Living happily with your existing data center

According to a study by technology research firm Opengate Data Systems and commissioned by power vendor Active Power, a data center with 5-kilowatt server racks can shut down within three minutes of a power outage.

That is the worst-case scenario, said Andrew Kutz, an analyst with consultancy Data Center Strategies, a subsidiary of the Burton Group in Midvale, Utah. Most companies have diesel generators or some other means of backup, even if it can take a few minutes for the backup power to turn on.

Nevertheless, Kutz said, some enterprises are concerned enough about power outages to take steps such as installing dual power sources. Many shops are investigating cooling technology that can augment existing CRAC systems, and are also looking into enhanced system monitoring products.

Cooling is just one factor in extending a data center's life, however. "Efficiency is not going to extend the life of a data center nearly as much as effectiveness," Kutz said. "You need to make sure the data center is highly effective. You have to increase utilization."

Virtualization is the top strategy today for reducing server sprawl and increasing utilization rates. But the technique can contribute to power management problems as facilities struggle to accommodate peak loads of highly virtualized machines, said Russell Senesac, data center systems manager for American Power Conversion. The use of capacity planning software can ensure IT loads are properly distributed and can help IT staffers make educated decisions about where to add capacity.

"You can have a huge pile of the most efficient parts, but can put them together in a highly inefficient fashion," Senesac said.