Methods of rising the efficiency of data centers

A major concern for data center operators is to ensure that these facilities operate as efficiently as possible in terms of cost, energy and IT use - and for good reason.

So where should data center operators start? Check out the tips from a number of data center experts.

1. Understand who you are and what you have

The efficiency problem often boils down to human error. If management had a choice, it would keep people out of the data center. Nevertheless, the main task is to ensure the visibility of the DC's work.

A detailed analysis of data centers often surprises: the average storage utilization for VMware environments is found to be 47%, memory 34%, processors 29%, storage 62%, and switch port capacity 78%, as people use switches that buy themselves. Access to file hosting data was not provided for six months - 72%.

2. Invest in monitoring and data management tools

Making the most of a system means measuring and monitoring its health, whether you're talking about equipment, preventive maintenance, safety, communications, or environmental management. Identify strengths and weaknesses and reallocate resources to reduce TCO or improve resilience.

You need to start with a thorough audit. However, many clients are investing in new technologies before they know exactly where they are today.

Modern sensors allow accurate measurements of a large number of parameters. Look at air currents, floor cavities, thermal insulation, set temperatures, and electrical routes. Many large UPSs can handle 20% load.

3. Optimize cooling

Solving airflow management problems typically results in a rapid increase in data center efficiency. But in colocation sites, it is not always easy to apply.

If we can make sure that every cubic centimeter of cold air produced does not degrade the signal or short circuit when passing through the server or other equipment in the machine room, then we can be sure that we are only cooling what needs to be cooled. This greatly improves the efficiency of how the DC works. It is necessary to ensure that customers use the space that they rent from us with maximum efficiency, loading it by 70, 80 or 90%.

Even a hot and cold air baffle system is often not the optimal solution, and improvements are needed to improve reliability and energy efficiency.

4. Take a wider view of things

Attention to consolidation, harmonization and unification of operations in general can also improve efficiency. Some of this can be accomplished with appropriate datacenter infrastructure management platforms. Where operators have a single dashboard or low resource fragmentation, they should take advantage of these factors where possible.

In general, maximizing system utilization can extend the life of the data center. Further advances in automation, AI and predictive analytics, including digital twins, will help more operators lower human costs and increase usage across all data center systems - but probably not in the next six to twelve months.