Service and Maintenance
Data centers require effective cooling and air conditioning (A/C) systems to prevent overheating of servers, which can lead to failures or reduced server lifespan. A/C systems should ideally be N+1 resilient and regularly maintained for efficiency and to control temperature and humidity. Remote monitoring and proper service can help maintain functionality and avoid issues like 'zinc whiskers,' which can cause short-circuits. Regular service and maintenance of A/C systems are critical, as poor management can result in severe operational risks. Planning and awareness of A/C costs are essential for optimal data centre performance.
Data centre cooling and air con is a given. Every Data centre rammed with server racks continually generate masses of heat. If servers overheat they should & will automatically shut down to prevent damage. This will create a ‘domino-effect’ of problems for any organisation- One server down equals all down. On the other hand, if servers get overly warm, but not warm enough to trigger auto shut down, then over time this can reduce the life of the servers. Double whammy. Best to call in Power Continuity to check your existing Data Centre Cooling before it fails.
Data Centre Cooling and Air Conditioning
If not properly managed by Power Continuity, any build-up of heat can impact on server functionally or, in a worst-case scenario, lead to fire. Reliable air conditioning (A/C) is therefore essential. Definitely N+1 resilient A/C systems installed and monitored.
Regular service and maintenance is absolutely essential to ensure energy efficiency and to maintain the correct temperature and humidity.
Remote monitoring of all the equipment, aids the smooth running of the data centre. Complacency could mean resilience of the Data Centre is overlooked. Power Continuity always design a minimum of N+1 or even N+2, N+3 A/C systems to ensure the Data Centre cooling & Air Con never fails.
Air Filtration
A further benefit of A/C is air filtration. This is a additional advantage of A/C systems which remove the dirt and dust particles that will otherwise build up inside the servers. Without air filtration hidden issues develop leading to additional functionality issues.
Zinc Whiskers
Ever heard of the data centre phenomenon called ‘zinc whiskers’? These are tiny strands of zinc, thinner than a human hair, that can come from various sources. These build up secretly under raised floor panels, zinc-plated IT cabinets etc. Despite their size, a zinc whisker has the potential to cause short-circuits. When it becomes detached, gets circulated by the A/C and then sucked into a server to land on micro-circuitry. Thereafter they become almost invisible to the eye. Too late your server is down. The Solution is to regularly service the Cooling and all associated filter membranes.
In Conclusion
Although A/C will remove some of these whiskers from the air, it can, as described above, contribute to the problem. Policies and procedures therefore need to be in place to manage and reduce the possibility of this potential issue. Regular service and maintenance of every component of the A/C must be enacted. Hands on governance of the Data Centre will stop problems occurring.
Power Continuity insist it’s essential to plan carefully before choosing a data centre A/C system. Know the 24/7/365 running costs of the A/C. Similarly, calculate the overall expenditure. It is to be noted A/C costs associated with IT equipment cooling, can exceed the hardware costs. Conversely, with good Power Continuity design, planning, quality components, expert installation and regular monitoring, the running costs will be much less than the IT running costs. Power Continuity Systems would be happy to assist you with your Data Centre cooling & Air Con project from the very beginning.
If you’re looking for Data Centre Cooling and Air Conditioning, call us on 0845 055 8455, we’re here to help!