Small is beautiful

When companies like Reliance Communications and Tata Communications build a data center, world class practices are considered in creating overall design. In terms of environmental monitoring, this can include a large network of sensors for temperature, relative humidity, water leaks, airflow, vibration, sound, light, and host of other possibilities.

In the end, what really matters is not the size or cost of environmental and security monitoring systems, but their relative effectiveness in assuring fault tolerance and continuity. This paper explores whether the ‘small scale' method can be applied in the development of small and mid-size data center environmental monitoring requirements, and highlights a few relevant variables to consider with this approach.

What is ‘sensible scale' in data center environmental monitoring?

Many think of Google and Amazon scale projects when they hear the term ‘data center'. The fact is, data centers come in all shapes and sizes. Information Week recently published a chart with survey data, from 370 IT professionals, revealing that approximately one-third of data centers in the survey group have a footprint of less than 100 square meters (1,000 sq ft). Some may prefer to call these ‘IT' or ‘server' rooms, but regardless of size, these critical installations are important bridges between the enterprises and internet, enabling virtual world of commerce.

Monitoring Options

Fortunately for SMBs, cost effective options for temperature, relative humidity, etc sensors are available in all shapes and sizes. Simple devices may employ a USB connection and contain software to present data, whereas the more advanced systems offer the capability to send email and SMS text alerts when conditions are out of normal operating range.

Moving past the simple device example, we come to more advanced devices that are based on WiFi technology. These devices can have both internal and external sensors, and have the ability to monitor several points within a data center. The key advantage here is that WiFi devices operate independently (no computer or server connection required), and thus have a higher level of fault tolerance. Beyond this, SMB IT professionals want to know if there is a more advanced device that can continue to log sensor data and communicate even during electrical power and network outages.

Adding a Fault Tolerant Strategy

Fault tolerant solutions do not require SMBs to deploy 24*7*365 staffing or monitoring service companies. One solution is to have the sensor data sent to a cloud server, a sensor cloud. Using this approach the absence of regularly scheduled data transmissions from the device is noted as an exception.

For example, users can set a ‘report in' timer set for five minutes corresponding to the data transmission rate. If six minutes elapses without receiving any data, the sensor cloud could be set up to send an email and SMS text alert to IT professionals identified to deal with such issues. The fault tolerant capabilities of a ‘sensor cloud' would be useful for small and mid-size data center operators who experience instability or frequent electrical power outages.

For an additional level of fault tolerant operation, cellular technology with battery back-up can be used for data transmission in addition to the sensor cloud service. Cellular based sensors rely only on the cellular network to transmit data. Therefore, if the SMBs IT network is interrupted by a loss of power, the device will continue to operate and transmit so long as the cellular network is available.

Cellular-based sensors can also be configured to send voice messages to a fixed landline or mobile phone. This stands as a supplementary ‘alert avenue' alongside the standard email and SMS text alerts. A sensor cloud (with a cellular device) can also be configured to accommodate several alert recipients, and can even provide an escalation ladder for these messages based on alert type and frequency.

Additional wired or wireless sensors can be added to cellular environmental monitoring devices to provide additional granularity in data collection.

Additional wired or wireless sensors can be added to cellular environmental monitoring devices to provide additional granularity in data collection. Advanced devices offer Android and iPhone apps for additional ease of use.

While cellular monitoring and sensor cloud services require a subscription, the cost is generally modest and a small fraction of the cost of a 24*7*365 staff or service.

Putting it all Together

Whether or not small and mid-size data centers need and can afford the environmental monitoring systems, deployed by companies such as India's Netmagic Solutions' or Savvis' BL2 Data Center, will need to be reviewed in a cost/benefit exercise to determine the RoI, and compare that against the firms' strategic goals. Even if a SMB does not have the requirements for operational capability of advanced fault tolerant devices, at a minimum basic environmental monitoring is recommended to help prevent electronics from overheating. Keeping servers and IT equipment within specified temperature ranges is not only a fundamental part of a manufacturer's warranty requirements but also ensures business continuity. Adding fault tolerant devices to SMBs is both cost-effective and easy to implement. SMBs requiring a higher level of reliability may want to consider such devices.