The New Approach to Retrofitting

The New Approach to Retrofitting

The Brands You Trust.

^ Business-wise, Future-drivenTM

Business-wise, Future-drivenTM

Data Centers

Schneider Electric Table of Contents

The New Approach to Retrofitting

Table of Contents

Retrofitting made simple ..............................................3

Conclusion ................................................................11

Uniqueness vs. standardization ...................................4

Standardization applied ...............................................5

1. Reference designs .............................................5

2. Modular, standardized design ............................7

Different types of modular design ...........................8

Business-wise, Future-drivenTMThe New Approach to Retrofitting

Schneider Electric 3

Data CentersRetrofitting made simpleIn data centers, retrofitting usually means adding new technology or features to older systems. For the data center physical infrastructure, which includes power, cooling, racks and cabling, retrofits historically have been no small task. Unlike IT system upgrades, retrofitting the physical infrastructure has traditionally involved expensive, complex engineering and installation. However, the rise of modularity and stan-dardization is fundamentally changing retrofits for the better.

The purpose of this ebook is to discuss two ways modularity and standardization can be applied to make your next retrofit faster, cheaper and easier.



Data CentersUniqueness vs. StandardizationIn the IT world, standardization is so common place that it’s sometimes taken for granted. Components can be easily swapped out, upgraded or reconfigured with little or no engineering. Physical infrastructure, on the other hand, has been anything but standard. The one-time engineering that has historically been done for the physical infrastructure results in a unique system, with unique problems that require unique diagnosis and repair – a process that is not only expensive and time-consuming, but also provides little learning that can be applied to further unique problems in the future, or to problems at other data centers in the organization. The goal of standardization is to drive out these inefficiencies and error-prone complexi-ties.

Standardized design lends itself well to modular, building-block-like architecture for rapid, scalable upgrades. Because the engineering isn’t unique and complex, it also decreases the propensity for human error. Together, these elements increase the overall business value of your data center by increasing availability and agility, and decreasing TCO.



Data CentersStandardization appliedThere are two primary ways to leverage standardization to make retrofitting (or data center design as a whole) easier, faster, and more cost effective:

• Reference designs, and

• Modular designs

1. Reference designsThe idea behind reference designs is that when you need to build a new data center or retrofit an existing one, you can go to a reference design catalogue and pick out a pre-engineered, time-tested design that will meet your desired perfor-mance specs. In general, reference designs help to:

• Facilitate and simplify design and planning

• Reduce risk and unanticipated requirements

• Offer predictable performance and improved reliability

However, reference designs do require some engineering services:

• You may need to customize or adapt a reference design to meet specific needs.

• Even if you execute the design exactly as blueprinted, drawings need to be stamped and approved; designs need to be made legal (permitting, compliance with codes, etc.); and you will need to design in the details unique to every site, such as cable and pipe schedules, floor/roof load-ing constraints, or provisioning for proper water drainage.



Data Centers

In spite of these requirements, standardized reference designs still offer an easier, more efficient path than a data center that is 100% uniquely engi-neered. The benefits of standardization can be even more dramatic when modular components are used.

Standardization applied

Example of an IT floor layout drawing from a reference design



Data CentersStandardization applied2. Modular, standardized designWhere reference designs add consistency and uniformity to a data center, modu-lar design takes it a step further by adding flexibility. Modular design consists of pre-engineered, standardized infrastructure building blocks that can be configured as you wish. This is the essence of agility in a data center – the ability to add or change power and cooling capacity as needed, when needed.

The benefits of modularity affect every dimension of the data center’s physical in-frastructure: the way it occupies physical space, its functionality, and its evolution over time – from initial design and installation to reconfiguration at each refresh cycle.

Here are four reasons you may want to use modular design in your next retrofit:

1. Faster deploymentWith standardized modular components, you can move quickly from concept to commissioning. Modular units are reliably made, and you can buy them in the quantity and configuration that meet design and capacity requirements precisely. Installation and build-outs are simplified, as all cabling, connectors, etc., are com-patible.

2. Scale up or downBecause infrastructure building block units are modular, you can install a right-sized solution for right now. Then, when demands change (and you know they will), quickly scale up or down according to demand. Scalability is cost effective because there are fewer components to buy, install, power up, and maintain.



Data Centers

3. Future flexibilityThe typical IT refresh cycle is every two years, and if your data center lacks flex-ibility, your business will suffer. Fortunately, the ability to reconfigure, upgrade, or move modular components is a primary benefit of standardization. As your IT infrastructure grows and changes, your infrastructure can adapt quickly.

4. System availabilityAnother benefit of standardized, modular design is that it promotes availability. Components can be replaced, upgraded or reconfigured without the risk of down-time. For complete and total availability, you can configure redundant modules.

Standardization applied

Different types of modular designOne reason modular design is so powerful is the variety of ways it can be applied, from subsystems and components to a complete data-center-in-a-box to separate IT or facility containers:

• Interchangeable UPS power and battery modules enable scalability of power, redundancy, and runtime, and can be hot-swapped for repair without system shutdown.

Modular UPS and Batteries



Data CentersStandardization applied• Standardized modular wiring distribution

breaks down room wiring into row-level or rack-level modules, eliminates confusing / mistake-prone wiring tangles, and simplifies and speeds the process of unplug-rear-range-reconnect.

• Modular power distribution can range from rack-sized units that serve an entire row to power strips that serve a single rack.

• Modular rack-level air distribution breaks down room airflow into local control at the racks for precise cooling of hot spots.

• Modular infrastructure pods are stand-alone designs that integrate power distribution, cooling, UPS and the IT rack. They are an economical way to retrofit a data center, particularly if you want to introduce higher density racks into a lower density environ-ment.

Modular PDU

Pod Module



Data Centers

For more information on modularity and its applications, check out our white paper library, keyword “modular.”

Standardization applied• Facility modules are pre-engineered, pre-assembled / integrated, and pre-test-

ed physical infrastructure systems (i.e., power and cooling) that are delivered as standardized “plug-in” modules to power and/or cool a data center site. They are a cost-effective way to scale capacity, though issues such as secure space and the proximity of the data center need to be considered.

Whether you’re in a large enterprise data center or a small server room, modularity in its many forms offers higher reliability, faster deployment times, and lower costs.

http://www.apc.com/prod_docs/results.cfm?DocType=White+Paper&query_type=99&keyword=modular



Data CentersConclusion

There is a growing consensus that conventional legacy data center design will be superseded by modular, scalable data center designs.

The benefits of modularity include reduced total cost of ownership, increased flexibility, reduced deployment time, and improved performance. Reference designs can also play a role in simplifying your retrofit, accelerating deployment, and ensuring performance to specification.

For more information on a variety of topics related to data center design and operation, visit our white paper library navigation guide.

http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/WTOL-8BNKCE_R0_EN.pdf

http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/WTOL-8BNKCE_R0_EN.pdf



Data Centers

132 Fai rgrounds Rd. - West K ingston, R I 02892 - 800-800-4272 - www.schneider-e lectr ic .com

The global specialist inenergy management ™

The New Approach to Retrofitting

Technology

data center design

new data center

standardized design

data centersstandardization

data centers physical

standardized reference

reference design catalogue

data centersretrofitting