4 Things to Take Care of in a Data Center

1. 4 Things to Take Care of in a Data  Center    In 2017, at the Worldwide Developer Conference, in the                   opening video, Apple showed a very interesting thing. They                   wanted to highlight the fact that the world cannot be without                       apps. A data center employee accidentally unplugged the                 servers to plug in his waterfall, and in doing so, turned off the                           data center. This turned off all the apps and there was an                         APP-pocalypse.      What this also highlighted was that without data centers, most                     apps would stop working! Apps heavily depend on the cloud                     1​​

2. infrastructure that Amazon, Google and Microsoft (mainly)               provide. So the app that you use most could stop working if                         the data center stopped working.    The data center needs to run perfectly if it is going to be able                             to deliver that kind of consistency. ​To ensure that it runs smoothly at all times, you have to keep in mind 4 main things​:                          1. Cabling  ● Structured Cabling  ● Unstructured Cabling  2. Cooling  3. Security  4. Electricity  Let’s look at all of these metrics in detail:   2​

3. 1. Cabling:  Servers ​require ​bulk Ethernet cables and there are two ways to set the servers up in terms of cabling:                      Structured cabling: This type of cabling uses predefined                 points of connection and pathways, based on already                 existing standards. The bandwidth required by the system                 determines the kind of cabling to use when it comes to                       structured   design.   You   have   to   label   the   cables   accurately. Structured cabling is a well-organized system.  Unstructured   cabling:   This   kind   of   cabling   is   Point-to-Point   cabling.   It   does   not   have   defined   connection points or pathways. The airflow in this type of                     system can be restricted and this can create cooling                   issues. Because it is unorganized, it can be difficult to                     move or add servers to this system, and it increases the                       downtime in case of issues that need fixing.    3​

4. 2. Cooling:  In a setup, that has a huge number of servers: Ethernet cables,                         optic cables, and constant flow of electricity, it can get plenty                       hot. Excessive heat is not a good thing in such close quarters.                         So to maintain a cooler atmosphere in a data center, you can                         scale back on lighting. Once set up, it only requires little daily                         changes, so less lighting or special lighting, depending on the                     frequency of humans going in, can help in maintaining the                     temperature. Natural ventilation can also help to some level                   but you would need to outfit dedicated cooling units per a                       certain number of racks, as well as manage the overall                     environment.   With   a   smart   environmental   management   system in place, you can make sure that your servers shut                       down before succumbing to fluctuations in temperature.       4​

5. 3. Security:  A data center houses sensitive data about apps, customer data,                     etc. Therefore, it is imperative that you take measures to                     maintain tight security. You should install security cameras in                   a way that you can see all corners and aisles. They should also                           be of the kind that let you see any activity in low light.                           However, it is not enough to protect it against data breaches                       and human errors. You also have to have measures in place in                         case of natural calamities. Take into account the design of the                       infrastructure so that it can withstand earthquakes, floods,                 etc. These precautions can save you a massive loss of data and                         expense in the long run.    5​

6.   4. Electricity:  Just like you have to account for other calamities, you also                       have to keep in mind that electricity can stop without notice,                       for multiple reasons. This is why you have to have a backup                         power supply in case your electricity fails. This way your                     backup power kicks in before anything goes majorly wrong.        These are the four most important things that you have to                       take care of in a data center. Apart from these things, there                         6​

7. are other equally important but second level details to keep in                       mind, such as what ​Ethernet cable you want to use, how many server racks you want to                                   have,   the   material for the       infrastructure, the lighting you want in the data center, etc.  The world needs apps, and apps function if you take care of                         these four things in a data center. Keeping it connected to the                         internet with the right Ethernet cable is the most important                     thing.  If you found this article useful, here are some other articles                       that may be of interest.  Types of Computer Cables You Must Know About  8 Ingenious Hacks to Hide Every Cable in Your Room  Understanding the Utility and Importance of Ethernet Ports    7​