Likbez: what are pre-assembled data center solutions, what are their advantages and why are they gaining popularity.
Big data, cloud computing, the Internet of things have become familiar technologies. The need to constantly process huge amounts of information encourages more investment in the creation of data processing centers (DPCs) and expanding the range of services they provide.
According to Synergy Research Group, in 2018 the number of large data centers in the world increased by 11% compared to 2017. Over the past year, most of the new data centers appeared in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region and EMEA. But the leader is still the United States, where about 40% of large centers operate.
Why change is overdue, or what is wrong with traditional data centers
A natural response to data growth is to accelerate the construction of new data centers and improve the quality of services provided. But traditional data centers are already struggling to keep up with the ever-increasing demands of today.
- Long construction time and lack of flexibility. The construction of a traditional data center takes 1–1,5 years, and if changes are made to the project during the process, the construction may be delayed. As a result, the data center starts to make a profit late, during which time the market takes a big step forward and there is no need to talk about competitiveness. It is very difficult to increase the capacity of such a data center in order to keep up with the growing needs of the market.
- It is difficult to increase the power density. In the era of big data, the volume of transmitted data is growing exponentially, and these are not just symbols and words, but graphic, audio and video files. A smart car in the near future will generate up to 4 TB of data per day, and a smart factory - up to 1 PB. This suggests that the data density in the data center needs to be increased. But when using cold aisles or the RoomCool cooling system, this is quite difficult to do.
- High investment. Already at the start of the construction of a data center, large investments are required. In the future, incomplete loading of the data center reduces efficiency with consistently high power consumption. Construction and maintenance costs and indirect losses due to late commissioning significantly increase the total cost of ownership.
- Complexity of management. It is difficult to maintain a data center due to the incompatibility of interfaces and protocols when using equipment from different manufacturers.
The described shortcomings became the basis for the revision of the data center infrastructure and the impetus for the creation of pre-assembled modular centers.
What are prefabricated data centers and what are their advantages
The prefabricated data center is a modular center, the infrastructure elements of which are created in the factory and quickly assembled on site. The main advantages are standardization and a high level of integration. The data center consists of independent modules with the desired functionality, and these modules are compatible and interchangeable.
A typical example of a prebuilt solution is − , the infrastructure of which is housed in a standard shipping container of 20 or 40 feet. Such a data center is quickly mounted and, if necessary, can be easily moved to another location. This is a convenient solution for military bases, marine vessels, mining facilities, seismic zones. Container data centers are 6 times more productive than traditional ones, and their construction costs 2 times cheaper.
Modular data centers are a type of container data centers, but they are installed indoors. They retain all the benefits, but do not have a container shell.
Containerized and modular data centers are typical, but not the only types of prefabricated solutions. This group also includes other complexes with pre-configured infrastructure. The advantages of such solutions are undeniable:
- Simple design and space saving. Traditional data centers are divided into functional areas. In pre-assembled server blocks, power and cooling systems are located within the same module. Such data centers take up less space and are easier to maintain.
- Serial production is a guarantee of quality. The entire infrastructure of the pre-assembled data centers and all connection terminals are manufactured in factories with a strict quality control system, which ensures their reliable operation.
- Fast installation. The modules are installed on site in strict accordance with the standard installation procedure. This reduces the cost of work and requirements for personnel qualification. It takes only 1-2 months to install a pre-assembled data center.
- Flexibility and the ability to increase power. Modules can be added as needed, increasing the capacity of the data center. No global investment is required at the start, which has a positive effect on work efficiency.
- High power density at lower cost. Inter-row cooling in areas with high temperatures and, if necessary, the use of a system of hot and cold aisles increase the cooling efficiency in the racks. This achieves a power density of 20 kW or more per rack. The result: space savings and reduced energy costs.
- Comprehensive service. The intelligent management system allows administrators to keep the data center under control. Necessary maintenance is carried out by the service department of one manufacturer. You do not have to spend money on calling specialists from different companies.
A question of relevance
In all countries, the construction of data centers is carried out in priority areas, and more and more often the choice is made on pre-assembled solutions. Most of these data centers are implemented by giant companies: Microsoft, IBM, Google.
Huge attention was drawn to the new pre-assembled Google data center deployed in Oregon. It includes 45 containers of 1160 servers and has a capacity of 100 MW with a power utilization ratio (PUE) of no more than 1,25.
We switched to pre-assembled data centers and Chinese Internet companies such as Alibaba, Tecent, Baidu. The construction of the Alibaba data center in Zhangbei was not hindered even by very low winter temperatures: two large centers were built in just a year thanks to the choice of a pre-assembled modular solution.
allow you to create container, small, medium and large data centers for various areas of application: Internet projects, commercial enterprises, telecom stations, military facilities, field development and oil and gas, etc.
The main plus of the Delta data center is the flexible configuration of power systems, economical cooling, intelligent monitoring and control systems. All these elements and other vital components of the system are assembled on a single platform.
The relevance of pre-assembled modular data centers is undeniable, as traditional ones can no longer cope with the ever-growing market needs in the era of big data. IT giants are massively switching to modular solutions, and according to experts, the pace of building pre-assembled data centers will only increase in the future.
Source: habr.com
