Questions about Data Center Cooling that every Manager should have answers for:
Welcome to Keep Your Cool - a series tackling simple cooling optimization strategies for the busy data center operators by former busy data center operator, Gregg Haley.
I’ve spent over 30 years in the Data Center Space, I’ve faced numerous challenges and learned valuable lessons about managing cooling systems effectively. I thought today that I’d write down all the questions that I think every data center manager should regularly address these crucial questions to ensure optimal performance and reliability:
Temperature Comfort and Consistency: Temperature targets can vary significantly between hyperscalers, enterprise, and colocation facilities. From my experience, understanding and consistently achieving your specific temperature goals is crucial. Ask yourself:
How satisfied are you with the temperature in your data center space?
Do you experience temperature fluctuations or hot spots in specific areas?
Are there any discomfort issues related to temperature that need addressing?
Airflow and Ventilation: Effective airflow management is fundamental. Whether you’re using no containment, cold aisle containment, or hot aisle containment, each strategy has its nuances. Here are a few questions that have helped me troubleshoot and optimize airflow:
Do you notice any restricted airflow due to obstructions or improper equipment placement?
Are there any areas where air circulation seems inadequate?
Have you observed any blanking plates missing or misplaced?
Cooling System Effectiveness: In my experience, many data centers operate with more cooling capacity than needed, which can lead to inefficiencies. Conducting a thermal survey has been instrumental in assessing where the cooling is actually going and how it can be optimized:
How well does the current cooling system maintain the desired temperature?
Are there any specific racks or zones that consistently run hotter than others?
Have you encountered any cooling system failures or inefficiencies?
Humidity Control: Managing humidity is a delicate balance. Too dry, and you risk static discharge; too moist, and you could have condensation issues. Here’s what you should consider:
Is humidity adequately controlled in your data center?
Have you experienced any issues related to high or low humidity levels?
Equipment Behavior: Monitoring equipment behavior has alerted me to many potential cooling issues before they escalated. Questions I find essential include:
Do you notice any servers or networking equipment running hotter than expected?
Are there any instances of equipment shutting down due to overheating?
Cooling Infrastructure Maintenance: Regular maintenance goes beyond changing filters; it involves inspecting belts, calibrating sensors, and ensuring optimal heat rejection. Here are maintenance questions to keep in mind:
How often are cooling systems inspected and maintained?
Have you encountered any issues related to dirty filters, clogged vents, or malfunctioning fans?
Thermal Surveys and Monitoring: Regular thermal surveys should be a staple to monitor and identify changes in airflow and cooling uniformity. Unlike infrared scanning, which measures surface temperatures, thermal imaging provides a more accurate reflection of ambient air temperatures:
Is regular thermal imaging or infrared scanning conducted to identify hotspots?
Are there any challenges preventing the implementation of thermal surveys?
User Behavior and Awareness: Educating technicians on best practices for airflow management is critical. They should be proactive in spotting and correcting anomalies:
Are end users aware of best practices for maintaining proper cooling conditions?
Do they follow guidelines regarding equipment placement, cable management, and airflow?
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability: An ongoing improvement program for cooling efficiency can lead to significant energy savings:
How concerned are end users about energy consumption related to cooling?
Are there any initiatives in place to optimize cooling efficiency?
Feedback and Suggestions: Encouraging feedback from end users can provide invaluable insights that might not be evident through regular checks:
What improvements would end users recommend for better cooling performance?
Are there any specific pain points or issues they’d like to address?
Incorporating these questions into your operational routine can significantly enhance your data center's performance. At Purkay Labs, we specialize in thermal surveys that provide a detailed understanding of your data center's environment. Visit us to learn how we can help you optimize your cooling strategies: Purkay Labs Assessment Services.
About Purkay Labs
Purkay Labs specializes in thermal surveys for efficient data center management. We offer practical solutions to optimize performance and sustainability. Partner with Purkay Labs to streamline your data center efficiency. You can learn more at www.purkaylabs.com.
If you want to learn more about why you need a thermal survey or need someone to come and conduct one for you, please contact us today.
About the Author
Gregg Haley is a data center and telecommunications executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience. Most recently served as the Senior Director of Data Center Operations - Global for Limelight Networks. Gregg provides data center assessment and optimization reviews showing businesses how to reduce operating expenses by identifying energy conservation opportunities. Through infrastructure optimization energy expenses can be reduced by 10% to 30%.
In addition to Gregg's data center efforts, he has a certification from the Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRII) as Business Continuity Planner. In November of 2005, Gregg was a founding member and Treasurer of the Association of Contingency Planners - Greater Boston Chapter, a non-profit industry association dedicated to the promotion and education of Business Continuity Planning. Gregg had served on the chapter's Board of Directors for the first four years. Gregg is also a past member of the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS). Gregg currently serves as the Principal Consultant for Purkay Labs.