Basics of Data Centre

Data Centre (DC)

A data centre is a physical facility that organizations use to store their critical applications hosted and store data. Its made to achieve the business goals of an organization. 

A traditional DC consists of core routers and Switches. The common infrastructure of the date center broadly includes:

• Active/Passive Infrastructure
• Compute Infrastructure
• Storage Infrastructure
• Network & Security Infrastructure

A data Centre’s design is based on both IT and Non-IT assets. Out of IT assets there are many network devices, security devices, servers and storage solutions that enable the delivery of shared applications. Those includes PCs, routers, switches, firewalls, storage systems, servers, and application-delivery controllers.

Basic IT Systems:

• Compute System - Rack Servers, Blade
• Network System - Router, Spine Switches, Leaf Switches, Management Switches , Link Load Balancer, SDN Controller. 
• Storage System - SAN Switches, Enterprise Storage, Tape Library.
• Cyber Security System - Next Generation Firewall, AAA , DDoS,   Anti APT, DLP , Vulnerability Solution. 
• Endpoint Security - Antivirus, HIPS, E-mail & Spam Protection.
• VM Based Licenses - Cloud Management & Orchestration, Enterprise Management System. 
• Licenses - Windows, MS Office, Oracle DB, MS SQL, My SQL, RHEL, Post gre Sql.

Besides above there are many Non-IT devices which play vital role for the operation of DC. Non-IT assets are; Transformers, BBT (Bus Bar Tracking), Diesel Generator, Power cabling, UPS, PAC (Cooling System and piping), Fire Suppression, Smoke Detection, Humidity and Temperature Sensor, PA system, CCTV, Rodent Repellant, Access Control, Passive Structured cabling, DCIM, BMS Systems Fire rated wall, raised floor, false ceiling, Water sprinkler system, etc.

The commonly used standard for infrastructure design of DC is ANSI/TIA-942. Along with this DC design has been distinguished in to four (4) no of tiers (T-I, T-II, T-III and T-IV).

Image Source: Nexcess, Google

General Attributes of a DC:

• Highly software-centric.
• Highly virtualized across compute, networking, and storage elements.
• Appropriate context of users, applications, devices, locations Virtual Machine, Network attributes, Advanced infrastructure needs, Security and audit, Performance management.
• Adaptable and extensible though modular software and hardware components. 
• Service-oriented architecture (SOA)
• Agile components.
• ITIL and ISO/IEC standard processes

Security posture of DC

• AAA
• Access control 
• Secure and encrypted data handling
• Resistance against attacks
• Strong authentication between components that interact. 
• Physical Security deployment
• Perimeter security configuration

There should be service level for a DC operation or facility manager for which the service is being provided. The service levels should be agreed upon the customer with the standard defined service level agreement (SLA). 

The SLA can be segregated in to multiple parameters such as; 

• Performance related Service level
• IT infrastructure related service level
• Virtual Infrastructure related Service level
• Security and Incident Management related service level
• Helpdesk support services
• Manpower related service level
• Compliance & MIS reporting related service level
• Civil major and minor Works 

In case of performance related service level, we can measure and ensure the required DC uptime as per the TIER standard. We can monitor server availability, storage availability, network device availability etc. 

Further these can be measured through using a application/ EMS tool (Enterprise Management System) or NMS (Network Management System).

There are large data centres around Globe available starting from 1000 racks up to higher. Such DC service providers are such as Yotta, Web werks, NTT, Nxtra etc.

For example according to the Hiranandani Group's (Yotta), the Yotta NM1 DC itself offers a highly scalable data centre infrastructure, capable of hosting global cloud, content and OTT operators, besides mission-critical applications of enterprises and governments.

It have one first hyper-scale data centre park under construction and will be spread across 20-acres, it will host six data centre buildings with 30,000 racks capacity and offer 250MW of total power. This will become Asia's largest DC. 

-DR