22 CABLING & RACKS enhance cool air routing , enabling horizontal airflow for side ‘ breathing ’ switches , and more .
22 CABLING & RACKS enhance cool air routing , enabling horizontal airflow for side ‘ breathing ’ switches , and more .
Effective seals and climate control solutions tailored to the IT rack ’ s specific purpose will translate into improved energy efficiency . A little bit of planning goes a long way when it comes to reducing energy costs for IT operations .
roof-mounted fans or , if a greater cooling capacity is required , then a compressor cooling unit can be added , either externally or internally , in the form of a DX system – although a higher IP rated rack will be required .
DX systems are becoming more popular as they ’ re relatively easy to install and can be deployed in office environments thanks to the low noise levels of the internal components . Should the rack be deployed in a conventional data centre , with either perimeter cooling units or InRow cooling units adjacent to the racks , then perforated doors should be used . Additional benefits can be obtained here by also deploying aisle containment or cocooning , where either the cold or the hot aisle , or in some cases both , is enclosed . The major benefit is lower operating costs and more efficient cooling ( better delta T ).
Sealed Up ? There are various options for cooling IT rack interiors depending on their use . For example , inside server enclosures , the cool air should flow from front to back , while in network enclosures it should be directed through the parts that need to be cooled .
In both scenarios , it is important to seal around the front 19in section to ensure cool air does not leak into the ‘ hot zone ’ at the rack rear and thus lower the delta T across the rack . All open U ’ s should be closed off with simple 1U snap-off section blanking plates for effective separation . To this end , there is a range of accessories available to
Where do you want your cables ? A detailed plan for interior and exterior cable routing should be in place before a server enclosure is purchased and configured . The power supply , in particular , has to be considered . Many active IT components require a redundant power supply which generally means two rack-mounted vertical power distribution units ( PDUs ) at the rack rear , left and right for an ‘ A ’ and ‘ B ’ supply respectively making cable management a bit more complex . Moreover , best practice usually recommends power and copper data cables should be kept physically apart to avoid the unlikely possibility of electrical field interference . Special attention must be paid to the minimum bend radius of the fibre optic cables to prevent signal attenuation
If the racks are to be placed on a raised floor , then power and network cabling can simply be laid on separate cable trays underneath . You can also mount cables under the ceiling and route them above the top of the racks . In this scenario , the roof plate needs to be configured correctly – openings should be closed off with brush strips creating a tight seal , simplifying cable management , and improving energy efficiency . It also means that even after cables have been installed , accessories , including roof plates with multiple parts , can be easily removed for simpler maintenance and retrofits .
Many rack vendors offer a choice of elements for effective cable management , enabling customised component configurations . Both open and closed cable duct systems are available – for horizontal and vertical cabling and cabling between thermal zones .
Typically , air tightness and a defined air pressure must be maintained to prevent warm air and cool air from mixing . This important consideration is often built into the design of many rack vendors enclosure products . The enclosure supports the need for air circulation in conjunction with the corresponding cable installation components .
And external cable management ? When crowded IT racks have little available space to squeeze in new components . One answer is to route cables outside of the racks so that cable ducts pass through the side of the rack , routing cabling over the top so it reenters the from the opposite side . Although this approach can save a great deal of space , it may make identifying individual cables more difficult , and maintenance work more complicated in the long-term .
Wherever easy maintenance is a priority , cables should be routed inside the racks ; pinpointing and replacing a single cable is then far simpler if there is a failure or if a reconfiguration is required . n
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