Data Center or Data Processing Center
A data processing center is as a place where various electronic equipments,
especially computers and network infrastructure are installed. It generally includes
environmental controls (air conditioning, preventing system against the fire,) emergency power,
along with a high physical security.
Typically data centers are used for mid or large size businesses for their data processing needs,
or, in layman’s language, it is a facility mainly used to process the information necessary for a
business. For example, a bank may use such a center, giving customers information about their
accounts, and transactions. In practice, almost all companies use such a center. As for large
companies, they often use dozens of data centers because they carry large data bases and
information that is business critical and need all round processing. Maintaining data security,
reliability and fast processing are the challenges faced by these business firms. This calls for
high levels of power availability and security for the facility to ensure the integrity and round the
clock operation of equipment on site.
Talking about the Size of a Data center, it could be one room, a floor or can occupy a whole
building with multiple floors. Usually, Most of the data centers consists at least 1U servers. 1U
corresponds to a unit of a height 4.445 cm(1.75 inch) stacked in racks, arranged in rows making
it easy to adjust & move in both front and rear directions.
The Physical environment of data centers includes:
Air Conditioning: As these data centers are expected to run round the clock throughout year it
becomes extremely necessary to keep the rooms cool all the times at about 20 Degree Celsius.
This is to reduce equipment’s heat and to avoid equipment malfunctioning when temperature
rises beyond a certain limit.
Stand by Power: stand by power needs to be supplied using standard UPS or electric generator.
In order to prevent a loss of electrical power, all electrical components, including backup
systems are usually doubled. The servers are called essential over-powered system that utilizes
two independent power sources inside the center.
Raised floor: Data centers usually have a raised floor of 60 cm, made of removable panels. This
space is to allow free air circulation.
Sophisticated system of fire alarm: To avoid fire accidents in data centers, infrastructure of data
center should be equipped with at least two emergency fire alarms including automatic fire
extinguishing.
Surveillance by dedicated servers (computers) and CCTV cameras and person in guard: Data
centers are business critical and hence always need to be monitored using dedicated servers
and CCTV cameras to avoid and kind of security breach. Physical access to these data centers
should be restricted to authorized personnel only.
Precise control of the dust surrounding: The dust control is up to 5 micron level to ensure air
movement control.
According to the information available on various sources on internet, there are 2087 data
processing centers worldwide. Data processing centers are usually home for IT departments in
large enterprises, which again could be dedicated or shared. World’s largest data centers are
those of the internet giants as Google, Facebook, Amazon and Twitter. Technology honchos like
Microsoft and Apple are investing heavily in infrastructure. Key issue of these data centers
managers are of energy efficiency and the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Maintec Technologies - http://www.maintec.com offers globally compliant IT solutions that
empower businesses to become more competitive by leveraging offshore capabilities and
highly skilled resources. Based in Raleigh, N.C., Maintec Technologies operates a software
development center in Bangalore, India to provide clients comprehensive Data Center
Management, Remote IT Staffing, Application Development,support and Maintenance
services.
Maintec addresses the needs of data-driven organizations through its data center
management services (remotely/onsite):
Mainframe Hosting and Operations Support
- Mainframe System Software Support
- Mainframe Operations Support
- Mainframe and Mid-Range Services that cater to both AIX and iSeries (AS/400) environments
Mainframe on Demand - Mainframe access on a very cost effective Pay-per-Use Model
Recently, Maintec Technologies got recognition as one of the Most Promising Infrastructure
Management Services (IMS) Companies by The Smart Techie Magazine.