5 ways to achieve efficient Operations, Cooling, and Troubleshooting through Rack Layout

Now, the most common feature of any data center layout is the server rack, the empty metal frame that holds servers, storage subsystems, cabling, auxiliary power systems, and so on. So, it is important to develop a blueprint for the procurement and placement of racks in a data center.

Does rack layout really matter in a data center?

Yes, for three reasons, primarily:

Operational efficiency: The layout has simply got to make it easy for personnel to handle routine tasks.

Cooling efficiency: The racks should be arranged to facilitate airflow and minimize cooling costs.

Let’s see how racks can be used to increase the overall efficiency of a data center.

Troubleshooting efficiency: Every component of a data center must be optimized to minimize downtime.

At a data center, cooling will be more efficient and effective if hot air is let out and prevented from mixing with the cold air supply. Now, even if you using open frame racks, or if you have too few racks for more than a single row, it’s important to pay attention to the arrangement of the racks. You should make sure the equipment in one rack isn’t drawing hot air from equipment in another rack, for example. Arranging rack enclosures in rows with hot aisles (where racks are back to back) and cold aisles (where the racks are front to front) can reduce energy use by up to 20%. You can also connect rack cabinets side to side to create a physical barrier between hot and cold air to minimize recirculation.

Aisles

Airflow is essential to promote efficiency and prevent safety risks such as fires. More free space equals greater airflow. Ensuring the server rack design includes enough space around each rack for engineer access and cooling purposes is important. Each rack must also have enough space to accommodate the equipment one is planning to install. Cables too must be organized to maximize airflow and efficiently use the available space.

Spacing

The weight of equipment to be placed in a rack must not exceed the rack’s load rating. Also, the heaviest equipment, such as external battery packs, power distribution units, or UPS systems, must be placed toward the bottom of the rack to keep the rack steady, making it easier to install equipment and prevent the rack from becoming top-heavy and prone to tipping over.

Placement

Certain products can help you organize racks. Cable ties, for instance, allow cords to be bundled together. Horizontal and vertical cable managers are also useful in this regard. Hardy Racks for example has a high-density cable manager, which can be used to improve operational efficiency.

Organization

Choosing high-quality data center racks with a large amount of perforation can help to improve airflow. Hardy Racks for example has open racks designed to create a maximum amount of airflow through the rack – up to 3.4kW of heat dissipation. Hardy Racks two-post open racks are used in high-density environments like data centers, labs, and networking sites to increase operational efficiency.

Type of rack

If you are looking for cost-effective high-quality data center hardware that can maximize your facility’s operational efficiency, give us a call. We’ve got a gamut of solutions for data centers.