Global Warming in the Data Center
Jan. 30, 2007

Just as rising temperatures across the planet are threatening ecosystems and changing weather patterns, data centers today are finding themselves in an environmental dilemma. High-performance, densely racked servers and storage systems are literally raising temperatures in rooms where, in many cases, it’s not feasible to add new air conditioning.

IT groups must feel that they’re caught in a no-win bind between business group demanding more computing power and storage capacity on one hand and a data center with limited floor space and cooling capacity on the other.

This month’s story, Managing Energy Use in the Data Center, discusses some ways to deal with this challenge. At its highest level, power and cooling management is a complex science of measuring heat output, airflow consumption and analytical modeling of air systems. For some applications, calling in a specialized assessment service makes sense.

Luckily, there are less expensive, simpler ways to conserve power and reduce heat emissions, from buying servers with more efficient processors and power supplies to arranging racks according to best practices and blanking open slots.

So check out this new story and read the related white papers. Not only can you cut utility costs and keep your equipment running dependably, but you’ll be doing planet Earth a favor too.

Posted by Andy Mazer 01.30.07

Previous Blog Posts
12.02.06 - Open Standards Is for Systems Management Too
11.22.06 - Virtually Ready for Primetime
11.14.06 - Technology No Substitute for Communication
10.16.06 - Running a Data Center? What's Your Problem?