Highly reliable data centers using managed PDUs

by Emerson Network Power on 10/8/15 9:09 AM

Ronny Mees | Emerson Network Power

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Today’s most innovative data centers are generally equipped with managed PDUs since their switching capabilities improve reliability. However, simply installing managed PDUs is not enough – an “unmanaged” managed PDU will actually reduce reliability.

So how do managed PDUs work? These advanced units offer a series of configurations which – if properly implemented – improve the availability of important services. The main features are Software Over Temperature Protection (SWOTP) and Software Over Current Protection (SWOCP), which are well described in the blog post “Considerations for a Highly Available Intelligent Rack PDU”.

It is also well-known, that managed PDUs can support commissioning or repairing workflows in data centers. The combination of well designed workflows and managed PDUs pushes the operational reliability to a higher level.

In high performance data centers, using clusters, another important point comes into play: clusters are complex hierarchical structures  of server farms, which are able to run high performance virtual machines and fully automated workflows.

As described here or here, such clusters are managed by centralized software together with server hardware.

Over the last couple of years cluster solutions have been developed following strong and challenging availability goals, in order to avoid any situation, which make physical servers struggle within the cluster. However, there would still be the risk of applications and processes generating  faults and errors and screwing-up the complete cluster, unless there was an automated control process – the good news is: there is.

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The process which controls those worst case scenarios is called fencing. Fencing automatically kicks out of the cluster any not working nodes or services in order to maintain the availability of the others.

Fencing has different levels, which are hopefully wisely managed. In a smooth scenario fencing will stop disturbing services, or re-organize storage access (Fibre channel switch fencing) to let the cluster proceed with its tasks.

Another power fencing option is also called “STONITH” (Shoot The Other Node In The Head) and allows the software to initiate an immediate shutdown (internal power fencing) of a node and/or a hard switch off (external power fencing).

The internal power fencing method uses IPMI and other service processer protocols, while the external power fencing uses any supported network protocol to switch of a PDU outlet.  It is recommended to use secured protocols only, such as SNMPv3. So managed PDUs as MPH2 or MPX do not only support a nice power balance, monitor power consumptions or support datacenter operations workflows – they also allow the fence software to react quickly for higher cluster reliability. So it’s not a secret that cluster solutions manufacturers – e.g. Red Hat with RHEL 6.7 and newer – openly support such managed rack PDUs.

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Topics: Data Center, PUE, robust data center, Containment, efficient data center, DVL, electrical distribution, energy, Battery, Thermal Management, energy efficiency, 7x24, PDU

Take a Virtual Tour of Liebert's SmartRow and SmartAisle

by Marissa Donatone on 2/26/15 9:00 AM

smartaisletour smartrowtour

It's time to take two great virtual walkthrough tours of Liebert's SmartAisle and SmartRow solutions for Data Centers! 

The SmartAisle infrastructure solution optimizes infrastructure deployment and management with an intelligent row-based system that integrates data center racks, power, row cooling, aisle containment, monitoring and control technologies for spaces with up to 40 racks.

The SmartRow infrastructure solution solves a problem all too common to IT management: addressing IT needs without building new data center space. Think of the SmartRow approach as a data center in a row--a simple, fully integrated row-based infrastructure. The SmartRow offering combines up to six data center racks--with precision cooling, UPSs, power management, monitoring and control technologies, and fire suppression--all in an enclosed system.

CLICK HERE To take the Tours! 

For more information on Smart Solutions visit: Emersonnetworkpower.com

 

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Topics: rack, Emerson Network Power, data center infrastructure, data center design, Containment, Green Technology, Efficiency, cooling, Liebert, smart solutions

The Server Closet Must Die...

by Mike Rinaldi on 6/20/13 12:46 PM

They are small, poorly managed, wasteful and high risk environments for a business’s IT systems and they’re lurking in a building near you. The server closet, it’s a danger to us all and it must be eradicated.

The server closet is a room set aside for IT gear, but not designed as a data center. Not even as a bad data center. They vary in size, but are generally between 100 SF and 2500 SF. The rooms usually have some extra AC assigned to them and maybe additional jury rigged power, but beyond that they are a large closet that IT gear has been force fit into. There are 10s of thousands of these server closets out in the wild. 

 

 

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Topics: Emerson Network Power, data center infrastructure, Data Center, data center design, data center infrastructure management, robust data center, Containment, efficient data center

Do You Prefer Hot Aisle or Cold Aisle Containment?

by Mike Rinaldi on 4/22/13 1:41 PM

Separating the hot and cold air in a data center is one of the keys to improving energy efficiency.  Containment systems don't have to be fancy or expensive.  Containment systems have been in use at least since 2004, but there's an ongoing debate about whether it is best to contain the hot aisle or cold aisle.  

Do you use containment in your data center?  If so, do you contain the hot aisle or cold aisle?"

 cfd

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Topics: data center infrastructure, Data Center, data center design, kW per rack, data center energy, data center infrastructure management, PUE, Containment, efficient data center, DVL, reduce downtime, enclosure, CIO

The Green Grid Brings In New Metric For Equipment Use

by Mike Rinaldi on 3/19/13 12:33 PM

Announcement: Says Electronics Disposal Efficiency metric ensures data centers can responsibly handle electronics and electrical equipment at the end of its useful life

11 March 2013 by DatacenterDynamics FOCUS

The Green Grid has launched a new metric to help data center operators and organizations measure how electronic equipment is managed once it reaches end-of-current-use.
The Electronics Disposal Efficiency (EDE) metric is the first universal metric launched by The Green Grid to help end-users of information and communications technologies (ICT) measure their success in the responsible management of outdated equipment.

EDE is a simple metric that helps organizations calculate and measure their progress in improving equipment disposal processes over time, The Green Grid said.

Discarded Electronics and Electrical Equipment (EEE) entering the waste stream is known globally as e-waste or Waste Electronics and Electrical Equipment (WEEE). Examples of WEEE include computers, mobile devices, home entertainment products, toys, and even goods such as refrigerators and stoves.

The definition and monitoring of WEEE worldwide has evolved over the last decade, which has prompted The Green Grid to identify the need to combine the expertise of other organizations who define standards and requirements for e-waste management with its own members’ knowledge and understanding of the e-waste management challenges facing the ICT community.

The Green Grid said the result is the creation of a metric that quantifies how well a corporate consumer of ICT EEE responsibly manages e-waste.

“The Green Grid isn’t trying to redefine any domain-specific terminology in the WEEE arena,” Kathrin Winkler, EMC representative and Board Member of The Green Grid, said.

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recycle

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Topics: Emerson Network Power, reduce cost, Data Center, Green IT, data center design, data center energy, data center infrastructure management, PUE, Containment, Green Technology, energy, Energy Star, cloud strategy

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