Lesson 1: Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

Describe the various layers in the business
Describe why the mission critical site is
important
Describe the various elements of a mission
critical site
Describe the various causes for downtime
Data centers are the foundation of any busines
Having high performance ICT (Information
and Communication Technology) resources
on hand is essential if business processes
are to work to achieve corporate goals
Downtime and its consequences.
Major Data center in the USA: Generators
failed to start under load. Outage for many
customers hosting equipment in the CoLocation/ Hosting site
Major Communications hub in settle USA:
Power outage in facility bringing Tier-1
bandwidth and commercial hosting
providers down
Investment Bank Data Center in Europe
outage: Losses exceeding $ 500 M
Telco in Asia: GSM Network down for hours
causing lost revenue and upset customers

The Data Center and $$$

The data center is the foundation of every ICTInfrastructure and therefore business
Failing to address this could lead to serious losses
The high cost of down time

Industry
Energy
Telecommunications
Manufacturing
Finance
Information
Technology
Insurance
Retail
Pharmaceutical
Chemicals
Transportation
Utilities
Health Care
Media

Revenue/Ho
ur
$2,817.000
$2,066.000
$1,610.000
$1,495.000
$1,344.000

Revenue/Employee
Hour
$589
$187
$134
$1,079
$184

$1,202.000
$1,107.000
$1,082.000
$704.000
$668
$643
$636
$340,432

$370
$244
$167
$194
$107
$380
$142
$119

Risk Factors for Data Centers

Natural origin
1. Heat

2. Cold
3. Flooding
4. Earthquake
5. Lightning
6. Air Pollution Contamination
Human origin
1. Equipment failure
2. Vandalism
3. Unintentional Human Errors
4. Sabotage
5. Terrorism
6. Network saturation
7. Virus Hackers
Data Network Origin

Main causes of downtime

Human error and hardware system failure are the
main causes for downtime

Predominant causes of data Center Failures

Human error
-No or poorly executed processes and work
instructions
-Unauthorized access
-Accidents
-Unnoticed Alarm
Power Quality issues
- Poor voltage / current/frequency regulation
- High level of Common and Normal mode noise
- High ground resistance
- Harmonics
Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF)
-High radiation levels from power cables
/UPS/Transformers/ PDU/Lighting etc.

 Environmental Conditions
-Temperature / Humidity
-Wrong cooling principles
-High levels of contamination

The Moral of the Story

The data center plays a crucial role in Hi- Availability
The data center also has to be part of and
accommodate , the fast pace of technology of the
changes
Fact is that most of the data centers today are not
ready for tomorrows technology
Most, if not all, data centers have experienced
changes making them potential risk factors for
achieving Hi- Availability

Lesson1 : Review
The Data Center is an integral part of the business
Problem in the Data Center could lead to the
business incurring substantial loss to the point of
total closure
The Data Center is a complex and dynamic space
Most downtime is caused by power, Environmental,
EMF conditions and /or Human Errors
Lesson 2

Data

Center

Standard

Lesson 2: Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
-Describe the various standards and best practices
-Name standards for sub components
Data Center Standard
The Bad News
-There is NO world- wide recognized standard
The Good News
- Best practices / semi- standards
Uptime institute guidelines
ANSI/TIA (telecom infrastructure for data
centers)
SS507 (Information and communications
technology disaster recovery services)
ISO/IEC- 24762 (International guideline for
BC/DR)
Vendor Specific (SN, IBM, HP, APC and others)
-Other organization are working on potential new
standards such as energy efficiency for data centers etc.
Tier Levels

 TIER-1 Data Center; Basic

-Single path for power and cooling without
redundancy. Many single points of failure
Tier2 Data Center; Redundant Components
-Single path for power and cooling with component
redundancy i.e. N+1
Tier-3 Data Center; Concurrently Maintainable
-Multiple paths for power and cooling of which one is
active allowing maintenance or testing on one path
without causing interruption to the critical load
Tier-4 Data Center; Fault Tolerant
-Multiple active paths for power and cooling with
redundancy in each path

Standards used for data centers

Standards do exist for sub- components
-Electrical UNE-EN 50160, UNE-EN 61000-3-2, UNEEN 61000-3-3, UNE-EN 55011, IEC-61643-1, EN60730-2-7, Etc
-Earthing: MIE-REBT-039, EN-50310
-EMF: EN61000-4-8, EN55022, EN 55011
Environmental: IEC-61340-5-1, ASHRAE
-Raised Floors: BS/EN 12825, UK-PSA PF2
Networks: ISO-11801, EN-50173, TIA-568A
Fire Protection: NFPA-75, NFPA-2001
Etc.
Typically these standards are generic and are not
always date center specific

- Specific requirements might need to be given to

suppliers and contractors
International versus National standards
Most National standards are derived from
International standards
National standards, code of practice guidelines etc.
always overrule International standards, code of
practice and guidelines
Always check the local standards and ensure
compliance

Lesson 2: Review
There is no world-wide accredited and recognized
standard
Standards are available for specific areas
Some areas of mission critical sites are only covered
under best practices
Local standards overrule International standards

Lesson 3
The Data Center Building Location, Building and
Construction

Lesson3: Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
-Describe some of the criteria for the selection of
your Data Center location
-Describe some of the criteria for the selection of
Data Center Facility site/building
-Describe the various parts of a Data Center and its
supporting Facilities and their function
Site Selection Criteria
Site selection is difficult
- Technical requirements evaluation
- Decision making process / business evaluation
Technical evaluation
- Often done by engineers
- Want the best to meet design criteria
Business evaluation
- Done by senior management
- Return On Investment (ROI)/cost
- Prestige
- Location
Site Selection Criteria
Proper planning, analysis and studies must be
performed to avoid impact after the built on :
- Hi-Availability
- Reliability
- Management
- Scalability

- Cost of operations
- Non-Compliance to standards
Select sites that cater for current needs and future
(planned) growth and business requirements

Site Selection Criteria: Location Evaluation

Potential natural hazards
- Lightning
- Flooding
- Typhoon
- Forest fires
- Seismic activity(earthquake)
- Etc
Potential man-made hazards
- Flight path
- Tunnels, lakes
- RF towers
- Power distribution network
- Industrial pollution
- Etc

Site Selection Criteria: Location(cont.)

Proximity evaluation to emergency services
- Fire, Policies ,Medical facilities
Proximity to neighborhood(urban/industrial)

 Proximity to public transport and public roads

Proximity to high risk targets
- Embassies
- Government buildings
- Power station
- Radio/TV stations
- Etc

Convenience should not over rule security!

Site Selection Criteria: Building

- Building evaluation ;
- Rent/Buy/Built
- History of the building (flood, fire, etc.)
- Building codes
- Level/ floor within the building
- Space required for each functional area incl.
potential expansion
- Security (windows, perimeter etc.)
- Floor loading
- Slab to Slab height
- Power capabilities
I. Redundancy and capacity

- Network capabilities
A. Redundancy and diversity

- External supply capabilities

1. Re-fueling of standby generator tanks
2. Delivery of heavy / big equipment and route
to the data center
Budget& Budget( built /run)
The Data Center and Supporting Facilities

Holding Area
Purpose
- Aimed at providing an area where goods can be
received , unpacked, physically inspected and
prepared for movement into the staging area
Requirements
- Easy access for external supply (i.e. loading bay
and route to staging area)
- Spacious
- Proper garbage disposal
- Secure

Staging Area
Purpose
- Provide an area where equipment can be
acclimated, inspected , configured ( H/W &
S/W) and safely tested to ensure
deployment readiness
Requirements

Separate and secure space

Separate network if possible/needed
Separate PDU (Power Distribution Unit)
Environmentally controlled and monitored
Fire protection and other safety measures

Computer/Server Room
Purpose
- Provides a safe production environment
where equipment can be expected to run on
a 24x7 basis with minimal risk of
interruption
Requirements
- Separate and highly secure space
- Protection and control of power quality
- Environmentally controlled and monitored
- Low EMF (Electro Magnetic Field) radiation
levels
- Fire protection and other safety measures

Media Storage Area

 Purpose
- Provides a safe , secure and conditioned
environment where media (documentation,
tapes, CD-ROMs etc.) can be stored in a
controlled manner.
Requirements
- Separate and secure space
- Environmental controlled and monitored
- Fire protection and other safety measures
1. Preferably highly sensitive smoke
detection system
2. Shelter/Bunker

UPS Room
Purpose
- Provides a safe , secure and conditioned
environment where power protection and
conditioning system can operate on 24x7
basis
Requirements
- Separate and secure space
- Environmental controlled and monitored
- Fire protection and other safety measures

Note: in some cases a small rating UPS could be located

within the computer room.

Battery room
Purpose
- Provide a safe secure and conditioned
environment where batteries can be stored
Requirements
- Separate and secure space
a) Ideally separated from UPS room
- Environmental controlled and monitored
- Fire protection and other safety measures
- Vented; if needed

Service Corridor

Purpose
- Provides a secure area where supporting
facilities can be serviced and monitored on
a 24x7 basis without distributing the data
center
Requirements- Separate and secure space
- Environmental controlled and monitored
- Fire protection and other safety measures

Standby Generator Set Room/Area

Purpose
- Provides a safe and secure area where the
standby generator set can be located to
allow for safe operation with minimal
disturbance
Requirements- Separate and secure space
- Fire protection and other safety measures
- Fuel tanks could be located underground or
above ground
a) Regulations apply and need to be
reviewed before making a decision on
which type to use

Meet-Me / Entrance Room

Purpose
- Provides a safe production environment
where the carrier handover point equipment
can be expected to run on a 24x7 basis with
minimal risk of interruption
- Note: sometimes located within the data
center
Requirements- Separate and secure space
- Environmental controlled and monitored

- Fire protection and other safety measures

- Protection and control of power quality

Security Room
Purpose
- Provides a secure area where security functions
can be undertaken on a 24x7 basis
Requirements- Separate and secure space
- Environmental controlled and monitored
- Fire protection and other safety measures

NOC (Network Operations Control)/Command center

Purpose
- Provides a secure area where the ICT
infrastructure and supporting facilities can
be monitored and controlled on a 24x7 basis
- Note: sometimes combined with security
room
Requirements- Separate and secure space
- Environmental controlled and monitored
- Fire protection and other safety measures
- Protection and control of power quality

Classic Mistakes
Main switch boards in the computer room
-EMF & Explosion risk
UPS/Batteries in the computer room
- Risks of batteries and high power modules
- Maintenance
- EMF risk
Equipment area access via the computer room
No separation for staging area
No service corridor
- Security risk
- Availability
- Maintenance

Lesson 3: Review
Location and site selection are critical for the long
term success of a mission critical site
Site selection is often compromised due to other
business factors such as cost, marketing , prestige ,
convenience of location etc.
Various areas of the Data Centre Facility should work
in harmony, separation is the best, combinations are
possible and acceptable depending on the uptime
requirements and constraints of the building

Lesson 4
Raised Access Flooring
And
Suspended Ceiling

Lesson 4: Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able
to:
- Describe the two main types of raised floors
- Describe the main standards for raised floors
- Calculate point and uniform loading factors
- Describe the general rules for raised floors
- Describe the reasons for using suspended
ceilings

Raised Floor
Two types of floors
Die formed welded steel construction

 Die
formed
welded
cementitious core

steel

shell

with

Raised Floor
Older style floors do still exists
- Galvanized floors (be aware of zinc
whiskers)
- Wood filled floors
- Etc.

Top finish is normally HPL-High Pressure

Laminate
Various grades available depending on
application

Raised Floor: Standards (Metric)

European Standard BS/EN 12825
- The raised floor must be capable of
withstanding a uniform load 1,220
kg/m2 or a load of 454 kg on any 6.5

cm2, with a maximum deflection on

2.5mm
UK-PSA MOB PF2 standard (Property
Services Agency)

- Light
:1.5 kN over 25mm (PL) ,
not more than6.7 kN/m (UDL)
- Medium :3.0 KN over 25mm (PL),
not more than 8.0 KN /m (UDL)
- Heavy
:4.5Kn over 25mm
(PL) ,not more than 12KN/m (UDL)
- Extra Heavy :4.5kN over 25 mm
(PL) , not more than 12 kN/m (UDL)
.Also sustain a total load of 11
kN applied equally on four points , each point
25 mm on a 200x200 mm square area
US-CISCA (Ceiling and Interior Systems
Constructors Association)
NFPA 251, Fire resistant for at least 1
Hour
IEC-61000-4-2, Anti static properties

Raised Floor : Standards (Imperial)

European Standard BS/EN 12825

- The raised floor must be capable of

withstanding a uniform load of 250 Ib/ft or
a load of 1000 Ib on any 1.0in.2, with a
maximum deflection of 0.1 in

UK-PSA MOB PF2 standard (Property Services

Agency)
- Light
:340 Ibs (PL) , not more than
140 psf (UDL)
- Medium
:675 Ibs (PL) ,not more than
167 psf (UDL)
- Heavy
:1012 Ibs (PL) , not more than
251 psf (UDL)
- Extra Heavy: 1012 Ibs (PL) ,not more than
251 psf (UDL)
.Also sustain a total load of 2473 Ibs
applied equally on four points, each point
being 1 square inch on a 7.8 inch x 7.8 inch
square area
Us -