Transcript Document
PAC 3.9: Efficiency Innovation Equals Data Center Inefficiency Chris Crosby, CEO, Compass Datacenters 1 Data Center World – Certified Vendor Neutral Each presenter is required to certify that their presentation will be vendor-neutral. As an attendee you have a right to enforce this policy of having no sales pitch within a session by alerting the speaker if you feel the session is not being presented in a vendor neutral fashion. If the issue continues to be a problem, please alert Data Center World staff after the session is complete. 2 Efficiency Innovation Equals Data Center Inefficiency In this session we’ll explore how often times innovations developed to improve data center efficiency may have unintended consequences. 3 Unintended Consequences Outcomes that are not the ones intended by a purposeful action 4 Unintended Consequence 1– Blade Servers An essential element for high density data centers Feature low harmonic power supplies Produce lead Power Factor (PF) The consequence: If PF goes to far it can cause UPS to trip to gens Can get UPS with “Eco Mode” They transfer all load to the utility This can be expensive 5 Unintended Consequence 2-- Silver Government environmental regulations require lead to be removed from solder Replaced by silver The consequence: When exposed to certain levels of moisture silver corrodes Grows “Whiskers” Can cause unit failure and arcs 6 Unintended Consequence 3– Virtualization and Security Who doesn’t love virtualization? Reduces load Foundation for the cloud Consequence: Most security systems aren’t designed with virtualization in mind Agents must reside on all virtual machines Updates/regular operations can create “server storms” Eats up memory, CPU cycles and storage 7 Unintended Consequence 4– Server Efficiency Servers and storage It is possible to do more with less Variable speed fans Software driven intelligence Power load adjusts to activity ARM Less heat and power Flash storage 8 Unintended Consequence 4– Server Efficiency Servers continue to become more efficient Data center industry reaction: Focus on cooling Ex: Higher operating temps Just because everyone is doing it doesn’t mean you should Your mother warned you about this 9 Unintended Consequence 4– Server Efficiency The consequence: Reduced cooling capacity Higher Delta T to improve MEP efficiency offset by server cooling efficiency Lower Delta T reduces cooling capacity As much as 50% 10 Unintended Consequence 5– Jevon’s Paradox 1874 writes The Coal Question “The greater the energy efficiency, while in the short run will produce energy savings, may in the long run result in higher energy use” Obviously, energy use and efficiency is a very old issue Consequence: Gains in data center efficiency are “backfilled” Demand is unceasing Data center traffic expected to increase 30% annually 7.7 zettabytes by 2017* 11 Summary Efficiencies provided from data center resident equipment can, and will, impact the facility Need to take the “long view” Focus on the near term is often short sited Beware of “fads” If their assumptions aren’t the same as yours, results will differ Even the best innovations can have unintended consequences Work for a ‘B’ 12 3 Key Things You Have Learned During this Session 1. Enhancements in efficiency can have unintended consequences 2. Need to evaluate and plan for them from a long term perspective 3. Beware of fads. What works for one may not work for you 13 Thank you Chris Crosby [email protected] 14