Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Data Center Space
The space that the data center occupies makes up the physical foot pr int and helps an-
swer many questions, including how to size the overall data center, where to position
servers, how to make it flexible for future growth, and how to protect the valuable equip-
ment inside.
The data center space element defines the number of racks for servers and telecommunica-
tions equipment that can be installed. The floor loading is affected by the rack weight af-
ter the racks are populated with equipment. Careful planning is needed to ensure that the
floor loading is sufficient for current and future needs of the data center.
Selecting the proper size of the data center has a great influence on the cost, longevity,
and flexibility of the data center. Although estimating the size of the data center is chal-
lenging, it is also critically importance that it be done correctly.
Several factors need to be considered, including the following:
The number of employees who will be supporting the data center
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The number of servers and the amount of storage gear and networking equipment
that will be needed
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The space needed for non-infrastructure areas:
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Shipping and receiving
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Server and network staging
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Storage rooms, break rooms, and bath rooms
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Employee office space
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Keep in mind that if the data center is undersized it will not sufficiently satisfy compute,
storage, and network requirements and will negatively impact productivity and cause ad-
ditional costs for expansion. On the flip side, a data center that is too spacious is a waste
of capital and recurring operational expenses.
Right-size data center facilities consider the placement of infrastructure and equipment;
and if properly planned, the data center can grow and support the organization into the
future without costly upgrades or relocations.
Here are some other rack and cabinet space considerations to keep in mind:
We i g h t o f t h e r a c k a n d e q u i p m e n t
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Heat expelled from equipment
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Amount and type of power needed
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Automatic transfer switch for equipment that has single power supplies
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Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)
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Redundant power distribution units (PDU)
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Loading, which determines what and how many devices can be installed
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