
Steve Maurer, IME
In a previous article, I mentioned the first "data center" I ever encountered... a closet in a hallway.Times have changed as the sheer volume of data has increased. And, so have the infrastructures that house it. Data centers are vast repositories of pretty much every piece of information used to run and maintain business operations.
Some are:
- Connectivity, not just between servers and computers, but between technologies as well. From copper to fiber to wireless, everything must communicate.
- Heat and cooling issues abound. Everything that's powered electrically generates heat. This must be controlled.
- Security is of utmost importance. Not just physical control of equipment, but virtual control of the data as well.
- Of course, ease of scalability is crucial as more equipment must be added to handle the spiraling influx of more and more data.
- Cable pathways throughout the system and facility
- Electrical distribution, along with grounding and bonding
- Cable management to ensure quick, reliable troubleshooting
- Physical security and safety concerns for employees
- Ease of identification to tag systems and spot issues efficiently
Of course, the infrastructure's design must ensure that products can be housed compatibly, regardless of manufacturer or technology.
While some cabinets might be designed for a specific purpose like power distribution or environmental control, many serve multiple roles.
Photo courtesy of
Panduit