As companies around the world become more technology-oriented and rely heavily on IT (on-premise or cloud-based) infrastructure, there is a significant demand for data centers and their services. While this is good news for data center managers, it also poses the challenge of maximizing the capacity of the data center through efficient and optimum utilization of space.
Here are a few tips that will help you efficiently manage the space within your data center:
Combine white space and grey space In a data center, white space refers to the area that houses IT equipment (servers, storage units, network gear, power distribution units) whereas grey space refers to the area that houses backend infrastructure (switch gears, UPS, transformers, generators, chillers).
By combining white and grey space, you will be able to save a considerable amount of space within the data center. A consolidated space is also said to improve operational efficiency and availability.
Modernize your equipment Traditional tools and methodologies can be replaced by mobile, tablet-based applications using wireless readers and scanners that take up limited space. Replace disk-based storage systems with faster, energy-efficient and compact SSDs.
Flywheels that increase the momentum of the machine can be used to produce additional power to be consumed by the UPS in case of power fluctuations. This, in turn, reduces the number of batteries required for power supply and saves the space that would be otherwise required for saving them. Thoughtful changes like this can go a long way in saving space.
Populate your racks efficiently Server racks occupy a considerable amount of floor space, so it is important to fully and efficiently populate them. Consider replacing comatose servers (which amounts to about 30% of physical servers in a typical data center) with a combination of lightly used servers that draw full power even when utilized at only 5% or 10%.
Instead of growing your data center horizontally, consider growing it vertically. You can do so by replacing your existing server racks with taller ones of more U space, increased capacity, and increased density.
Choose your cables wisely If you opt for space-saving cabling systems that come with smaller OD sizes and install cables of smaller diameter you will be able to free up a lot of rack space. You can use this additional rack space to add more equipment and reduce the need for cable management systems.
Server manufacturers are also coming up with more compact designs that use fewer cables, with a revamped structure that makes room for more processing power and memory.
Reduce use of floor space If you do not have enough floor space, you can consider shallow floor-standing racks that come with depths that are much less than that of standard racks.
Racks with adjustable depths may also be suitable for use in small data centers where space is always a constraint. This will give you the flexibility to scale up or down instantly, depending on your needs. You could also consider opting for wall-mount cabinets that will stay off the floor.
Use asset management tools For efficient capacity planning of your data center, use asset management tools that help in estimation for power and server requirements. This helps in the efficient sizing and layout of data centers, preventing wastage of space.
Alternatively, you could take the help of expert data center consultants like Hardy Racks! Get in touch with us today!