Data Center Strategies for the CIO
Electronic equipment performs better in a cool environment, and though data centers can run at higher temperatures now, cooling is still required. A large part of an enterprise's budget is taken up with cooling costs so it's important to get data center cooling efficiency going early in the design process. Ultimately, the solution must be tailored to individual data center needs.
Table of contents:
Know your definitions
If you want to fix your car, you have to understand how sparkplugs and fan belts work. In the same fashion, to deal with data center cooling issues, you have to learn the lingo. Once you've got a handle on that, we'll tackle the nuts and bolts.
Ways to approach data center cooling
Whether you're planning a new data center build or working within an existing enterprise, cooling plays a large role in performance and energy efficiency. The servers you use have as much of an impact as the cooling systems, so how do you decide? Do you use air or water economizers? What about free cooling? The road to data center energy efficiency is lined with options.
Challenges to cooling in the data center
Understanding cooling technology is not enough when planning your data center's infrastructure. There are challenges to consider, from location limitations to humidity concerns. Each build is different, so knowing the hurdles your particular build might face will help you make the ultimate decision on data center cooling for your enterprise.
Environmental monitoring for efficient cooling
The final step to keep your data center cooled effectively is monitoring and management. Having system management tools in place from the start of your project is important. Find the management strategy that's right for your team.