Data Center Strategies for the CIO
- Data center design and construction
- Data center energy efficiency
- Data center backup power and power distribution
- Data center cooling
- Data center network cabling
- Data center physical security and fire suppression
Email Alerts
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Work from the ground up with a data center raised floor
A raised-floor design is costly, so proper planning and installation is the key to maximize your investment.Tip
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Guide to smart power and energy in the data center
guide
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Hot spot/cold spot
A hot spot/cold spot is an undesirable tightly-focused local temperature variation which often occurs when data center equipment is improperly cooled.Definition
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Data center experts push back on ASHRAE economizer requirements
An addendum to the ASHRAE 90.1-2010 energy standard could ease energy efficiency requirements on anyone building or significantly expanding data centers in the U.S.News | 08 Feb 2012
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Will water-cooled servers make another splash in the data center?
Direct water cooling promises to keep your data center’s temperatures down with far greater energy and cooling efficiency than forced air cooling.Tip
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open compute (open compute project)
The Open Compute Project is an initiative started by Facebook to share efficient server and data center designs with the general IT industry.Definition
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SearchDataCenter's 2011 Products of the Year awards
The verdict is in! SearchDataCenter.com reveals winners for its annual Products of the Year awards recognizing the year's top data center products.Products of the Year
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SearchDataCenter's 2011 Products of the Year awards
SearchDataCenter.com’s annual Products of the Year awards evaluate these products on a variety of important criteria, and award gold, silver and bronze winners in each of the three categories: infrastructure, systems management and computing hardware.Products of the Year
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Infrastructure winners
For the purposes of this year’s awards, infrastructure products are related to power generation, power protection, power distribution, air or water cooling, raised floors, environmental or green technologies, container-based data centers and any other “facilities-oriented” elements of data center infrastructure.Products of the Year
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data center in a box
A data center in a box, also called a containerized or modular data center, is a self-contained computing facility that is manufactured in a factory and shipped to a location. Definition
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Facebook Open Compute Project a role model for data centers
Data center experts say most enterprises can’t imitate Facebook’s Open Compute Project, but they could reap the benefits over time.News | 17 May 2012
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Using overhead cables to tidy your data center: Ask the Expert podcast
As data centers move away from tangled messes under the floor, overhead cables usher in a new era of visibility and tidiness.Tip
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Dell microserver gives energy-efficient IT shops a glimpse of Ivy Bridge
New Dell microservers include power-efficient Ivy Bridge processors based on Intel’s 22-nm manufacturing process.News | 09 May 2012
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Addressing data center issues and irritants: Advisory Board roundtable
Our advisory board members discuss their biggest data center issues and irks — and ways to solve them — in this roundtable discussion.Tip
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Best practices for a data center economizer system
A free cooling economizer system can be a cost-effective means of cutting energy use and costs for maintenance of mechanical cooling systems.Tip
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High-performance data center goes green with new tech and ingenuity
With little creativity, high performance data centers can rise to the challenge and attain a low carbon footprint while minimizing costs.News | 11 Apr 2012
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Guide to smart power and energy in the data center
guide
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Storage energy use in the data center: Ask the Expert podcast
As more storage is added to the data center, how does one deal with increased energy demands to power these storage arrays and to keep them cool?Podcast
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Hot spot/cold spot
A hot spot/cold spot is an undesirable tightly-focused local temperature variation which often occurs when data center equipment is improperly cooled.Definition
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Five questions on data center environmental monitoring
Our expert explains how to maintain ideal conditions for your server room using data center environmental monitoring tools and techniques.Tip
- VIEW MORE ON : Data center energy efficiency
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Using overhead cables to tidy your data center: Ask the Expert podcast
As data centers move away from tangled messes under the floor, overhead cables usher in a new era of visibility and tidiness.Tip
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How to balance three-phase power to maximize UPS capacity
Apply these techniques to balance the three-phase power load and avoid unnecessarily buying a costly new UPS.Tip
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Arc-flash hazards could lead to deadly consequences in data center
Arc-flash hazards can cause fatal injuries, equipment damage and unnecessary shutdowns in the data center.Tip
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Why monitoring data center power consumption is vital
Monitoring data center power consumption is the first step to reducing energy expenses, but many facilities still lack key monitoring capabilities.Tip
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DC power: Coming soon to a data center near you?
As data center operators look for new ways to improve energy efficiency, a move to DC power is all but inevitable, some experts say.News | 08 Dec 2011
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Fuel cell technology pitched as data center power source
An Oregon startup is positioning fuel cell technology for targeted use in data center environments.News | 30 Nov 2011
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Avoiding single point of failure design flaws
Redundancy can help a data center avoid downtime, but sometimes hidden flaws in the electrical design can still create a single point of failure.Tip
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Power production and cogeneration options for data centers
In this Q&A, an expert discusses the feasibility of implementing independent power production or cogeneration systems, and speculates on future trends in data center power use.Podcast
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Raritan tracks data center assets: News in brief
Raritan’s new asset management tags help data center managers keep tabs on their infrastructure; and other data center facilities news.News | 14 Sep 2011
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State of the Data Center: 2011
Special Report
- VIEW MORE ON : Data center backup power and power distribution
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Facebook Open Compute Project a role model for data centers
Data center experts say most enterprises can’t imitate Facebook’s Open Compute Project, but they could reap the benefits over time.News | 17 May 2012
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Addressing data center issues and irritants: Advisory Board roundtable
Our advisory board members discuss their biggest data center issues and irks — and ways to solve them — in this roundtable discussion.Tip
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computer room air handler (CRAH)
A computer room air handler (CRAH) is a device used frequently in data centers to deal with the heat produced by equipment.Definition
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mechanical refrigeration
Mechanical refrigeration, often referred to simply as refrigeration, is a process by which heat is removed from a location using a man-made heat-exchange system.Definition
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Best practices for a data center economizer system
A free cooling economizer system can be a cost-effective means of cutting energy use and costs for maintenance of mechanical cooling systems.Tip
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High-performance data center goes green with new tech and ingenuity
With little creativity, high performance data centers can rise to the challenge and attain a low carbon footprint while minimizing costs.News | 11 Apr 2012
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Hot spot/cold spot
A hot spot/cold spot is an undesirable tightly-focused local temperature variation which often occurs when data center equipment is improperly cooled.Definition
-
Five questions on data center environmental monitoring
Our expert explains how to maintain ideal conditions for your server room using data center environmental monitoring tools and techniques.Tip
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Data center experts push back on ASHRAE economizer requirements
An addendum to the ASHRAE 90.1-2010 energy standard could ease energy efficiency requirements on anyone building or significantly expanding data centers in the U.S.News | 08 Feb 2012
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data center evaporative cooling (swamp cooling)
Evaporative cooling, also known as swamp cooling, is a strategy for cooling air that takes advantage of the drop in temperature that occurs when water that's exposed to moving air begins to change to gas. You've probably experienced the effects of evaporative cooling if you've ever changed out of wet clothes because you felt chilled.Definition
- VIEW MORE ON : Data center cooling
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Using overhead cables to tidy your data center: Ask the Expert podcast
As data centers move away from tangled messes under the floor, overhead cables usher in a new era of visibility and tidiness.Tip
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Addressing data center issues and irritants: Advisory Board roundtable
Our advisory board members discuss their biggest data center issues and irks — and ways to solve them — in this roundtable discussion.Tip
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open data center
An open data center is an IT facility that employs a clearly defined and standardized set of hardware and software products designed to make the data center interoperable with other IT facilities.Definition
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Tips on implementing a data center cabling infrastructure
Unravel a cabling mess with these tips on implementing an effective data center cabling infrastructure. An expert shows you how to decide between three different cabling methods.Tip
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Comparing various network cable types for your data center
Choosing the right network cable type is a big part of an effective data center cabling infrastructure, and quantity and quality are key points to consider when choosing.Tip
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Categories of twisted pair cabling systems
ANSI/EIA (American National Standards Institute/Electronic Industries Association) Standard 568 is one of several standards that specify "categories" (the singular is commonly referred to as "CAT") of twisted pair cabling systems, such as wires, junctions, and connectors.Definition
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Data center cabling management: Mind over matter
Many data centers' cabling arrangements look like a rat's nest. But proper planning and better communication between IT and facilities can untangle the web.Article | 07 Oct 2009
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Should you comply with Article 645 of the National Electrical Code?
By complying with Article 645 in the National Electrical Code (NEC), data centers can bypass the most stringent requirements of Chapters 1 through 4 of the NEC. But compliance with Article 645 isn't a free pass – it comes with stricter fire safety and emergency shutdown requirements. In this article, find out if Article 645 compliance is conducive with your data center's design and operation.Tip
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Best practices for data center cabling selection
What are the primary data center cabling selection considerations? How do you choose between the many options? This tip will help you match up data center cabling to your application and budget needs.Tip
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Cleaning under the raised-floor plenum: Data center maintenance basics
How do you clean under the raised-floor plenum in your data center? Find out the best practices and pitfalls for raised-floor plenum maintenance in this tip.Tip
- VIEW MORE ON : Data center network cabling
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FM-200 systems: What data center managers need to know
Get the lowdown on using FM-200 systems for data center fire suppression, and whether or not they're a good choice for your company.Answer
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Weighing the pros and cons of the Trusted Computing Platform
When used as designed, trusted computing can provide a high level of security, but limitations and potential for abuse prohibits its usefulness.Tip
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Data center pros hurry up and wait for Hurricane Irene
A bout of natural disasters has data center professionals rechecking their disaster recovery plans.News | 25 Aug 2011
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Data center security concerns with contractors: Advisory Board Q&A
Maintaining physical data center security when allowing outside contractors into a facility takes caution and common sense.Q&A
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Data center EPO vulnerability fixed in 2011 National Electrical Code
Data centers are no longer required to put the big red kill-switch on exit doors, thanks to a committee that convinced the NFPA to revisit its data center EPO regulation.News | 05 Nov 2010
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The value of DC power in data centers still in question
New initiatives among data centers will weigh whether direct current power is more energy efficient -- and worth the risk – than alternating current power.Article | 15 Feb 2010
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Data center hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment how-tos
Data center hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment has gained traction. Here are key steps to consider for correct implementation.Article | 18 Jan 2010
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New security technologies tighten data center access control
New access control technologies are tightening up data center physical security.Tip
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Does SAS 70 certification mean better data center security?
SAS 70 Type II certification has become a necessary evil for data centers that handle public companies' data. Some IT managers say SAS 70 compliance has helped improve IT security processes, but not everyone agrees.Article | 05 Nov 2009
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Users undeterred by Amazon EC2 lightning snafu
A lightning strike and downed servers haven't deterred users from Amazon's cloud resources, which are still cheaper and better than customers can achieve in-house.Article | 17 Jun 2009
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