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Computer Room Audit
by John Herbert | Director
Introduction
Imagine for a moment the consequences of a power or air conditioning failure in your computer centre, angry customers, lost business, the total loss could be counted in the millions, your business may take months to recover.
Always on is the mantra however reality often blocks the
way, the Uptime Institute (USA) report that the cost of an information
outage caused by just a single infrastructure failure can sometimes
exceed the whole annual budget for your infrastructure operation.
Furthermore, while computer room infrastructure failures only represent
less than four percent (4%) of all outage events, they account for
twenty five (25%) or more of all downtime.
Since we can't operate a high density computer rooms without
electrical power, and the requisite cooling, the E&M infrastructure
remains a critical element of all data centric operations.
Operators and managers need a tool to ensure that all practical
measures have been undertaken to ensure the stability, and reliability.
Why Audit?
Why does a computer room require an audit?
Unlike other environments computer rooms are unique in that they are continuously evolving. Even new build projects we have found that IT equipment configuration between the planning and closeout stages will has already changed.
Why your current thermal control system may be inadequate.
The number of servers worldwide has increased approximately
150 times in less than a decade.
During that same period, computing power per server has
increased by a factor of ten. And some manufacturers are
still forecasting growth, a further increase to over
150W/CPU/per year.
For many businesses the demands for processing power has
greatly increased since their computer room was completed. And
while the hardware cost of this additional processing power
may have been decreasing, the operating cost of electrical
power and cooling has not.
More powerful hardware is often introduced in the same
rack space designed for much less advanced units. While
these more powerful CPU's were being added, too often the
Air conditioning equipment required to cool them was not
upgraded, and probably for good reason - disruption.
As a result computer rooms are getting getting warmer and
warmer creating hot spots, while IT and operators managers
struggle to determine the best and most affordable fix.
In a modern computer room it is common to find most racks
at near full capacity, and often populated with equipment
with multiple processors. All of this extra load releases
more heat than the air conditioning units can cool.
Over time new hardware, and IT configurations are also added
to cope with increasing consumer demand, this requires additional
electrical power and computer equipment. For example newer blade
servers allow more IT capacity to be fitted into a standard
computer rack than ever before, but can the air conditioning and
power infrastructure cope?
Unchecked computer room expansion affects the stability of the E&M infrastructure
In the same way as an accountant reviews your finances to ensure
that all the credits and debits matched, a computer room audit verifies that the infrastructure is sound, and
operating correctly.
Solutions
A Kelcroft computer room infrastructure audit a technical review of the essential
E&M infrastructure that underpins your entire operation creating a
invaluable report card.
It is a systematic methodical assessment of the essential, Building
Services (E&M) that support your operations.
Auditing can be structured and customized to suit your needs, a typical audit comprises:
- Condition survey
- Technical audit of the M&E infrastructure
- Record site environmental data
- Verification of management systems
- Reliability analysis
- point failure analysis
- Historical outage review
The findings from the audit investigation is packaged and presented as comprehensive report - provide a report card on the health of your data centre.
Experience
In mission critical applications, experience matters. Kelcroft's international consultancy track record help owners make smarter decisions
- Experience matters
- Millions of square feet online
- Professional responsive approach
- Personal service
- Trusted results
computer room audits (E&M technical review) for value added facilities in Hong Kong, China, Asia.
Above: CFD Tool used for Computer room thermal design analysis.
Kelcroft's international experience delivers a competitive edge for your business.
With millions of square feet already operational you can trust Kelcroft's expertise, and deliver problem free computer room environments.
Regular auditing ensures that the critical systems are working properly.
Our expertise includes design, and audit of the following systems:
Mechanical services design
- Cogeneration plants
- Cooing towers
- Thermal storage
- Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC)
- Indoor air quality
- Close control air conditioning
- Contamination control
- Temperature and Humidity control
- Environmental monitoring
- Building automation systems
Electrical services design
- Power conditioning
- Power distribution
- Backup power generation systems
- Grounding, bonding, and earth
- Lighting
- Lightning protection
- Reliability Analysis
- Telecommunications
- Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Fire protection design
- Total Gas Flooding suppression
- Fire alarm systems
- Fire detection systems
- Smoke Control
- Pre-action fire protection systems
- VESDA system
Security design
- CCTV
- Personnel Access control
- Alarm systems
- Intruder detection and alarm
Plumbing and drainage design
- Water detection
- Flood protection
Miscellaneous
- Energy Audit
- Computational Flow Dynamics (CFD)
- Standby Generator & fuel systems
- Selection & Coordination studies
- Operation and maintenance protocols
- Service level contracts
Further Information
For further information regarding Kelcroft's services, call today, our Hong Kong office telephone: +(852) 2335 9830, send us a fax +(852) 2335 9862, or send us an email message