Data Center Management

Abstract

In prior chapters we discussed the optimization of the computing infrastructure inside the data center for energy efficiency. However, within the framework of the entire data center, this is only part of the energy story. Data Center Management and Power Distribution As mentioned in Chapter 1, the infrastructure surrounding computers in the data center is equally important to consider in the context of overall energy efficiency. If the infrastructure is required to support the computing, it needs to be included in the overall energy equation. Data center infrastructure itself has multiple missions; along with sheltering the computers from natural elements like humidity, extreme temperatures, and natural disasters, it provides office space for the engineers and technicians who operate the data center, and it manages the computing resources. The data center infrastructure handles energy delivery to the computing resources and the disposal of waste heat from them. It also fulfills a mission of resiliency by providing both physical security and some form of survivability planning in the event of power outages. In this chapter, we will touch on many of these aspects, especially as they pertain to energy management in the data center. Data Center Facilities Data center facilities vary widely in form, scale, and architecture, depending on local conditions, economics, and data center requirements. For instance, data centers can be housed in large purpose-built structures, as special purpose spaces within existing buildings, or in previously existing buildings adapted for a new purpose. Large purpose-built data centers-such as those built by large Internet companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft-tend to be located in geographies that provide low-cost power and have close proximity to large populations centers (with proximity generally measured by ping times of less than 10-20 milliseconds) they serve. These data centers may be built with facility powers ranging from approximately 1 to 20 megawatts.