Essential Rack System Requirements for Next Generation Data Centers from APC UK Computing ITHound

Essential Rack System Requirements for Next Generation Data Centers
by APC UK
Published:January 2003
Format: Portable Document Format (.pdf)( 189.1 KB )
Length: 10 pages
Overview

In the late 70’s companies began installing computers in rack enclosures; however, without multi-vendor compatibility installations were difficult. In 1984 the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) approved the IEC 297-3 standard as a means to standardize the mechanical dimensions of 19-inch (482.6-
mm) enclosures. Other standards such as the EIA 310 (Electronic Industries Alliance) provided further standardization to rack mounting telecommunications and IT equipment. Despite these standards, the dynamic pace of the computer industry combined with its convergence with the telecom industry has caused problems that these standards are slow to address. In this paper, a systematic approach of identifying and classifying user problems provides insight regarding the nature and characteristics of rack systems in next generation mission critical installations. This paper focuses on the problems associated with rack mounting telecommunications equipment and IT equipment in today’s data centers. A survey of management personnel relating to mission critical installations was conducted, interviewing
corporate CIO’s, Facility Managers, and IT Managers. Over 150 people were interviewed from over 90 different organizations including Fortune 1000 companies, Government and Education, and Service Providers. Approximately 50% of customers interviewed were from North America, 20% from Europe, and 30% from Japan, Pacific, Australia, and Asia (JPAA) region.
The one year survey utilized “Voice of the Customer” techniques, which relies on data collection of verbal and/or written responses to open-ended questions. This provides extremely unstructured responses, with the advantage that the responses are not limited or constricted by preconceptions within the question. During the course of the survey, some of the questions were expanded and/or changed in order to clarify
ambiguous responses.

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