30 January 2014

Modular and containerised data centres typically offer a unique set of advantages such as plug and play capability and easy installation.

Modular data centres are growing in popularity. RAHIEL NASIR rounds up some of the latest products and looks at their unique benefits.

Modular data centres continue to grow in popularity. In a white paper published last year, (Assessing the cost: modular versus traditional build), DCD Intelligence said that in both established data centre markets such as France, the UK and US, as well as the emerging BRIC nations, data centre operators have reported growing investment in modular technology over the last few years (see figure 1).

So what exactly is a modular data centre (MDC)? In the same white paper, DCD Intelligence says the concept traditionally referred to ISO shipping containers which are deployed as standalone ‘data centres in a box’, complete with all the necessary IT, power and cooling technology. It adds that these containerised data centres continue to be used to support disaster recovery and temporary IT projects, which was why they were originally developed.

Over time however, DCD Intelligence says a distinction has emerged between ‘containerised’ and ‘modular’ data centres: “In contrast to containerised data centres, (we) understand a modular data centre to be a data centre design based on prefabricated, pre-tested modules assembled in a custom-configured manner to form a complete solution, ideally defined by software.

“Although data centre modules are delivered to end users in a pre-assembled form, with hardware and software components already fully-integrated, it is common for power modules to be deployed alongside data centre modules as separate plug-ins.”

Schneider Electric says that a lack of standard terminology for describing modular approaches has made selecting the appropriate type difficult. It says that data centre systems or sub-systems preassembled in a factory are often described with terms like ‘prefabricated’, ‘containerised’, ‘modular’, ‘skid-based’, ‘pod-based’, ‘portable’, ‘self-contained’, ‘mobile’, ‘all-in-one’, and more. “There are, however, important distinctions between the various types of factory-built building blocks on the market,” it says.

In a recently released white paper (Types of prefabricated modular data centers), the firm aims to eliminate ambiguity between the various form factors in the market, and proposes a standardised set of definitions for the growing categories of modular and prefabricated data centre products and solutions. It suggests a framework that, in addition to helping define and categorise different types of modular and prefabricated data centre equipment, seeks to act as a guide for choosing the best approach for customer installations based on their business requirements. “Understanding the limitations and benefits of each form factor helps ensure the optimal approach is selected. Ultimately, business needs around speed of deployment, scalability, space constraints, capacity, and cash flow drive the decision,” says Schneider.

And when it comes to such business needs, MDCs do indeed offer organisations a variety of unique benefits.

What’s on offer?

Figure 1: Increase in investment in modular data centre technologies, 2011-2013.

SOURCE: DCD INTELLIGENCE

Barcelona-based AST Modular has been trading for 15 years and claims it was one of the first companies to provide modular and containerised data centres (CDCs). It says their advantages include: reduced capex; plug-and-play capability; portability; fast time to market; energy efficiency; and easy installation. It adds that its CDCs are highly secure, pre-engineered facilities that feature heavy duty, anti-vandalism construction, and provide an “optimal” DC environment for servers in any location. Furthermore, they’re scalable - modules for chillers, generators and vestibules (for example) can be added on; containers can be stacked vertically; and by combining building blocks, large scale modular deployments can be achieved, says AST.

The firm also offers non-ISO MDCs. These are longer and wider than CDCs and are available in 25ft and 40ft configurations. They have no internal rails and therefore have more internal clearance space. AST says that they feature the same benefits as CDCs and can be combined for scaling up.

A third option offered by AST is the DC Modular Room (DCMR). It describes this as an “IKEA type” flat-packed kit that features fireproof partitions to enable organisations to build a DC room either within an existing building or outside it. The shelter panels are installed on site and are certified against water, fire and dust. AST adds that they are thermally insulated, energy efficient and “highly” robust.

In January 2014, Schneider announced the acquisition of AST Modular, adding the Spanish company’s capabilities to it its own extensive line-up of prefabricated data centres. Schneider itself claims to have set a new standard in prefab DCs with 14 new modules and 12 new reference design that were launched in November. It says the reference designs provide details for complete data centres, scalable in 250kW to 2MW increments and complying with Uptime Tier II and Tier III standards.

According to the company, the new modules deliver IT, power, and/or cooling integrated with “best-in-class” data centre infrastructure components, and its StruxureWare data centre infrastructure management software for an “easy-todeploy, predictable data centre”. The vendor adds that its modules range in capacities from 90kW to 500kW and are customisable to meet end user requirements.

“Prefabricated data centres enable data centre managers to maximise the speed of business through rapid installation, easy expansion and improved cash management, “ says Kevin Brown, Schneider’s VP of data centre global offer and strategy. “This prefabricated approach inherently increases the predictability of the build process, since most of the construction occurs in a factory instead of in the field.”

Schneider claims that with its launch of the industry’s first complete library of prefabricated reference designs, data centre managers now have a pre-engineered starting point to realise three significant improvements. These include:

• Speed of deployment: prefab modules are delivered on-site pre-configured and pre-tested for an easy installation with a lead time of 12-16 weeks, depending on the level of project complexity. Site preparation and module production can be completed concurrently, resulting in minimised on-site construction and deployment time
• Flexibility and scalability: various module options and configurations enable the infrastructure to be deployed and scaled as needed to meet demand. Capex reductions result from eliminating complicated new construction or expensive building retrofits
• Predictability: prefabrication and factory testing reduces human error and on-site construction risks while improving compliance, safety, and efficiency. Design and manufacturing are closely coupled to greatly minimise uncertainty which results in more predictable performance of the data centre infrastructure.

Colt is no stranger to the prefab market and launched its first MDC in 2010. Like its rivals, the entire Colt Modular Data Centre

• including all power and cooling elements
• is constructed and tested in approved manufacturing facilities before being transported to its final location.

At the time, Colt said: “This innovative approach will allow us to deliver highly power-efficient, turnkey data centre halls to customers in less than four months, whilst offering the flexibility to build large-scale data centres in 500m2 increments to the size and layout of their choice. We will reconstruct and commission the data centre - all within four months, approximately a third of the time required for a conventional build in the market.”

The firm added that its MDC has a design target PUE of 1.21, thus driving down the overall costs of operating a data centre through decreased power usage. Colt’s initial offering included a range of power and cooling options, with the minimum base configuration capable of 750kW power and 1500W/m2 power density for a 500m2 hall. Its MDCs can also be joined and double-stacked to suit the customer’s capacity needs.

 

Container helps to keep Navy’s systems afloat

Royal Navy crews can continue to work as normal while their vessels are being refitted with a portable data centre, thanks to a containerised server room supplied by the ATLAS Consortium.

The containerised solution was developed by ATLAS in conjunction with STS Defence as well as the MoD’s Defence Information Systems and Services. ATLAS is a collaborative team that includes Cassidian, CGI, Fujitsu, and HP which was systems integrator and lead contractor on the project.

The consortium designed and built a secure and fully functional server room in a 1,169 cubic feet container. This compact Refit Office (pictured), which HP says was completed in just five months, provides a ship’s company with uninterrupted access to the MoD’s Defence Information Infrastructure (Future) systems during refits. It is currently enabling the crew of Royal Fleet Auxiliary Gold Rover, the navy’s first DII(F)-equipped vessel requiring a refit, to stay connected while work is being carried out at Birkenhead dockyard.

HP says that when a vessel goes in for refit, its nodes and equipment are “decanted” into the Refit Office while the crew works in four interconnected portable cabins. The container’s four racks can be configured to meet a wide range of computing needs. Two of the smaller Maritime Type 2A nodes - each of which has up to 24 user access devices (UADs) and peripherals plus supporting servers - can be kept fully operational and connected to the outside world via satellite using Inmarsat’s FleetBroadband service. The system has been designed to be easily and inexpensively upgraded to support the larger Maritime Type 2B nodes.

In addition, the mobility and resilience of the containerised solution enables the MoD to use it in a far wider range of situations and locations around the globe. Paul Johnson, HP’s DII deployed maritime programme manager, says: “Not only does the new Refit Office provide continuity of service when a ship is in for refit, it provides the Royal Navy with a mobile utility that can be transported anywhere and put to use immediately.”

HP is another big name vendor that specialises in prefab data centres. It first came to our attention three years ago when it worked with Airbus and claimed to have doubled the aircraft maker’s usable supercomputing power with the implementation of two containerised Performance Optimised Datacentres. The PODs enabled Airbus to quickly expand data centre capacity, boosting computing performance for aircraft development while saving space and energy. At the time, the deployment gave Airbus the 29th biggest computer in the world according to the official TOP500 Supercomputer list released in June 2011.

Each POD, installed at the customer’s sites in Toulouse and Hamburg, contains servers, storage, networking, software, management, and integrated power and cooling. HP said that a total of 2,016 clustered ProLiant BL280 G6 blade servers enabled the two 12 metre-long containers to deliver the equivalent of nearly 1,000m2 of data centre space. The firm added that compared to an installation in a nearby customer data centre, its water-cooled PODs consume up to 40 per cent less power - with a “near-optimum” PUE rating of 1.25, Airbus was able to decrease operating expenses while delivering power capacity in excess of 15KW/m2.

In a more recent deployment last November, HP announced that the Royal Navy was using a CDC while its vessels are being refitted with a portable data centre (see Container helps to keep Royal Navy’s systems afloat).

November also saw the release ofCannon Technologies’ latest configurable and expandable ISO-compliant self-contained data centres. Available in 6, 12 and 13.5 metre versions, Cannon says its MDCs are shipped mission-ready and available for clients to quite literally “switch on and go”.

The firm adds that the new units include its CP-M Series of advanced three-phase modular power protection as a standard integrated feature. It claims this advanced version of its UPS module helps to reduce single point of failure and mean repair time, as well as increasing site power availability wherever the MDCs are located.

Cannon explains that a key feature of the UPS function is support for plug-and-play battery facilities, allowing the power feed to continue to protected equipment while batteries are being replaced. On top of this, the vendor says the units support up to 95 per cent power efficiency (and up to 98 per cent in eco mode) with an integrated power capacity as high as 800kVA using four 200kVA cabinets in parallel. This modular power flexibility is said to allow users to scale their power and runtime options as demand grows, or as and when higher levels of availability are required.

“Thanks to the use of 1.4 metre (five modules) and two metre (10 modules) 19-inch standard cabinets, clients can enjoy access to standard-sized rack data centrestyle cabinets with a capacity of 10/15/ 20kVA in just three units of space,” says Cannon engineering manager Mark Awdas.

He adds that the composition of the racks can be built completely to the customer’s specifications, as well as to a preconfigured design that is available to be carefully drop-shipped to the user’s site in a relatively short timescale.

Should you go modular?

According to US-based Active Power, which specialises in modular power systems, the benefits of an MDC approach are “so great” and the variety of products “so wide”, that it believes every data centre build or expansion project should evaluate a modular approach. However, its adds that there are a number of key questions that data centre operators should ask before engaging with a modular supplier as these will help avoid costly mistakes.

While Active Power emphasises that its experience has shown that MDCs have thrived in a number of scenarios, the level of benefits will vary depending on the particulars of the project. Jay Cantu, the vendor’s product manager for modular infrastructure solutions, says: “We have also seen several proposed deployments that turned out to be poor fits for modular solutions after thorough evaluations, especially with outdoor containerised solutions that present unique challenges. While these issues can be overcome, they need to be considered in the total cost of the deployment and may swing the cost analysis.”

Cantu explains that the common reasons to reject a modular deployment include: incompatibility with local building codes; lack of available outdoor space; difficult and/or expensive access to usable space during installation (i.e. staging, craning, rigging, etc); and difficult and/or expensive connections to power, water, cooling, etc.

He also points out that in the past, customers typically built out all of the physical infrastructure they believed they needed and then held off on populating the data centre with racks and servers as they waited for their customer base to grow.

Figure 2: Scalability of modular design (red) versus conventional build (blue).

“While prudent, operators still need to fund the cost of the land, design and architecture, and construction of their entire physical shell before a dollar of revenue comes in. A modular approach enables the customer to expand the physical infrastructure, power and cooling infrastructure, and IT load at blocks of capacity based on their actual growth needs. Customers are then able to defer large capital outflows normally incurred at the start of the project into more palatable stages.” (See figure 2)

Cantu goes on to point out that one of the advantages of a modular implementation is that site preparation and offsite modular construction can occur simultaneously. He reckons that this can almost make the lead time of the modular equipment “irrelevant” in that the modules can typically be built in less time than the customer can obtain a construction permit, perform preliminary site work, and pour concrete pads. However, it should also be kept in mind that skilled engineers and contractors will still required to complete the installation.

“Although factory testing will alleviate much of the problems usually incurred, the fact remains this is still an on-site construction project with site inspections, third-party agents, and authority having jurisdiction approvals. The modular approach helps to improve, but does not eliminate, the required interactions and involvement of all of these entities,” says Cantu.

He also stresses the importance of choosing an experienced modular supplier: “While the initial idea of stuffing electrical equipment into a one-time use shipping container seems like a way to save money, we have found that experienced modular packagers prefer to build purpose-built enclosures.” Cantu says that such enclosures can then be easily integrated and sized according to local standards, regulations and certifications.

Furthermore, he says many inexperienced modular packagers find out the “hard way” about the structural integrity of the enclosure when the unit is populated and craned onto a truck for delivery.”Weight distribution and centre of gravity play a large role when the item is in the air. Experienced riggers and the appropriate hardware are needed to ensure the enclosure is not damaged when being loaded onto a truck.”

Finally, with the unit on site, Cantu says experienced vendors usually deploy a project manager who attends meetings and aids in the planning and installation of the site infrastructure required for connectivity of the modular components.

So is the MDC the data centre of the future?

HP says large mission-critical data centres housed in brick and mortar buildings are “rapidly” running out of capacity, and that new builds are expensive, typically taking up to two years. If that’s the case, a ‘data centre in box’ that offers quick deployment, scalability, energy efficiency, and cost savings seems like a no-brainer. The prefab and modular DC looks set to become a trend that cannot be contained.