Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Keeping Your Data Center Resolutions?

Well, here we are, in the middle of the first quarter of 2010 and I’m willing to bet that some of those New Year’s resolutions that were made on December 31st still haven’t been put into practice. In an attempt to help all of you that made resolutions to improve your data center operations this year, here are a few of our favorites that will get you moving down the right path before we enter 2011. In general they are simple, inexpensive and will definitely help to improve operations in your facility.

Conduct a Data Center Walk Through

What could be easier? A walk through is simply a row by row, wall to wall walk through your data center. During the walk through take note of all the things you would like to change. Consider it a “Blue Sky” exercise and note everything that comes to mind as you view the facility. Are floor tiles worn? Write it down. Is cable management a mess? Write it down. Have a lot of empty boxes or dead hardware stacked up in the corner? Write it down. Notice warm areas during your stroll? You get the idea.

Once you’ve finished your walk through and assembled your list, organize the list into two groups:

- Stuff that can be done for free or on the cheap such as removing empty boxes and decommissioned hardware from the data center, replacing filters, installing blanking plates, relocating perforated tiles to improve air flow, cleaning up cable bundles;

- Things that need dollars to fix such as a Computer Room Air Conditioner repair, UPS battery replacement, super-cleaning the data center, etc.

Once the two lists are assembled, prioritize each using risk to the enterprise as the guide for prioritization. For the “fix for free” items, work on each issue in order of priority; the items that require money, budget on the basis of priority.

Establish an Annual Maintenance Schedule for Data Center Hardware

Address simple items such as air filter replacement and fan belt inspection and replacement on precision air conditioning systems. Schedule more complex services such as load testing battery banks on UPS systems, conducting battery maintenance and replacement and annual data center cleanings.

Conduct an Annual Load v. System Capacity Analysis

Data center systems, such as the precision cooling system and UPS have finite capacities. Understanding the load v. capacity these systems is essential to uninterrupted operations.

A load v. capacity analysis ensures any hardware that has been added or removed from the enterprise is properly accounted for and any risk to overloading critical systems is found before it becomes a problem.

Check Data Center Fire Suppression Systems

Have your fire suppression vendor check the condition and charge of the facility central clean agent fire suppression system and all handheld fire extinguishers.

Inspect the Condition of all CRAC Unit Belts

CRAC units are equipped with fan belts. The belt connects an electric motor to the CRAC unit fans. As belts age they can stretch and crack leading to slippage and reduced efficiency. Inspect all belts and tighten or replace as necessary.

Inspect the Condition of Humidification/De-humidification Systems
Periodically inspect the humidification/de-humidification systems in CRAC units with particular attention to trays and condensate lines. Look for signs of leakage or tray overflow. Also look for signs of mineral deposits. Take corrective actions as necessary.

Inspect and Replace as Necessary all Filter Media in CRAC Units
Just like a furnace or HVAC unit in you home, the CRAC units in the data center need clean filters in order to efficiently move the vast quantities of air required by the enterprise. Clogged filters reduce overall system cooling efficiency and may cause data center temperatures to rise. Also, clogged filters can cause CRAC unit fan motors to work harder. This, in turn, increases wear on the motors and increases electrical consumption.

Clean the Data Center Floor

If the data center is equipped with a raised access floor system, inspect and clean as necessary the sub-floor plenum beneath raised access floor. This should include any unused cabling that may have accumulated in addition to the usual dust and debris. If the data center is on a slab/deck, clean the floor as necessary to remove dust and debris. Be aware that static electricity is always a danger if vacuums are used and it is best to either refer the cleaning to a qualified vendor or take all necessary static dissipation measure to prevent damage to enterprise hardware.

Ensure a Good Seal along the Raised Floor Perimeter

Inspect the wall/floor seal between the data center walls and raised access floor. Seal any gaps that are allowing conditioned air to leak through.

Install Blanking Plates to Improve Cooling Performance

Install blanking plates on all empty “U”. This is an easy, inexpensive and highly effective method of improving cooling performance. Need blanking plates? Pergravis manufactures its own blanking plates and we can offer very aggressive pricing.

Inspect the Ceiling

If the data center is equipped with a suspended ceiling, inspect the space above the ceiling for cleanliness, condition and any signs of water intrusion in the deck above the ceiling. Also check the ceiling tiles for signs of damage or erosion. If the tiles are of the compressed cellulose “acoustical” type, consider replacing them for a clean room rated tile.

Dress Data & Power Cables
Properly dress any cabling that has been installed in the last year and not properly incorporated into the structured cable plant. Always use at least 1” wide “hook & loop” fasteners and not cable ties. “Hook & loop” fasteners reduce stress on cables and makes adding/removing cables from cable bundles a breeze. Pergravis also manufacturers “Hook & Loop” cable organizers including custom wraps with company logos. Give us a call for pricing.

Review Emergency & Contingency Plans with all Staff
Review the data center emergency and contingency plans with everyone who is party to the plan. This is an excellent way to ensure smooth execution of all necessary procedures in time of emergency. In addition to review of the plans, review items such as call trees, availability of procedural manuals, availability of hardware manuals, contact lists for essential vendors, etc. as well. Commit to reviewing the plan twice a year.

There you have it, a “Baker’s Dozen” of simple, relatively inexpensive tips for improving data center operations. If you have your own favorite, inexpensive data center tips, feel free to send them along and we’ll include them in future blog entries.