This is the second post on comparison area for evaluating data centers. In the first part, "Comparing the data centers - Part 1," we covered capacity (scale), availability (redundancy), and efficiency (energy efficiency of mechanical and electrical equipment). In Part 2, we will introduce additional factors necessary for the evaluation and comparison of data centers.
Finding the right prospected colocation partners
There are mostly two options for securing facilities for an organization's IT infrastructure. One is to own and operate facilities directly, such as a server room located on your premise or a dedicated data center, while the other is to rent space for servers and other computing hardware (colocation services, or colo) from commercial data centers. IT infrastructure, as we know it, is changing rapidly. As the demand for flexible operation of IT infrastructure increases for business growth and sustainability, more organizations are considering leasing. In addition to capacity (scale), availability (redundancy), and efficiency (energy efficiency of mechanical and electrical equipment), careful reviews should consider factors such as the location, absence of disasters in the natural environment for over the past 20 years, the level of architectural structure capable of withstanding earthquakes, and whether the operating company has a stable and independent business structure.
Location
In respect to proximity and convenience, location of data center is categorized as Seoul, metropolitan areas, and regional areas. Each location has its advantages and disadvantages, with data centers closer to Seoul having strengths in terms of geographical accessibility and network efficiency. If there are internal standards that must be met for the arrival of inspections or failures of IT infrastructure within the data center, it is important to check if the distance can accommodate these requirements and what public transportation options are available. Data centers located near Seoul can achieve more efficient network connectivity based on many carriers and multiple redundant fiber connections, which can be cost-effective in terms of network performance and cost. The second location-related factor is safety. It is advisable to check if there are hazardous facilities such as chemical factories around the center and if major roads or airport facilities are nearby.
Natural Environment
Data centers would be located in a geographic area that's not prone to natural disaster. The natural environment around a data center affects cost-effectiveness and safety risks. It is ideal to have a lower temperature with moderate humidity and minimal seasonal fluctuations in the temperature around the data center. As workloads that consume a significant amount of computing power (electricity), such as machine learning and AI, become more active in business, the proportion of high-density racks (high rack density) consuming over 20 kW of power continues to increase. To dissipate the heat generated by such high-density racks outside the data center, various cooling and air conditioning technologies are applied from the construction phase. However, maintaining the target PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) level from the design PUE level requires significant effort. If the natural environment of the location where the data center is situated is suitable in terms of temperature and humidity, it can be advantageous in terms of operational cost efficiency, as PUE is directly related to operational costs and also plays a positive role in the cost borne by leasing companies. From a safety perspective, it is necessary to confirm whether the region is vulnerable to natural disasters. Rainfall, earthquake history, the location of rivers or streams, altitude, and topographical information can be used to assess the susceptibility to floods, river overflows, and earthquakes.
Architectural Structure
The structural specifications, such as floor load capacity to support the weight of high-spec servers and racks, floor height to support adequate temperature and humidity maintenance, and seismic design rating for earthquake resistance, should be checked for the data center.
Operating Company Structure
A data center is a structure that requires a large initial investment and continuous operating expenses. Finding the optimal data center for our company's IT infrastructure operation is not an easy task, and once occupied, it is not easy to move. Even if a data center is designed with the highest specifications, changes in the data center operating company or financial fluctuations during the occupancy period can affect the quality of operation. Therefore, it is also necessary to assess the financial stability of the operating company.
Regarding IT infrastructure, you can consider options such as computer room type, self-owned dedicated data center construction, or colocation using leased data centers based on the size and direction of the company's business. As the capacity and growth patterns of IT infrastructure increasingly demand flexibility and flexibility in connection with business, considering leased data centers is one of the good alternatives. Commercial data centers offer various technical customization options and contract options to meet these corporate requirements, so it is necessary to develop a perspective for evaluating data centers.
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References
1. Uptime Institute : Rack Density is Rising (2020)
