Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Data Center Power
The power in the data center facility is used to power cooling devices, servers, storage
equipment, the network, and some lighting equipment. Cooling down the data center re-
quires the most power, next to servers and storage.
Because many variables make up actual power usage, determining power requirements for
equipment in the data center can prove difficult. In server environments, the power usage
depends on the computing load place on the server. For example, if the server needs to
work harder by processing more data, it has to draw more AC power from the power sup-
ply, which in turn creates more heat that needs to be cooled down.
The desired reliability drives the power requirements, which may include multiple power
feeds from the power ut ilit y, UP S, redundant power c irc uits, and die s el generator s. De -
pending on the options chosen, various levels of power redundancy can affect both capi-
tal and recurring operating expenses. Determining the right amount of power redundancy
to meet the requirements takes careful planning to ensure success.
Estimating the power capacity needed involves collecting the requirements for all the cur-
rent equipment, including the future requirements of the equipment for the data center.
The complete power requirements must encompass the UPS, generators, HVAC, lighting,
and all the network, server, and storage equipment.
Figure 4-4 shows an example of data center power usage.
Lighting
3%
Key
To p i c
Conversion Loss
11%
Network
10%
Server and Storage
26%
Cooling
50%
0%
20%
40%
60%
Figure 4-4
Data Center Power Usage Example
The designed power system should include electrical components such as PDUs, circuit
breaker panels, electrical conduits, and wiring necessary to support the desired amount of
physical redundancy. The power system also needs to provide protection for utility power
failures, power surges, and other electrical problems by addressing the power redundanc y
requirements in the design.
Here are some key points related to data center power:
Defines the overall power capacity.
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Provides physical electrical infrastructure and addresses redundancy.
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