Data Center Infrastructure
The Big Three
These standards will also vary based on the nature of the business and include guidelines associated with detailed operations and maintenance procedures for all of the equipment in the data center. The three major data center design and infrastructure standards developed for the industry are:
Uptime Institute
This standard develops a performance-based methodology for the data center during the design construction, and commissioning phases
ANSI/BICSI 002-2014
This standard covers the major aspects of planning, design, construction, and commissioning of the MEP building trades, as well as fire protection, IT, and maintenance.
TIA 942
This standard is more IT cable and network oriented and has various infrastructure redundancy and reliability concepts based on the Uptime Institute’s Tier Standard.
Stress-Free Data Center Projects: Let CNS Be Your Expert Partner
CNS Engineering offers two main types of containerized data centers: All-In-One standard containers (20', 40', 45') for quick deployment and scalable architecture, and Non-Standard engineered containers (25', 45') for larger greenfield deployments or integration with existing facilities. Both options include power, cooling, and IT equipment pre-housed for "plan-in to plug-in" ease. Additionally, they offer dedicated support containers for power, cooling, and heat rejection, as well as EMP/EMI shielded containers for specialized military and RF applications. Finally, CNS provides comprehensive turnkey project site deployment and engineered site works, ensuring seamless and successful data center container implementation.
Power
In today’s world where the use of cloud computing by enterprise companies is growing rapidly. A greater dependence on cloud, IoT, edge computing, big data means data center operators must rethink the level of redundancy and reliability of the physical power infrastructure equipment without ever compromising availability or operational efficiency. Medium Voltage Switchgear CNS’s MV switchgear equipment adopts vacuum interrupting and air insulation technology and are used in all MV power switching, control and protection required applications, providing users with a complete range of MV solutions from 3.6kV to 40.5kV.
Low Voltage Switchgear. CNS offers the complete LV (Low Voltage) Distribution System in form 1 to form 4 to supply all consumers inside a data center, commercial and industrial facility. The power, taken from behind the generator and transformer bus bar, is adapted to the classical low-voltage standards with the help of station transformers. CNSs low voltage switchgear is designed with safety and reliability in mind. Meeting the latest local and international standards, CNS’s designed and fabricated assemblies offer space saving designs for industrial and commercial applications CNS designs and supplies low voltage power assembly up to 6300A. The system provides reliable power distribution and motor control functionality for most important critical power, commercial and industrial applications. In combination with medium voltage switchgear, UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supplies), Bus bar trunking, Panel boards, Distribution Boards, project management and service capabilities, CNS excels in delivery of complete turn-key solution for all power distribution and control applications. Circuit breakers reliability is the key to critical power success. CNS uses Circuit Breakers manufactured by Schneider Electric. Switchboards and switchgear are used in a variety of electrical distribution, switching, control and protective applications. This class of equipment protects transformers, motors, generators, distribution lines and feeder circuits. CNS offer Switchboards, Switchgear and Walk-In Enclosures etc.
Transformers
CNS through Schneider Electric offers a complete line of transformers for critical facilities, commercial and industrial applications in both pad-mounted and substation style. The pad-mounted style is best suited for commercial applications in public access areas and where underground service is required. The substation style is ideal for industrial applications and can be stand alone or close-coupled to switchgear providing a complete substation line-up. Both styles are available in outdoor mineral oil design or high fire point fluids for indoor use. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) CNS supplies installs and commission high performance, right-sized, modular, hot-scalable, single phase and 3-phase power protection with ultra-high availability and efficiency for any size data center or high density power zone. CNS Offer UPS designed and manufactured by APC a Schneider Electric company specializes in high availability, scalable and hot swappable UPS systems. Motor Control Centers (MCCs). CNS offers a wide range of low and medium voltage control products. From low voltage motor control centers with intelligent devices and circuit protection products to medium voltage controllers, our vast array of motor control products serve an important part of many critical power solutions. Our family of products includes motor control centers, manual starters and switches, definite purpose contactors, lighting contactors, disconnect switches and the Type S NEMA rated magnetic starter with Motor Logic solid state overload relay. When your application requires a NEMA rated product, Schneider Electric has a solution to meet your needs now and into the future.
Busway Systems
Busway offers a versatility in application and a simplicity in installation that cable and conduit can’t match. With more than 50 years of experience, CNS is the leader in busway design and installation. Our busway systems are already working in thousands of commercial and industrial facilities worldwide. All busway systems are manufactured by Schneider Electric and pre-engineered for easy installation, are 100% reusable whenever a system must be modified, and are easily expandable with standard bus components.
Metering & Monitoring
Located at main incoming power, UPS output, generator and paralleling switchgear throughout the data center, Power quality meters and analyzers provide disturbance direction detection, harmonic power flows, impulsive transient detection, waveform capture and flexible I/O for pulse counting. Power monitoring software combined with metering enables you to maximize operational efficiency, optimize your power distribution system, and improve your bottom line performance.
Power Distribution
The growing complexity of IT environments, from wiring closets and server rooms to data centers of all sizes, has increased the need for reliable power distribution to the rack level. Eliminating power management issues is essential for IT and Facilities managers to maintain system availability of increasing higher density equipment.
Cooling
If your energy bills have sky rocketed due to conventional data center cooling strategies, try more modern systems designed by CNS and bring it back down to Earth. Designing and engineering modern data center cooling systems, Inrow cooling, free cooling, aisle containment and liquid cooling and following the standards is a big step toward a lower energy bill and ensuring up-time of data centers.
Not Too Hot Or Too Cold, But Just Right
First we make sure you’re not running the data center temperature too low or too high. The Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has been tracking recommended and allowable temperatures for different types of data centers since mid-2000, in which time the maximum high-end temperature increased from 24 degrees Celsius to 27°C in 2008 and by 2011, ASHRAE defined a range of data center types, wherein maximum allowable temperatures could reach 45°C in high density environments. How does that impact selection of equipment and design?
Right Design
The easiest way to save money is to reduce how many CRAC units are running. A higher- temperature data center matches needs against risk and requires far less cooling; this means fewer CRAC units. In some data centers, half of the CRAC units can be turned off, directly reducing energy and maintenance costs, after number of operational units comes the decision making on cooling options.
Weigh Your Various Data Center Cooling Options
Data centers have options when it comes to a cooling strategy beyond turning the whole room into an artic chill zone. Data center cooling options, from containment to self-cooled cabinets to outside air, come with their own advantages. To determine which data center cooling methods are worth implementing, various choices need consideration. Is cooling ride-through highly important? What about saving energy? Flexibility in design? Using variable-speed CRAC units instead of fixed-speed ones is one option: The CRAC units only run at the speed required to maintain the desired temperature. CRAC units operate most effectively when running at 100%, so some variable-speed systems are not fully optimized when operating at partial load.
Basics
Running standard fixed-rate CRAC units at 100% capacity can build up thermal inertia, another cooling strategy that reduces costs. The data center cools considerably below its target temperature, then the CRAC units are switched off. The data center is then allowed to warm up until it reaches a defined point, and the CRAC units come back on.
Cooling Containment
Cooling containment means separating cool or cold inlet air from hot discharge air. Containment involves erecting barriers — curtains, blanking panels, walls or other designs — to keep the zones separated. The achievable level of cooling containment depends on white space cabinet layout, new facility design and is determined at project planning stages. Containment prevents air flows from mixing, so the air conditioning system doesn’t work as hard to achieve target inlet temperatures. It reduce the number of operating air conditioners. To install containment strict data center layout adds design planning time, fire safety considerations matter, especially if retrofitting an existing space. Cabinets must be arranged front-to-front and back-to-back to alternate rack faces where cool air flows with aisles of exhausts. Close any gaps between cabinets with fillers, and block all unused rack spaces with blanking panels. To prevent air flow over the tops of cabinets and around the ends of rows, fire-rated, anti-static plastic curtains or ceilings are installed above the cabinets. For full containment, solid end panels with doors are erected, as well as either solid barriers between the tops of cabinets and the ceiling, or ceiling panels at cabinet height.
Localized Cooling
Source-of-heat coolers include in-row air conditioners, in-row coolers, above- and below-cabinet coolers, self-cooled cabinets, rear-door coolers, immersion cooling tanks and direct liquid cooling. In-Row Air Conditioners In-row air conditioners are packaged like equipment cabinets to stand within or at the end of rows. Some units discharge air to the cool aisle, while others direct air toward higher-load cabinets. In-row coolers provide chilled water-, condenser water- and refrigerant-based heat transfer, with and without humidity control. Fan speed and cooling capacity are usually controlled via temperature sensors on adjacent cabinets. With enough chilled water reserve and small pumps on an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), they can ride through a power outage. Self-Cooled Cabinets Self-cooled cabinets are the epitome of closed-loop systems. These cabinets recirculate air within their enclosures, cool via water or refrigerant, and work without supplemental cooling in the room.
Rear-Door Coolers
Rear-door coolers are radiators through which chilled water circulates to remove the heat. They replace normal cabinet doors, cooling the hot exhaust air and then discharging it back into the room. When cooling units operate close to computing equipment, it saves the cost of fans pushing cooled air all the way across the room, under the floor or through ductwork. At-the-source cooling also prevents cold air from warming up before it reaches the rack inlet. Since the cooling units are modular, it’s possible to relocate them as compute needs change. Source-of-heat cooling adds flexibility into the data center layout, and prevents redesigns of the building structure or major computer room air conditioner (CRAC) upgrades. Rear-door coolers, for instance, satisfy the total cooling requirement if installed on enough cabinets. In many instances, however, that means every cabinet. Cooling units easily capture hot return air. Systems like in-row coolers work well with containment cooling designs. They use less power than some conventional data center cooling options. They also handle high-power-density cooling, such as 10 or even 25kW cabinets.
Free Air Cooling
Free air cooling is opted if the air outside a data center is regularly below 27 degrees Celsius, free cooling is possible — directly cooling equipment with filtered outside air, or cooling circulating water by outside air, requiring only pumps and no mechanical refrigeration. Kyoto wheels are one example of a free cooling design. Evaporative or adiabatic cooling also uses free air that passes over a moist medium. This technique
absorbs heat through evaporation and works in hotter climates. Free air cooling significantly reduces facility energy use and maintenance tasks. It is often touted as a green or sustainable computing initiative.
Free cooling is an option for a wider mix of data center locations as companies upgrade to higher-operating-temperature servers. Free cooling can also work with mechanical cooling methods.
Data Cabling
In a connected world the importance of data centers is growing, so too does the need for high-quality networks in order for the demands of the digital economy to be met. The modern datacenters relies on quick and efficient exchanges of information, to and from customers and between the active IT components it houses.
The Importance Of Standards
CNS follows the new CENELEC EN 50600 series standards which will impact on data center and buildings that house data centers. The series is separated into practices in terms of building
construction, power distribution, environmental control, telecommunications cabling and security systems, as well as the management and operational systems that oversee all of these. It specifies a classification based around risks including availability, security and energy efficiency. Four Telecommunication Cabling Classes Have Been Developed:
With no resilience and high risk such as with direct point to point (‘unstructured’) cabling
With no resilience but fixed cabling systems are deployed
Concurrently maintainable based on multi-path cabling systems
Concurrently maintainable based on diverse routed topologies. This is the lowest risk (but highest cost) proposition.
CNS Team Follows Best Practice Program:
Planning
In order to establish the network requirements of the data center in order that the deployment is Consistent with current needs.
Mapping
Ensuring that ‘on-the-ground’ decisions reflect the objectives established through planning, through mapping the requirement onto the actual data center using the most suitable network topology design
Procurement
Making the correct choice of equipment for the network in terms of density, speed, reliability, efficiency, service and support, return on investment etc.
Installation
Since a number of the problems and inefficiencies associated with cabling in the data centers can be traced back to poor installation practices
Management
Since any data center system is only as good as its management and operation, particularly when it needs to bridge a period of significant technological change.
Structured Or Not?
The broad advantages of structured cabling over point to point cabling (such as that used on top of rack configurations in a data center are seen as improved energy efficiency, increased switch port utilization, quicker system adaption, greater scalability, easier network expansion, less maintenance and administration, less expensive switches and overall lower cost of ownership. The structured cabling system can make a network easier to manage, and make it easier also to identify and deal with specific points of failure. It divides up the network into manageable blocks and works on a defined hierarchy of management. The data center is divided into distribution cabling sub-systems – main, intermediate and local. The main distribution cabling sub-system will house the main cross-connects and the core networking equipment. Intermediate sub-systems will house the cross-connect to the equipment areas. Industry consensus suggests structured cabling system makes additions and modifications easier to achieve and allows for flexibility in connections.
Access To Equipment
The connection to the active IT equipment can be made via the top of the rack (ToR), or via the middle of the row (MoR) or via the end of the row (EoR) While there has been some move in recent years towards ToR based on greater convenience of access and improved space utilization, a number of recent studies indicate that energy consumption, flexibility and switch port utilization may be improved through EoR connection based on any Base-T morphology.
There are a number of factors that may influence the design of the network architecture as part of broader cabling planning, including:
Scalability
which additional data can be carried across the network whether on a short-term load-peak basis or as part of a broader data center capacity expansion. As noted previously, networking equipment is so pervasive in data centers that such scalability needs to be easily enabled.
Designing
Designing according to physical constraints of the cabling– link transmission specification, physical flexibility and strength, minimization of interference in order to increase robustness and to prevent any major interruption to transmission.
The Bandwidth And Latency
The bandwidth and latency requirements of the equipment within the data center and the service levels expected of it. Thus, the numbers of servers that are virtualized will increase the complexity of traffic through the data center and in particular this will influence the network topology for switching and routing. The growing emergence of the data center ‘fabric’ which can act as a unified system of connections
between switches and equipment in disparate locations across the data center has acted as one solution to this potential complexity. Yet as with any service that is ‘on demand’ – and this is a key driver for virtual, cloud and software-defined utilities – the network needs to be able to connect at very low latency and without service interruption. Since the processes associated with virtualization usually mean the consolidation of numbers of physical servers into virtual machines then accessed through a smaller numbers of servers, this increases the speed and bandwidth requirements for network connections. Copper, Fiber Or Both? The key cabling profiles of copper and fiber can be deployed to meet the different networking needs of the different spaces in a data center building. The first requirement is to understand the bandwidth requirements of each zone. This will depend upon the density of the servers and the networking equipment within the data center, and in other areas of the building. This will determine the category of copper or fiber cabling required. It indicates also the maximum length of the cable that will transmit at the specified bandwidth.
Testing And Handover?
Testing of each node through authentic Fluke equipment is a critical activity performed by CNS team on each copper and fiber node. After testing a detailed report is prepared and submitted to the facility people for final take over and sign off.
Security and Surveillance
Security and Surveillance solutions designed by CNS are uniquely suited to deliver video security solutions for today’s applications by using the industry’s broadest offering of IP-based video security systems. From industry-leading Fixed IP, PTZ IP, Specialty IP and Panoramic IP cameras to video management solutions, we are committed to providing innovative, superior-quality products and solutions that help businesses of any kind meet their security and surveillance needs. In addition to cameras, video management and software solutions, we also designs and install the widest variety of accessories, including video walls, E-fence, controls, network, containment and power solutions necessary for today’s end-to-end installations.
CCTV Solutions
We are committed to provide our customers best possible security services as there is nothing more important than the safety of Life & Property. CNS offers a comprehensive range of both IP and Analog CCTV Systems. The effectiveness of these CCTV security cameras has resulted in their deployment into major international airports, schools, organizations, government projects, industrial and commercial facilities as well into small retailers and homes. For security sensitive installations such as Police Stations, Federal and Provincial Government Buildings, Factories, Power Generation Plants & Borders we offer Security Systems that include Vandal Resistant Cameras, PTZ (Pan, Tilt, Zoom) Cameras, Real Time 30fps (Frames Per Second) per channel DVRs (Digital Video Recorders), Motion Sensors, Audible Alarms and CMS (Central Monitoring System) capabilities. Contact CNS for CCTV Systems today to get professional advice and find out how we can assist your CCTV surveillance and security camera needs to ensure that
you protect your most valuable assets.
Scanning Solutions
CNS offers highly efficient scanning solutions which include sensors, switches and controls. Our productivity solutions built around high performance data collection hardware including; bar code scanners, radio frequency identification (RFID), rugged mobile computers, voice-enabled software, and work flow printing solutions. We provide unparalleled precision and durability that improves efficiency, increase operational productivity and enhance customer service capabilities. Our solutions serve customers in automotive, healthcare, industrial, manufacturing, medical, aerospace, retail, supply chain, field service, measurement, test and transportation and logistics markets capabilities. Access Control Solutions CNS provide a flexible, open architecture, IP-enabled platform for deploying a broad range of access control systems. State-of-the-art access control software that integrates the most advanced security technologies with innovative networking capabilities to bring you full-featured security solutions serving any size facility.
Whether you need to control two doors or manage hundreds of doors at multiple facilities, our versatile and easy-to-use networked access control solutions bring intelligence to the door while protecting the value of customers’ overall investments, from cotroller to reader to credential.
Walk-Through Gates
CNS Security Solutions offer all necessary set of security apparatus including “Walk through Gates” and “Metal Detectors”. These are all implemented globally-demanded and widely-recommended so that our clients shall have all their needs covered at one stop service point with market-competitive package rates and state-of-the art installation and deployment services. While it is true that we believed then, as we do now, that our metal detectors could lead the industry in capabilities and results. So, we recognized early on that commitment and loyalty would be our true source of success to our customers. Road-Blockers And Barriers Utilizing a team of professional designers and engineers, CNS offers the most extensive line of commercial road blockers, spikes and barriers. Performance, reliability and value dictate how products are conceived, developed and manufactured to provide customers the very best road barrier products. In addition, the extensive product range gives architects and engineers options that are not available elsewhere. Products are available for manual operation that can be surface or flush mounted to the Roadway. Then, there is a wide-ranging line of automated barrier systems that are full featured, fitting almost any application that can integrate with a wide range of access control options.
E-Fencing
CNS offers a non-lethal high-voltage pulse electric fence that serves as a deterrent towards any attempted break in. The electric fence patrols the protected area and gives property owners like you, additional time for security response. This security protection is suitable for residential, industrial and commercial area.
DCIM, EMS/PMS, SCADA
DCIM allows C-level executives, data center managers, and facility managers alike to have complete insight and control over their data center’s daily operations in order to make informed decisions related to capacity planning, equipment changes, and availability. It’s a powerful tool for simulation through the creation of “what if” scenarios across the data center physical infrastructure (e.g., the impact of server placements on power and cooling). Not only does the software suite streamline operational efficiencies, it enables intelligent energy management, helping data centers play a critical role in responding effectively to the energy crisis. The ability to make such informed decisions from a “building-to-server” perspective can multilayered with the addition of optional modules created to meet specific user requirements, including:
Capacity: Simulation, planning, and optimization of infrastructure capacities to right-size the data center
IT Optimize: Gain insight into IT power consumption and utilization to increase efficiency and decrease cost
Change: Fully integrated workflow management for IT physical infrastructure
Energy Efficiency: Intelligent power usage effectiveness (PUE) analytics at the subsystem level
Energy Cost: Instant overview of rack energy usage
Insight: Comprehensive tool for customizing report designs to visualize data
Dashboard: Live overview of data center operations using widgets and data sets
Mobile: Wireless operation of your data center allowing for real-time tracking of adds,
moves, and changes
VIZOR: On-the-go access for smartphone and tablet applications
SCADA
SCADA, an intuitive and scalable solution, is at the heart of our supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. With impressive built-in capabilities; the solution ensures reliability, safety and security. It is complemented by a modular and scalable controller. Together with SCADA, the controller provides an integrated solution to solve complex remote automation requirements, especially those found in the oil and gas industry.
PMS
To ensure your infrastructure can reliably operate, while still minimizing energy costs and making the most of your current assets, you need a power monitoring system with deep insight into the operation of your electrical infrastructure. Power Monitoring is part of an architecture which unites power, data centers, process and machines, building control, and physical security to enable intelligent energy management solutions. This allows you to optimize energy efficiencies across multiple domains of your business. Power Monitoring saves you money by helping your team quickly identify problem areas. It connects seamlessly to your electrical assets, which provides a layer of intelligence across your energy enterprise, and in turn helps you meet your financial and operational goals.