cost Estimation

Reference
Slide 36 of 42
One-time costs:
Real estate
Local tax incentives
Bring utilities to site
Demolition and site preparation
Temporary services to support IT migration
Equipment relocation
Consultation
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Cost Estimation
Reference
Slide 37 of 42
Recurrent Costs
Utility usage (power, water, sewer, gas)
Telecommunication services
Wages
Lease
Taxes
Maintenance
Intangible Costs
Availability of alternate or multiple
telecommunications access providers
Availability of utility services
Availability of transportation
The Design Process, Phase IV: Implementation

Reference
Slide 38 of 42
After a design solution has been chosen, the final stage of data center design
takes place which includes:
Construction
Commissioning
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Construction
Reference
Slide 39 of 42
The construction phase of design typically includes the coordination of
Structural projects
Mechanical projects
Electrical projects
Telecommunications projects
Commissioning
Reference
Slide 40 of 42
Commissioning includes:
Testing the integrated systems
Field testing equipment
Development and implementation of operational and
maintenance procedures
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Student Guide
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Student Guide
Activity
Reference
Slide 41 of 42
Define the type of Data Center you would like to work for this course: Internet,
Co-location, or Enterprise
If Enterprise which type of industry are you involved
with?
Define the logical floor plan of your DC (Draw a conceptual diagram)

Define space adjacencies keeping in mind security,
access, and flow
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Activity Example
Reference
Slide 42 of 42
Figure 2.9
Activity Example (Conceptual Layout of Data Center)
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Review
1.
What are the 3 types of Data Centers?
2.
What are the physical components of a data center?
3.
List the infrastructure systems involved in designing data centers.
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Review
4.
What are the 4 key design criteria of data centers?
5.
What are the 4 stages of mission critical facility design?
6.
What are the three key design features of a Data Center that are
addressed through risk analysis?
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Review
7.
What is the end result of the problem definition phase?
8.
What are the steps involved in the solution development phase?
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Student Guide

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

Data Centers and the Design Process

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

Data Center Overview

Data Center Types

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

Enterprise Data Centers

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

Internet Data Centers

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

Collocation Data Center

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

Data Center Design-Structures vs. Systems

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

The Computer Room

The computer room should be designed in a manner to

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

The Computer Room Location Within a Building

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

The Building Support Spaces

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

Data Center Infrastructure

Data Center Electrical Systems

Data Center Heating and Cooling Systems

Data Center Telecommunications & Cabling

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

Data Center Automation Control Systems

Data Center vs. Standard Facility Design

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

Traditional Technology Design Process vs. Data Center Design Process

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

Traditional Technology Design Process vs. Data Center Design Process

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

Data Center Design

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

Client Communication and the Design Process

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices

Module 2: Data Centers and the Design Process

Data Centers and the Mission Critical Design Process

The Design Process, Phase I: Risk Analysis

DC125: Data Center Design & Best Practices