5 Data Center Best Practices
There are many Data Center Best Practices that should be followed by any company that wants to build a data center that will last for many years. There are several different areas that you should look at, including Energy efficiency, Access control, Air flow management, and cable management. To get the most out of these practices, it is important to have a strategic plan and to set priorities.
Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency in data centers can be achieved in several ways. For example, in a data center we can replace older equipment with newer model that if of higher-efficiency. This helps minimize internal electrical losses and reduce waste heat and mechanical cooling. It can also reduce the number of transformers used in the facility. By utilizing energy-efficient design practices, data centers can save your precious money on power bills.
When data centers were first becoming popular, the concept of energy efficiency was new and poorly understood. It also did not receive much attention. In fact, it was often met with skepticism, largely because there were conflicting guidelines. A further obstacle was the silo-approach of many industries: those in the field of data canters preferred to focus on their own specialization.
Access control
Physical security is a primary concern for any data center, and access control is a critical component. Data centers typically keep backend equipment and critical infrastructure in gray spaces, and hallways and other open areas can provide vulnerable entry points. These areas must be secured by strict process checks to ensure that only authorized personnel can access the facilities.
The type of organization a data center serves will determine which access controls it needs. Larger and more complex organizations require more advanced cybersecurity practices than smaller businesses. Smaller businesses do not need advanced security measures, but they will still need to ensure data security.
Air flow management
Air flow management is a key part of data center best practices, and the right configuration can ensure optimal airflow and keep cooling costs down. A proper plan involves constant monitoring and adjustment. Airflow should be monitored in all data center areas. A data center with proper airflow management practices can reduce cooling time and power consumption.
Data center airflow can be managed at the rack, row, and floor level. Ideally, airflow should be configured in a hot pipes and cold pipes configuration. If there is no cold pipes, floor grilles should be placed only in the hot pipes. Any openings in the raised floor should be sealed with foam sheets or grommets.
Cable management
Cable management is an essential component of any data center. Proper planning of cabling systems ensures maximum efficiency and productivity. Cables should be selected carefully, including the type and number of connections. A data center's cabling system should be easy to access and maintain. For instance, Data Center Consultant can help you out.
Data centers use various kinds of cabling, ranging from all-copper installation to fiber optics. Proper management of the cabling can prevent costly outages and reduce operating costs.
Virtualization software
When using virtualization software in a data center, it is important to balance the resources of each virtual machine. Some servers can have as many as three hundred virtual machines while others may only have a few computers. The biggest challenge is managing the resources of each virtual machine, and this means that some must be prioritized while others should be shared.
A virtual machine encapsulates an entire information system, including the hardware, operating system, and applications. Each VM can use its own set of hardware, but is not directly connected to the underlying physical hardware. This means that applications do not interact directly with the hardware and only see what they need.
Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency in data centers can be achieved in several ways. For example, in a data center we can replace older equipment with newer model that if of higher-efficiency. This helps minimize internal electrical losses and reduce waste heat and mechanical cooling. It can also reduce the number of transformers used in the facility. By utilizing energy-efficient design practices, data centers can save your precious money on power bills.
When data centers were first becoming popular, the concept of energy efficiency was new and poorly understood. It also did not receive much attention. In fact, it was often met with skepticism, largely because there were conflicting guidelines. A further obstacle was the silo-approach of many industries: those in the field of data canters preferred to focus on their own specialization.
Access control
Physical security is a primary concern for any data center, and access control is a critical component. Data centers typically keep backend equipment and critical infrastructure in gray spaces, and hallways and other open areas can provide vulnerable entry points. These areas must be secured by strict process checks to ensure that only authorized personnel can access the facilities.
The type of organization a data center serves will determine which access controls it needs. Larger and more complex organizations require more advanced cybersecurity practices than smaller businesses. Smaller businesses do not need advanced security measures, but they will still need to ensure data security.
Air flow management
Air flow management is a key part of data center best practices, and the right configuration can ensure optimal airflow and keep cooling costs down. A proper plan involves constant monitoring and adjustment. Airflow should be monitored in all data center areas. A data center with proper airflow management practices can reduce cooling time and power consumption.
Data center airflow can be managed at the rack, row, and floor level. Ideally, airflow should be configured in a hot pipes and cold pipes configuration. If there is no cold pipes, floor grilles should be placed only in the hot pipes. Any openings in the raised floor should be sealed with foam sheets or grommets.
Cable management
Cable management is an essential component of any data center. Proper planning of cabling systems ensures maximum efficiency and productivity. Cables should be selected carefully, including the type and number of connections. A data center's cabling system should be easy to access and maintain. For instance, Data Center Consultant can help you out.
Data centers use various kinds of cabling, ranging from all-copper installation to fiber optics. Proper management of the cabling can prevent costly outages and reduce operating costs.
Virtualization software
When using virtualization software in a data center, it is important to balance the resources of each virtual machine. Some servers can have as many as three hundred virtual machines while others may only have a few computers. The biggest challenge is managing the resources of each virtual machine, and this means that some must be prioritized while others should be shared.
A virtual machine encapsulates an entire information system, including the hardware, operating system, and applications. Each VM can use its own set of hardware, but is not directly connected to the underlying physical hardware. This means that applications do not interact directly with the hardware and only see what they need.