Two years ago, we realized one important thing: customers are increasingly interested in small forms and small kilowatts, and launched a new product line - mini and micro data centers. In fact, they placed the “brains” of a full-fledged data center in a small closet. Like full-fledged data centers, they are equipped with all the necessary equipment in terms of engineering systems, including power supply components, air conditioning, security and fire extinguishing systems. Since then, we often have to answer many questions regarding this product. I will try to briefly answer the most common of them.
The biggest question is “why”? Why did we do this, and why do we need microdata centers at all? Microdata centers are, of course, not our invention. Edge computing based on mini- and microdata centers is a global trend that is gaining momentum, the so-called Edge Computing. The trend is understandable and logical: moving computing to the place where primary information is created is a direct consequence of business digitalization: data should be as close as possible to the customer. This market (edge computing), according to Gartner, is growing at an average of 29,7% per year and by 2023 will increase by almost five times - to $ 4,6 billion. And with it the need for a reliable infrastructure for edge computing equipment.
Who might need it? Those who need unified solutions that can be quickly and inexpensively implemented and scaled in regional offices, where a quick response of information systems is needed regardless of the quality of communication channels, for example, remote branches of a bank or an oil concern. Most oil and gas production facilities (wells, for example) are far from central offices, and due to the narrowness of communication channels, enterprises need to process a large amount of data directly at the place of their receipt.
The possibility of local data processing and aggregation is an important, but the only factor of interest in this product. Micro data centers are most often used if the organization does not have the opportunity (or desire) to use the services of a commercial data center or build its own. Not everyone, for various reasons, is ready to choose between their own and others, between long-term data center construction projects and public clouds.
A microdata center is an affordable alternative for many that allows you to avoid the long-term and costly construction of your own data center, while maintaining full control over the infrastructure. Interest in microdata centers is also among commercial structures, and industrial enterprises, and government services. The main motive is the typification of the solution. It is suitable for those who want to get the result quickly and for adequate money - without design and construction work, without preliminary preparation of the premises and obtaining it as a property.
And here the following request arises: the product is one, but the motivation for acquiring it can be different. How can one solution satisfy customers with different needs? 1,5 years after the start of sales, we clearly see two equivalent requests: one of them is to reduce the cost of the product, the other is to increase reliability by increasing battery life and redundancy. Combining both requirements in one "box" is quite difficult. A simple way to satisfy both those and others is to make all structures modular, when all engineering systems are made in the form of removable, separate modules, with the possibility of dismantling during operation.
The modular approach allows you to adapt to the wishes of the customer to increase the degree of redundancy or, conversely, to reduce the overall cost of the solution. For those who are interested in reducing the cost, some redundant engineering systems can be removed from the design or replaced with simple analogues. And for those who care more about performance, on the contrary, “stuff” the microdata center with additional systems and services.
Another big plus of modularity is the ability to quickly scale. If necessary, you can expand the infrastructure by adding new modules. This is done very easily - through the docking of cabinets with each other.
And, finally, the leading question, which is always of interest to everyone, is about the site. Where can a microdata center be located? Indoors or also outdoors? And what are the site requirements? Theoretically, of course, it is possible both there and there, but there are “nuances”, since the equipment for indoor and outdoor solutions should be different.
If we are talking about standard constructs, it is better to place them inside rather than outside, since the IT load requires a specific approach. Providing quality service on the street, in the snow and rain, is difficult. To accommodate a micro data center, you need a room that is suitable in terms of overall dimensions, where you can lay power lines and low-voltage networks, as well as install external air conditioner units. Actually everything. It can be installed directly in the workshop, in a warehouse, in a change house or directly in the office. No complex engineering infrastructure is required for this. Relatively speaking, this can be done in any standard office. But if you still really want to be outdoors, then you need special models with an IP 65 degree of protection, which are suitable for outdoor installation. As an outdoor solution, we also have climate cabinets. There are no such loads, other requirements for redundancy and climate.
Source: habr.com