Understanding Your Business’s Technical Requirements for Data Center Colocation Services

Welcome to today's comprehensive blog post, part of our series "How To Choose the Right Data Center," where we will delve deeply into understanding how to articulate your colocation requirements effectively. Our focus is on ensuring you possess the knowledge to describe what you need precisely, enabling data center providers to offer solutions that perfectly match your requirements. This is pivotal as it lays the foundation for successful partnerships with data center providers and ensures your colocation needs are met with the highest degree of satisfaction and efficiency.

Space Requirements

Let's begin by exploring how to describe space requirements. The assessment of space is crucial as it determines the amount and type of equipment you plan to install in the data center. Data centers are typically equipped with racks to accommodate potential clients' needs. However, it's essential to note that rack dimensions can vary based on the manufacturer, specific model, or use case. Consequently, if one data center offers racks of certain dimensions, it does not automatically mean another provider's data center will have the same sizes available.

Rack Dimensions

Rack dimensions are widely used in the data center market, and it's important to become familiar with these. The height of data center racks is typically measured in "Rack units," abbreviated as U or RU, where 1U equals 1.75 inches (44.45 mm). This standardized measurement ensures uniformity and compatibility across various equipment manufacturers and designs. The most common rack heights, 42U and 48U, have become reliable standards, offering ample space for housing servers, switches, storage devices, and other essential components of a data center infrastructure. These conventional heights efficiently utilize available floor space and are popular due to their compatibility with a wide range of equipment. However, a trend toward taller rack configurations, such as 52U, has been emerging, reflecting the demand for increased vertical scalability and denser equipment deployments.

Width is another dimension to consider. Data center cabinets typically come in standard widths of 600mm (23.6 inches) and 800mm (31.5 inches), designed to accommodate standard server equipment while allowing for efficient airflow and cable management. The choice between these widths depends on the size of the equipment you plan to install.

Depth varies among manufacturers and models, with options ranging from 600mm (23.6 inches) to 1200mm (47.24 inches). Selecting the appropriate rack depth is crucial for adequate cable management and ensuring proper ventilation to prevent equipment overheating. Furthermore, considering future scalability when choosing rack depth can accommodate future expansions or upgrades without additional infrastructure investments.

When describing space requirements, it's essential to specify the dimensions as "Width mm (inches) x Depth mm (inches) x Height U." For instance, a common rack size that meets client needs might be described as 600mm wide x 1000mm deep x 48U high. It's important to evaluate which dimensions are suitable based on the equipment being installed and to consider future expansion to avoid limitations on growth.

Space Allocation Options

Data centers may offer various options for space allocation, including partial racks, full racks in a shared environment, or entire cages. Each option has its advantages, depending on your specific needs and security requirements. Partial racks are suitable for clients needing only a few rack units, ensuring a cost-effective solution while maintaining security through segmented and locked compartments. Full racks in a shared environment provide a balance between cost and scalability, allowing for easier management and interconnectivity between racks. Private cages offer enhanced security and customization, suitable for clients with larger equipment quantities or strict security requirements.

To summarize, when describing space requirements, it's crucial to specify the number of rack units needed, along with the desired width and depth, considering the equipment planned for installation. Whether opting for partial racks, full racks in a shared environment, or a private cage, clearly communicating your requirements is key to ensuring the data center can accommodate your needs effectively.

Power Requirements

Moving on to power requirements, it's vital to articulate your needs accurately to ensure the data center can support your current and future power needs. Power requirements vary depending on the amount of space required and the type and quantity of equipment to be installed. While a few rack units in one cabinet may only need 1 kW of power, full cabinets or multiple cabinets will likely require significantly more power. Most data centers can provide 5 kW of power per cabinet, but accommodating high-density cabinets with 15, 17, or 20 kW may pose challenges.

Determining Power Needs

When discussing power needs, consider the following questions:

• How much power will our equipment initially require?

• How much power might we need in the near future?

Your power requirements can be determined by considering the technical specifications of the servers and network equipment to be installed. It's essential to factor in future needs when discussing initial requirements with data centers to avoid limitations on scaling your infrastructure. The choice of data center location and the type of power circuits selected depend on your power requirements. It's crucial for the data center to be prepared for anticipated growth.

A+B Power Redundancy

To ensure continuous operation and minimize downtime, we seek A+B power redundancy for each cabinet. In an A+B redundancy setup, two independent power paths (A and B) are provided, each capable of supporting the entire equipment load independently. This configuration ensures seamless operation; if one power path experiences failure, the other can take over without causing any interruption to the services. Although A+B redundancy may not be standard in all data centers, it is increasingly common in modern facilities that prioritize high availability and reliability. To prevent any misunderstandings, it's crucial to emphasize the requirement for A+B redundancy explicitly when discussing your needs with a data center provider.

Key Takeaways for Power Requirements

• When specifying power requirements for a data center, it's critical to consider both your current needs and anticipated growth to avoid future scalability issues.

• Clearly state your power requirement as "X kW with A+B redundancy," ensuring the data center understands the importance of redundancy for your operations.

Power Distribution Units (PDUs) Requirements

This segment is optional because the decision on whether to request PDUs to be included in the colocation service price or to order them independently lies with you. Purchasing PDUs through the data center may incur additional costs, but it also might allow for negotiation on installation fees. Moreover, if PDUs are ordered through the data center, it assumes responsibility for ensuring their proper function.

Types of PDUs

When considering your PDU requirements, it's important to decide on the type of PDU that best suits your needs. The options include:

• Basic PDUs, which offer simple power distribution without advanced features.

• Metered PDUs, providing real-time monitoring of power usage for each outlet.

• Managed/Switched PDUs, allowing for remote monitoring and control over power outlets, including outlet-level switching and environmental monitoring.

• Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) PDUs, which automatically switch between power sources in the event of a failure.

• Rack PDUs vs. Floor PDUs, depending on whether you need PDUs that mount within your racks or larger units that sit on the floor.

After choosing the PDU type, consider how many and what types of connections you'll need, based on the equipment you intend to install. It's common for PDUs to offer a mix of C13 and C19 outlets, with some models featuring universal outlets accommodating both connections. Planning for expansion and ensuring you have enough outlets for future needs is also critical.

Other Important Requirements

In negotiating the best deal with the data center, it's essential to outline additional services that may be required upfront. These might include:

• Connectivity Requirements: The number of cross-connects to other providers.

• Installation Assistance: For setting up servers and network equipment.

• Smart Hands Services: For technical support.

• Warehousing Services: If needed.

• Certification Requirements: Like HIPAA or PCI DSS compliance.

Even if these services are not immediately required, discussing and negotiating standard rates and terms during the initial phase can provide future cost savings and ensure the data center can meet your evolving needs.

Summary of the Requirements

In wrapping up, let's consolidate the requirements to ensure that data center providers can offer solutions that align with our requirements. This summary is essential for receiving accurate proposals from data center operators. Here's an example of how to present a comprehensive requirements document:

Example Requirements Document:

Space Requirements:

• Quantity: 3 racks

• Dimensions: 600mm x 1000mm x 48U (each rack)

• Type: Full racks in a shared environment

• Future Expansion: Potential addition of 2 more racks within the next 2 years

Power Requirements:

• Initial Power Needs: 10 kW (per rack)

• Anticipated Growth: Additional 5 kW (per rack) within 18 months

• Redundancy: A+B power redundancy is essential

Power Distribution Units (PDUs) Requirements:

• Type: Managed/Switched PDUs

• Outlets: Minimum 20 C13 and 4 C19 outlets per rack

Other Important Requirements:

• Connectivity: 5 cross-connects

• Installation Assistance: Required for initial setup

• Smart Hands Services: 3 hours per month

• Certification Requirements: ISO 27001 and PCI DSS

By structuring your requirements in this manner, you facilitate clear and effective communication with potential data center providers, ensuring a mutual understanding of needs and capabilities. This approach not only streamlines the selection process but also positions you for a successful colocation partnership. Remember, the landscape of technology and organizational needs is constantly evolving, making it imperative to revisit and refine your requirements periodically.

Stay tuned for our next post in the series "How To Choose the Right Data Center," where we will explore "Identifying a Long-List of Data Centers." Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for the latest updates and insights. If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to leave a comment or contact us at info@itprocuresolutions.com. Thank you for reading, and we look forward to helping you navigate the complexities of data center services.