Title: Component Redundancy
Course: 2016FA-MCO-110-401 > Section: Module 11: Data Centers

Click here for a downloadable version of this document:(EXTERNAL) Component Redundancy

Perhaps more so than many other MCO installations, data centers need as much redundancy as the design and budget will allow for. The speed at which component failures or cascading faults impact the organization is near immediate with data centers.

Backup Cooling Systems

Backup cooling systems don’t always get the forethought they deserve. Power backup and redundancy are becoming commonplace with the prevalence of UPS designs, but due to the size and volume of components in cooling systems, it can be difficult to build in backup sources. When possible, at least minimum portions of the mechanical plant should be supported by UPS protected power, because what good does 10 minutes of backup battery power do if the data center floor will overheat in 8 minutes given a loss of cooling? Additional considerations would be roll-up or spot coolers (basically, portable air conditioners) that can be hooked up to emergency power. Industrial size fans are great to keep on hand if you need to prop doors open to circulate what air you can.

Objectives met:
- C11
- 11.6