Article by Premier Solutions Co. Founder, Bill Montgomery

There are different schools of thought when it comes to the most efficient data center cooling methods. It has been determined by many that the raised floor is no longer necessary from a cooling standpoint. However, a raised floor is better suited to handle the chilled water and/or refrigerant for row based cooling when cabinets are installed on a raised floor. Row based cooling is the preferred method because although it may be more expensive initially, it’s more efficient and can greatly increase your ROI in the long-run. When used in conjunction with row containment the level of efficiency is even higher. Through a list of pros and cons we’ve made it easy for you to assess row based cooling vs. room based cooling and raised floors vs. hard floors. It will be clear why row based cooling and raised floors are the best cooling combination.

Other cooling tips that will help you save money:

• Standard perforated tiles in data centers are obsolete. Replacing standard perf tiles with high CFM air flow tiles will direct air and provide the calculated volume of air flow.
• Eliminate ALL cable openings in the floor with koldlok or a similar product to keep the static pressure at its best. It’s inexpensive and will pay for itself quickly.

About the author:

Bill Montgomery is Founder of Premier Solutions Co, a Fountain Valley based IT VAR and Services Company. Premier Solutions Co. has been providing data center maintenance (DCM) since 1997 to many fortune 1000 companies. For more info, visit www.premiersolutionsco.com for more information on the subject of cleaning, infrastructure, IT power and cooling.

Decontamination of data centers is more important than ever. Things that help keep data centers working efficiently such as virtualization, increased, static pressure and open air cooling all require a clean environment. You could be placing your data center and your job at risk when you fail to keep it clean. The following is a list of why it’s imperative to keep your data center facility immaculate and how to select the right cleaning service:

Top 10 Reasons why you should keep your Data Center Clean

10. A regular top floor cleaning insures the HPL tiles anti-static properties remain effective and reduces the risk of  particulate transferring into the server intake.
9. DCM service equates to a fraction of the overall investment of running your operations center.
8. It helps to minimize maintenance and filter replacement on computer room air conditioning units.
7. ALL components within the operations center are at risk when a data center is not kept clean.
6. Annual hardware maintenance agreements for servers are approximately 10% of initial hardware costs.
5. Cleaning below your raised floor will help keep particulate from mixing into the data center air. High humidity mixing with particulate can create corrosive matter that’s harmful to servers.
4. The hardware costs of servers, including maintenance can average $50-90K per server rack cabinet.
3. Different particulates have different detrimental effects. Identifying the type of particulate and eliminating it from your critical environment is crucial.
2. Your company spent over $300 per square foot to build your data center and your CIO will be visiting tomorrow.
1.  Allowing particulate to reside long term can lead to corrosives, shortened life cycles, and even down time, causing all your expenditures and efforts to be done in vain.

How to Select a Cleaning Service

When selecting a data center cleaning service we recommend the following:
1.  Review the company’s crew experience and ask for references.
2.  Ask what methods of cleaning are being used. Be aware of any proprietary agents, and be sure that HEPA filter devices are used on all vacuums.
3.  Determine what services are included and the limitations set by the company. A good question to consider is, “Will the cleaning technician clean above each rack?”
4.  Be sure the cleaning company is insured or bonded. Make sure the liability coverage ranges from $2M-$5M, and that it includes errors and omissions in the event an accident is caused by a cleaning technician.
5.  Determine how familiar the cleaning service and its team are with your type of operation. A cleaning technician should always be familiar with his or her surroundings. Attention to detail is vital.

A Final Thought

When considering whether to begin a simple and affordable yearly cleaning program for your data center we suggest that you calculate the IT investment in peripherals, data base, application software, data center space and media, and ask yourself if it’s not worth protecting by keeping it free of harmful particulate, which left in the environment can take on various harmful characteristics.

Co-Location Tip: If you reside in a Co-location facility, be sure to address the issue of keeping the cage clean. Your CO-LO neighbor’s habits can affect your house.

About the author:

Bill Montgomery is Founder of Premier Solutions Co, a Fountain Valley based IT VAR and Services Company. Premier Solutions Co. has been providing data center maintenance (DCM) since 1997 to many fortune 1000 companies. For more info, visit www.premiersolutionsco.com for more information on the subject of cleaning, infrastructure, IT power and cooling.