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6 Important Questions To Answer When Considering A Generator For Your Data Center
Knowing when to install a generator into your data center is an important question IT Managers must ask prior to actually building their data center.
With careful planning there are strategies you can implement during the design phase of your data center build that can minimize downtime and effectively deal with unforeseen power outages.
Your data center is the lifeblood of your company. In fact, as we move forward in time, it is my contention that each computer in the office or at home will become a virtual data center.
When the data center goes down, your company immediately begins to lose money. Whether your data center goes down and services are no longer available, or if your data center goes down and your business is no longer able to access customer information, a data center power outage can be very costly.
Therefore, it’s critical that you proactively plan for a data center power outage. A formal plan should be created, documented and be immediately accessible on-site and remotely. Not having a formal plan in place could prove costly to your business and ongoing operations. Every minute your data center is down, vast sums of money are lost as business is lost. In this day and age, virtually no business can have its data center down for any extended period of time.
Furthermore, communication channels need to be accessible throughout the chain of command. While it is not recommend to immediately communicate a disruption of service to your customers, all employees should be aware of proper communication protocol to external customers in the event of a power outage.
No matter how self-sufficient your data center is, it is still dependent upon the nation’s power grid. The power grid is, in turn, dependent upon many electrical wires running above and underground. Theses wires, at different nodes, are always susceptible to power outages. For example, a car accident five miles away could cause your data center to lose power for hours, costing your business a significant amount of money.
With careful planning there are strategies you can implement during the design phase of your data center build that can minimize downtime and effectively deal with unforeseen power outages. Data center design should always consider the optional backup power supply in the event of a power outage. Whether your power outage plan includes battery systems or on-site power generation, these options should be considered during the initial planning and design of the data center.
Backup power sources give the data center operator peace of mind in knowing that in the event of a power outage, a temporary and independent power source is available to keep the data center running while the utility company scrambles to get power back to your business.
Deciding which backup power solution is right for your business depends upon individual data center power requirements, local laws and your company budget for the expense. Each alternative power choice has its benefits and runtime limitations. To make the right decision, you must weigh the cost of added redundancy against the cost of downtime in your data center. Also, because emerging technologies continue to progress at an accelerated rate, the data center design should be scalable and adaptable to both current and future growth requirements.
Also, local business zoning laws may determine which type of generator you’re allowed to install on your property. For example, many localities have laws not allowing the installation of diesel-powered generators. Be sure to check into local regulations first before moving forward.
On the other hand, many localities encourage businesses to conserve power through alternative resources. At sites not allowed to install a gas or diesel generator, it may be permitted to install a wind turbine or solar cell to provide the backup power your company needs to stay up and running for a short time period.
Inevitably, your data center will demand increased power requirements. It will not have the same power requirements today as five years from now. It would be costly to install an alternative power solution today only to replace it in a few years. That’s why long-term planning is critical.
The first thing to consider when deciding what type of backup systems you need to install for your data center lies in the probability of a power outage at your business location(s). With generators and many battery systems, interruptions occur when the utility power first becomes unavailable.
Power may temporarily (for a few seconds) be unavailable to servers and computers on the network. Generators do, after all, need to be powered on when needed. Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) systems do not have this problem. They constantly recharge their batteries from the utility provider when power is available and then instantly provide DC power, accomplished with an Auto-Transfer Switch (ATS), to your data center when utility power goes out.
UPS battery backups and other battery-powered backup systems are inherently temporary; however, if your data center is located in an area prone to power outages, or if you require large amounts of temporary power, a generator may be appropriate. Generators usually consist of diesel, gasoline or natural gas engines that provide power as long as there is fuel. Data centers located in areas prone to hurricanes (like Florida) or any prolonged severe weather do well to install generators.
If your business would be better served with UPS systems or battery backups as a temporary measure, you need to consider how large you wish your UPS system to be. UPS systems take up precious data center space. The more battery capacity of a UPS system, the larger amount of space it requires. UPS systems can be designed to be located outside, but this adds a level of susceptibility to the elements, as well as increases the price. UPS systems designed for outside placements must have measures added to fight against the elements.
Deciding which type of power backup system depends on your data center’s runtime needs. If your data center is large (a Tier 2, 3 or 4 data center) and requires a prolonged amount of backup power in case of an outage, or if your data center is located in a hurricane- or power-outage-prone area, it would be wise to consider getting a generator.
If you rarely encounter outages of extended length, or if you only need enough time to properly shut down equipment in case of a power outage, a UPS system or a basic battery backup system may be required. UPS systems are perfect for small data centers that cannot afford any interrupted service.
No matter what system you choose, remember to plan for the future accordingly. As your business grows, so, too, will your data center. Battery backup systems used in conjunction with a generator provide scalability. The battery backup system provides temporary backup power with a generator available if the power outage stretches beyond the batteries’ capacities.
To determine the whether or not you want a power generator implemented into your data center, ask yourself the following questions:
1. What is the current communications process in place that addresses our course of action and chain of command?
2. How does my business communicate with both internal personnel and external customers in the event of a catastrophic power outage?
3. Are there any local laws that prevent our company from installing a gasoline, diesel fuel or natural gas generator on our property?
4. Do we have a formal, written procedure that addresses what to do in the event of a minor or major catastrophic power outage?
5. Is it more cost effective to install a larger UPS that has a longer runtime or to install a power generator to minimize downtime?
6. In the event of a power outage, how much power, in terms of kilovolts, do we need to sustain business operations, and for what pre-determined period of time?
Most importantly, it is imperative that a documented plan is in place that provides direction on how to effectively deal with a power outage. Taking the time to make smart decisions now could save your company millions of dollars and infinite frustration.
With careful planning there are strategies you can implement during the design phase of your data center build that can minimize downtime and effectively deal with unforeseen power outages.
Your data center is the lifeblood of your company. In fact, as we move forward in time, it is my contention that each computer in the office or at home will become a virtual data center.
When the data center goes down, your company immediately begins to lose money. Whether your data center goes down and services are no longer available, or if your data center goes down and your business is no longer able to access customer information, a data center power outage can be very costly.
Therefore, it’s critical that you proactively plan for a data center power outage. A formal plan should be created, documented and be immediately accessible on-site and remotely. Not having a formal plan in place could prove costly to your business and ongoing operations. Every minute your data center is down, vast sums of money are lost as business is lost. In this day and age, virtually no business can have its data center down for any extended period of time.
Furthermore, communication channels need to be accessible throughout the chain of command. While it is not recommend to immediately communicate a disruption of service to your customers, all employees should be aware of proper communication protocol to external customers in the event of a power outage.
No matter how self-sufficient your data center is, it is still dependent upon the nation’s power grid. The power grid is, in turn, dependent upon many electrical wires running above and underground. Theses wires, at different nodes, are always susceptible to power outages. For example, a car accident five miles away could cause your data center to lose power for hours, costing your business a significant amount of money.
With careful planning there are strategies you can implement during the design phase of your data center build that can minimize downtime and effectively deal with unforeseen power outages. Data center design should always consider the optional backup power supply in the event of a power outage. Whether your power outage plan includes battery systems or on-site power generation, these options should be considered during the initial planning and design of the data center.
Backup power sources give the data center operator peace of mind in knowing that in the event of a power outage, a temporary and independent power source is available to keep the data center running while the utility company scrambles to get power back to your business.
Deciding which backup power solution is right for your business depends upon individual data center power requirements, local laws and your company budget for the expense. Each alternative power choice has its benefits and runtime limitations. To make the right decision, you must weigh the cost of added redundancy against the cost of downtime in your data center. Also, because emerging technologies continue to progress at an accelerated rate, the data center design should be scalable and adaptable to both current and future growth requirements.
Also, local business zoning laws may determine which type of generator you’re allowed to install on your property. For example, many localities have laws not allowing the installation of diesel-powered generators. Be sure to check into local regulations first before moving forward.
On the other hand, many localities encourage businesses to conserve power through alternative resources. At sites not allowed to install a gas or diesel generator, it may be permitted to install a wind turbine or solar cell to provide the backup power your company needs to stay up and running for a short time period.
Inevitably, your data center will demand increased power requirements. It will not have the same power requirements today as five years from now. It would be costly to install an alternative power solution today only to replace it in a few years. That’s why long-term planning is critical.
The first thing to consider when deciding what type of backup systems you need to install for your data center lies in the probability of a power outage at your business location(s). With generators and many battery systems, interruptions occur when the utility power first becomes unavailable.
Power may temporarily (for a few seconds) be unavailable to servers and computers on the network. Generators do, after all, need to be powered on when needed. Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) systems do not have this problem. They constantly recharge their batteries from the utility provider when power is available and then instantly provide DC power, accomplished with an Auto-Transfer Switch (ATS), to your data center when utility power goes out.
UPS battery backups and other battery-powered backup systems are inherently temporary; however, if your data center is located in an area prone to power outages, or if you require large amounts of temporary power, a generator may be appropriate. Generators usually consist of diesel, gasoline or natural gas engines that provide power as long as there is fuel. Data centers located in areas prone to hurricanes (like Florida) or any prolonged severe weather do well to install generators.
If your business would be better served with UPS systems or battery backups as a temporary measure, you need to consider how large you wish your UPS system to be. UPS systems take up precious data center space. The more battery capacity of a UPS system, the larger amount of space it requires. UPS systems can be designed to be located outside, but this adds a level of susceptibility to the elements, as well as increases the price. UPS systems designed for outside placements must have measures added to fight against the elements.
Deciding which type of power backup system depends on your data center’s runtime needs. If your data center is large (a Tier 2, 3 or 4 data center) and requires a prolonged amount of backup power in case of an outage, or if your data center is located in a hurricane- or power-outage-prone area, it would be wise to consider getting a generator.
If you rarely encounter outages of extended length, or if you only need enough time to properly shut down equipment in case of a power outage, a UPS system or a basic battery backup system may be required. UPS systems are perfect for small data centers that cannot afford any interrupted service.
No matter what system you choose, remember to plan for the future accordingly. As your business grows, so, too, will your data center. Battery backup systems used in conjunction with a generator provide scalability. The battery backup system provides temporary backup power with a generator available if the power outage stretches beyond the batteries’ capacities.
To determine the whether or not you want a power generator implemented into your data center, ask yourself the following questions:
1. What is the current communications process in place that addresses our course of action and chain of command?
2. How does my business communicate with both internal personnel and external customers in the event of a catastrophic power outage?
3. Are there any local laws that prevent our company from installing a gasoline, diesel fuel or natural gas generator on our property?
4. Do we have a formal, written procedure that addresses what to do in the event of a minor or major catastrophic power outage?
5. Is it more cost effective to install a larger UPS that has a longer runtime or to install a power generator to minimize downtime?
6. In the event of a power outage, how much power, in terms of kilovolts, do we need to sustain business operations, and for what pre-determined period of time?
Most importantly, it is imperative that a documented plan is in place that provides direction on how to effectively deal with a power outage. Taking the time to make smart decisions now could save your company millions of dollars and infinite frustration.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Michael G Perry on June 4, 2009 at 17:16
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Hi Leo,
In the post, I just stated 6 questions ANYONE should ask when they are considering a generator. I agree, it is a good idea to have ample UPS back up power, but many smaller companies who have smaller offices, do not need to have generator. A UPS is or multiple UPS devices are appropriate.
Best.
Michael Perrry
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Comment by Leo Craig on June 4, 2009 at 11:08
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I would like to expand on point 5 regarding installing a larger UPS and longer runtime instead of a generator. This would not be best practice, as the UPS is there to support your critical load which would be your server , routes etc. The UPS does not protect your critical load from power outages, but also from mains disturbances such as sag, surges, spikes, high frequency noise, frequency variations and waveshape faults. al of which cause data corruption ad premature equipment failure. The reason its suggested to increase the size of the UPS is to accommodate the requirement of the cooling within the data centre, because in the event of a power failure the critical load will be kept going by the UPS but the essential load e.g the CRACs will not be supported so depending on the power density of the data centre the temperature will rise to unacceptable levels within typically 5 -30 minutes. Therefore the CRACs and other essential loads need to be backed up as well. However CRACs with their chillers, motors and inverter drives create huge amounts of local mains disturbances and putting these devices on the same UPS that supports your critical load will cause you operational problems and premature equipment failure.
It is also hugely expensive to supply a UPS that will support bot critical and essential loads, and the question is how much autonomy do specify 30mins, 1 hour, 4 hours or 8 hours. Cost of putting a 1 hour plus UPS to cover the total data centre load will normally be more expensive than putting a generator in that will support the loads for 24 hours before refuelling. Because of this it is advisable to always try to install a generator and leave the UPS to look after only the critical load. If your only option is to go down the UPS route, then put a separate UPS in for for your essential load, keeping your critical load on the original UPS.
Finally what ever solution you put in, it is imperative to ensure you have the right maintenance and test regimes in place, ensuring what ever backup power system installed will work when the power fails.
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