Modular Data Center: New choices for Internet enterprises

With the continuous popularization of intelligent terminals, the rapid development of various business applications, Internet enterprises are experiencing unprecedented opportunities for development. But the data center infrastructure, which is the foundation of the business, also faces great challenges. This includes the rapid expansion of the business needs of infrastructure, reduce the operational costs of infrastructure performance requirements, efficient service management of data center operations personnel and process requirements.

At present, the domestic Internet service of several major giants in the data center design and implementation of the point of view gradually consistent, summed up mainly in the following points.

First of all, http://www.aliyun.com/zixun/aggregation/7612.html "> Internet Data Center will deploy more x86 servers, and server device configuration will be relatively uniform, and through the standard to standardize and systematize."

Second, the Internet industry data centers because of the use of multiple distributed deployment, data centers between the data backup, so the single data center availability level (availability) does not need to be very high, between Tier2 to Tier3 can.

Third, the Internet Enterprise Data Center will continue to expand the size of the single data center deployed in the number of servers, high density, large power consumption. At the same time, with the continuous updating of server development (especially the deployment of some customized servers), the power density of each rack is generally upgraded from a few years ago to the 3kw/cabinet, and the power density of the future single stand will be higher. Thus, for example, a large medium data center that holds 10,000 servers, its IT load is approximately 2.5MW, and the overall power consumption of the data center will reach more than 4MW in PUE1.6 calculation. At that time, the operation efficiency and efficiency optimization of data center become more important.

At the same time, the timeliness of Internet business applications, the new business on the line will be in a relatively short period of time to deploy the number of servers to generate explosive demand (such as the rise of micro-blogging, online game release, etc.). As a result, the need for Internet customers to quickly replicate their data centers to support new business deployments is beginning to emerge for rapid delivery and deployment in the datacenter.

Definition and technical features

The modular Datacenter (Modular data CENTER,MDC) was first used to define modular partitioning (PoD) of data center sites in the design of traditional datacenter (raised Floor data center), That is, the whole data center site is divided into several independent areas, the size of each region, power load, configuration and so on are designed according to the unified standard, the expansion of the data center with the increasing business requirements from one module to another module.

The MDC was also used to describe the container data center in 2007, with the advent of the Container Data Center (containerized). Servers in the container data center are highly integrated with the infrastructure and are transported to the installation site for rapid installation and production through a standard truck (20 feet or 40 feet). The Container data center can be deployed in an open outdoor environment.

However, at present, China's domestic geographical environment has led to the container-type data center is not widely used in the community, as a result, more and more users are beginning to try to use open frame to form modular module, integrate the Air Supply unit (AHU), Power Distribution Unit (RPP) and cabinet to form standard modular Data center module, Phased deployment according to business requirements. For customers, the modular data center needs of the site environment is simplified as a standard plant or warehouse, no need for overhead flooring and other decoration works, as long as the peripheral infrastructure (such as diesel generators, UPS and input and output distribution cabinets, refrigeration units, etc.) in advance of the completion of the construction. The components within the module are scheduled in the factory, so they can be deployed on a site for rapid deployment (usually 3-5 days), while traditional data centers typically take 18-24 to six months to plan, design, build, and accept operations.

Advantages and application Prospects

In addition to the rapid deployment, precision replication features mentioned earlier, the modular data center has been optimized for hot and cold channel closures, internal power line and data cable path, server deployment installation, and Airflow organization in the module in the design and implementation process. Therefore, the operational efficiency of the Modular Data Center (PUE) can be optimized to the maximum extent, and the operating cost is greatly reduced under the premise of the same computing ability.

At the same time, the deployment of the module has not too many restrictions on the site conditions, modules can be scheduled in the factory, disassembly and transport to the customer site for rapid assembly. Modular deployment also saves the cost of laying high floors, ceilings, and wall finishes in traditional data center construction.

More and more Internet companies are starting to consider building their own data centers to provide more real-time support for business application development and infrastructure device optimization. The technical characteristics of the modular data center, as well as the easy to implement features of deployment and installation are in line with the needs of the Internet customer business, operations and other aspects, therefore, more and more customers are conducting related testing and testing. Data center solution providers should also accumulate more empirical methods to work with customers to prepare for the wide spread of modular data centers across the internet industry.

Typical examples of modular data centers

Recently, a large domestic internet companies and it vendors to create the first real sense of business in the modular data center. The module includes 12 server racks, a total of 120KW server load power consumption, including modular framework (Base), inter-row refrigeration unit (in-row cooling), remote distribution Unit (RPP), FM200 fire control system, monitoring and access control systems, lighting systems. Other infrastructure such as diesel generators, UPS and input and output distribution, chilled water units (Chiiler) are planned and implemented by the building infrastructure Department. Enables IT departments to focus more on the installation and application of modules and efficient servers, while avoiding excessive effort and internal resources in infrastructure.

(Responsible editor: Lu Guang)