IT equipment generates a lot of heat, and data centers consume a lot of energy keeping that equipment cool. Effective thermal management is critical to the reliable operation of the data center, but that doesn’t mean heat has to be … Read More
Data Center
Where Are Most Data Centers Located? Exploring the World’s Data Center Markets
We’ve recently identified the criteria for choosing a data center location. Power cost, reliability, availability, connectivity options, disaster risk, network latency, and economic factors all influence data center location. With those factors in mind, let’s examine established and emerging data … Read More
How To Choose a Data Center Location: 5 Key Considerations
New data center construction continues at a rapid pace, driven primarily by public cloud and colocation providers. According to Synergy Research Group, spending on data center construction, leasing, and equipment increased 13 percent year-over-year in 2022. Hyperscalers aren’t the only … Read More
Demystifying Common Data Center Terms and Acronyms
Like any technical field, the data center industry has unique terminology. Many terms are shortened to acronyms that can confuse even industry pros. New terms and acronyms are constantly being added. Older ones can catch younger IT professionals off guard. … Read More
Lithium-Ion UPS vs. Lead-Acid: Reduce Cost and Improve Performance
For years, uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) have primarily used valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries. Lead-acid batteries offered a good mix of price, performance, and safety for data center environments. Now, however, a newer technology is challenging the dominance of VRLA batteries … Read More
Why Are Lithium Batteries Better? Comparing Lithium-Ion To Lead Acid
Many energy storage technologies are available in the stationary power market. However, lead-acid and lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are the most commonly used options for powering IT and data center hardware, such as uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs). Lithium-ion UPSs are the … Read More
Data Center Liquid Cooling vs. Air Cooling: Factors to Consider
As rack densities increase, data centers must reconsider their cooling strategies. High-density racks consume more power, which generates more heat and requires more cooling. Legacy cooling systems may not be up to the task. Data centers have traditionally relied on … Read More
Data Center Airflow Management Principles, Benefits, and Tips
Data center managers have two primary objectives: meeting uptime requirements and minimizing operational costs. Both of these objectives are directly impacted by thermal management, which is, in turn, tied to airflow management. Heat is the enemy when it comes to … Read More
Server Rack Cooling Solutions: In-Rack and In-Row Cooling
Traditional computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units are struggling to keep up with the heat generated by today’s power-hungry IT equipment. These systems circulated chilled air throughout the room, wasting much of the cooling capacity on empty space. Raised-floor cooling … Read More