FACILITIES power+cooling
Same efficiency - less energy However, another way of achieving reduced power consumption is through the deployment of converged networks in the data centre. First, let’s specify just what we mean by ‘network convergence’. Years ago, resources in a building would be grouped and devoted to one particular function, such as telephony, internet, security, building infrastructure or data. Today, however, we’re seeing integrated pools of computers, storage and networking resources increasingly being shared across multiple applications. This is enabled by automatically allocating resources to specific processes, on the basis of precisely pre-defined policies.
‘Converged infrastructure’ provides enormous efficiency increases, from both technical and business perspectives. It helps reduce overall power consumption, improves cooling efficiency and enables the introduction of further energy-saving measures, which we will look into in more detail below. Network convergence essentially relies on the creation of virtualised server, storage and networking capacity, which is shared across multiple applications. This allows companies to reduce the footprint of all elements in the data centre. Virtualisation requires less hardware to achieve the same levels of performance
noise ratio, and therefore requires less power for noise cancelling. Monitoring network ports, cables, connectors and components in real time with an intelligent infrastructure management system will also pay off. If you have a full overview and total control of the physical infrastructure, you’ll automatically use it more efficiently. You only keep operating the capacities you really need.
This means energy and material consumption can be further optimised. A survey by Frost & Sullivan found that as many as 40 percent of the switch ports are ‘forgotten’ in the ongoing operation of a large data network. They remain unused because the operator does not have a full and current overview of the infrastructure. Intelligent, automatic infrastructure management can substantially improve efficiency and thereby lower operating costs.
Introducing EEE and PoE+2
An important feature of convergence is the fact that it enables the introduction of Energy Efficient Ethernet, according to the IEEE 802.3az standard. When a link is idle, the power consumption of physical layer devices is reduced by placing part of the transmission circuit into low power mode, without impacting data transmission.
The introduction of next-generation technologies also allows the use of thinner cabling, which means you can take the cabling out of the raised floor and place it up above, so the ventilation in the computer room functions with greater efficiency and less energy. Valuable space can also be saved with this type of cable management. The computer room can be smaller. That too ultimately improves energy consumption
and manage the same workload and supports the latest generation of energy-efficient data centre equipment.
Additional benefits
In addition to the energy efficiency enhancements described above, convergence can also make it easier to implement critical functions and can improve the responsiveness of the IT department. Enterprises planning to invest in converged infrastructure offerings can look forward to another benefit: cutting down the sprawl of cables in the facility also reduces the obstacles in the raised floor’s air path. Users don’t need to store as many cables in raised floors.
This doesn’t only save on materials and resources but also improves air circulation. That saves energy. In addition, servers and switches need less transmission and signal processing power when links are short and signal transmission is undisturbed. They do not heat up as much, so less cooling power is required - and therefore less energy.
The introduction of next-generation technologies also allows the use of thinner cabling, which means you can take the cabling out of the raised floor and place it up above, so the ventilation in the computer room functions with greater efficiency and less energy. Valuable space can also be saved with this type of cable management. The computer room can be smaller. That too ultimately improves energy consumption. The latest generation of cabling also has an improved
An EEE-defined protocol enables Ethernet devices (in LPI mode) to keep operational parameters updated. This preserves link stability and avoids disconnections. When the link is required once again, it is simply ‘woken up’ after a predetermined delay. Power losses caused by idle circuitry are a major concern, with millions of new switches being added to the already substantial installed based each year.
However, the use of Power over Ethernet, or PoE, is also facilitated with network convergence. This combines power and data transmission in a single cable, allowing for extensive use of powering devices using data cabling. The original PoE standard was introduced a decade ago and supported up to 12.95 watts, but with the introduction of PoE+ in 2009, up to 25.5 watts is supported. PoE can now power devices over long lengths of data cable.
Summary
In the ‘converged’ environment, Ethernet is no longer just used for transporting data, but networks an ever-growing number of devices and allows users to make the most of system intelligence. Convergence centralises management of IT resources, consolidates systems, boosts resource utilisation rates and lowers costs. This has its repercussions on data centre design as well as a significant effect on power requirements and distribution efficiency.
November 2013 I
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