Last month we covered why an increasing number of enterprises are complementing their main data centers (DCs) with remote ones. We also listed several key considerations that must be factored in when building these remote DCs: i) manageable high-performing, high-density infrastructure, ii) right-sized rack PDUs, and iii) remote serviceability.

In this second instalment of our three-part series on remote DCs, we discuss additional factors that operators should consider when scoping out and constructing their new remote facilities. They are:

Protection Against Environmental Variables
In order for DC assets to perform efficiently and effectively, the physical environment they operate in needs to be properly and accurately monitored. To be alerted to instances of overheating or hotspots, water leakage, fire and other situations that can jeopardize the performance of not just the assets but the entire facility, DC operators deploy sensors to measure overall and rack temperature, humidity, smoke, air pressure and other environmental parameters in their facilities.

For facilities the size of remote DCs, it makes more sense to procure environmental sensors from a single source as this does away with the need for diverse sensor gateways and makes collation and reporting of sensor outputs easier.

The Raritan SmartSensors range includes environmental sensors. Featuring RJ45 connectors with removable sensor heads for rapid deployment, they are plug-and-play compatible with Raritan intelligent rack PDUs, smart rack controllers, inline meters, rack transfer switches, and branch circuit monitors. SmartSensors can be deployed in a cascade of up to 32 sensor heads in a row with standard CAT5/6 cables, with outputs collated through a single gateway, and each is equipped with a status LED for better alerting on site.

Security & Compliance
Other than off-range environmental variables, DC operators need to guard against unauthorized access to facilities (both enterprise-owned and collocated) and DC assets, particularly racks, as well as human errors from accidents and non-compliance with access protocols.

 Raritan’s SmartLock is a networked, electronic door access and control system. Designed to deliver audited controlled access to sensitive IT assets in DC white space, it is vendor-agnostic and seamlessly integrates with DC technology architecture. Embedded into the SmartLock system (and all Raritan power solutions) is Raritan’s innovative Xerus technology. The platform enables smart sensing, tracking, and alerting of proactive, real-time information with an automated audit trail logging of access events. It incorporates the latest network security protocols, advanced data encryption methods, strong password policies, and login protection, providing enterprise-level IT security.

As for outages caused by human error, these can be minimized or even eliminated by deploying push-button locking outlets that prevent cables from being accidentally dislodged, cable retention clips that guarantee power cables will remain in their outlets, and color-coded locking power cords.

Streamlining Provisioning
Like with large on-premises DCs, clear visibility of all remote DC assets and how they work individually and together can give operators the ability to monitor and manage these assets, simplify the provisioning of power and equipment, and more.

Using intelligent rack PDUs with remote power control capability, smart racks, and sensors, remote DC owners can easily and remotely measure and manage such parameters as the amount of power consumed by each asset in the rack, rack-level power consumption, power factor, etc.

This insight allows them to monitor and optimally configure the available power capacity for each rack, control individual outlets and provision outlets for new devices, optimize rack assets and space, and identify degrading power supply assets, reboot hung servers, and more. It also enables operators to better plan power capacity, power protection and cooling infrastructure, thus reducing the risk of outage from the server level all the way to the entire facility.