Server Rack Strategies

Many data centers historically didn’t put much more thought into their deployment of server racks beyond basic functionality and the upfront costs of the rack itself. When compared to a data center’s complex mechanical, electrical, and technical systems, a server rack is low on the totem pole of strategic commodities.

But this perception is belied by a few simple facts. Server racks house millions of dollars Efficiency Heating
Coolingworth of hardware, safeguarding all processed data, transactions, and intellectual property. They are the definition of “physical” infrastructure—welded steel that serves as your enterprise’s last line of physical security. Finally, and most importantly, no cooling approach can exist without taking the server rack into account.

Server Rack Cooling

The only ASHRAE temperature standard exists at the equipment inlet—the front door of the rack. While the cooling process doesn’t necessarily start there, nowhere is it more important. IT professionals, when considering a rack manufacturer and product, need to understand how that product contributes to productive cooling. Here are some telltale questions and scenarios:

·         Does the rack product have proper features for conventional, convective cooling? Server manufacturers recommend a 64% perforation pattern on the front door for optimal airflow

·         Does the rack have inherent features that contribute to hot air recirculation? Racks as narrow as 24” have openings along the perimeter that must be sealed to separate hot and cold air paths. Blanking panels should be installed in all vacant rack spaces (RU).

·         Does the rack manufacturer have cooling products that scale? If, through a hardware refresh, a 4kW rack load becomes 12kW, does your rack manufacturer have a supplemental cooling solution? Can you add capacity without a major overhaul?

·         Does your rack manufacturer offer next generation cooling technologies (In-Row, In-Rack, Liquid Cooling) for day-one high density loads? A recent study by Emerson states that future data centers will be designed to support between 10-20kW per rack—far beyond the capabilities of conventional cooling designs

Your choice of manufacturer and product today can save you time and heartache in the future. 42U’s sales engineers are server rack and data center power/co