The New Approach to Retrofitting

The New Approach to
Retrofitting
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Data Centers
Schneider Electric Table of Contents
The New Approach to Retrofitting
Table of Contents
Retrofitting made simple...............................................3
Conclusion.................................................................11
Uniqueness vs. standardization....................................4
Standardization applied................................................5
1. Reference designs..............................................5
2. Modular, standardized design.............................7
Different types of modular design............................8

Schneider Electric 3
Data CentersRetrofitting made simple
In data centers, retrofitting usually means adding new technology or
features to older systems. For the data center physical infrastructure,
which includes power, cooling, racks and cabling, retrofits historically
have been no small task. Unlike IT system upgrades, retrofitting the
physical infrastructure has traditionally involved expensive, complex
engineering and installation. However, the rise of modularity and stan-
dardization is fundamentally changing retrofits for the better.
The purpose of this ebook is to discuss two ways modularity and
standardization can be applied to make your next retrofit faster,
cheaper and easier.

Data CentersUniqueness vs. Standardization
In the IT world, standardization is so
common place that it’s sometimes taken
for granted. Components can be easily
swapped out, upgraded or reconfigured
with little or no engineering. Physical
infrastructure, on the other hand, has
been anything but standard. The one-
time engineering that has historically
been done for the physical infrastructure
results in a unique system, with unique
problems that require unique diagnosis
and repair – a process that is not only
expensive and time-consuming, but
also provides little learning that can be
applied to further unique problems in
the future, or to problems at other data
centers in the organization. The goal of
standardization is to drive out these
inefficiencies and error-prone complexi-
ties.
Standardized design lends itself well to modular,
building-block-like architecture for rapid, scalable
upgrades. Because the engineering isn’t unique
and complex, it also decreases the propensity for
human error. Together, these elements increase
the overall business value of your data center by
increasing availability and agility, and decreasing
TCO.

Data CentersStandardization applied
There are two primary ways to leverage standardization to make retrofitting (or
data center design as a whole) easier, faster, and more cost effective:
• Reference designs, and
• Modular designs
1. Reference designs
The idea behind reference designs is that when you need to build a new data
center or retrofit an existing one, you can go to a reference design catalogue and
pick out a pre-engineered, time-tested design that will meet your desired perfor-
mance specs. In general, reference designs help to:
• Facilitate and simplify design and planning
• Reduce risk and unanticipated requirements
• Offer predictable performance and improved reliability
However, reference designs do require some engineering services:
• You may need to customize or adapt a reference design to meet specific
needs.
• Even if you execute the design exactly as blueprinted, drawings need to
be stamped and approved; designs need to be made legal (permitting,
compliance with codes, etc.); and you will need to design in the details
unique to every site, such as cable and pipe schedules, floor/roof load-
ing constraints, or provisioning for proper water drainage.

Data Centers
In spite of these requirements, standardized reference designs still offer an
easier, more efficient path than a data center that is 100% uniquely engi-
neered. The benefits of standardization can be even more dramatic when
modular components are used.
Standardization applied
Example of an IT floor layout drawing from a reference design

2. Modular, standardized design
Where reference designs add consistency and uniformity to a data center, modu-
lar design takes it a step further by adding flexibility. Modular design consists of
pre-engineered, standardized infrastructure building blocks that can be configured
as you wish. This is the essence of agility in a data center – the ability to add or
change power and cooling capacity as needed, when needed.
The benefits of modularity affect every dimension of the data center’s physical in-
frastructure: the way it occupies physical space, its functionality, and its evolution
over time – from initial design and installation to reconfiguration at each refresh
cycle.
Here are four reasons you may want to use modular design in your next retrofit:
1. Faster deployment
With standardized modular components, you can move quickly from concept to
commissioning. Modular units are reliably made, and you can buy them in the
quantity and configuration that meet design and capacity requirements precisely.
Installation and build-outs are simplified, as all cabling, connectors, etc., are com-
patible.
2. Scale up or down
Because infrastructure building block units are modular, you can install a right-
sized solution for right now. Then, when demands change (and you know they
will), quickly scale up or down according to demand. Scalability is cost effective
because there are fewer components to buy, install, power up, and maintain.

Data Centers
3. Future flexibility
The typical IT refresh cycle is every two years, and if your data center lacks flex-
ibility, your business will suffer. Fortunately, the ability to reconfigure, upgrade, or
move modular components is a primary benefit of standardization. As your IT
infrastructure grows and changes, your infrastructure can adapt quickly.
4. System availability
Another benefit of standardized, modular design is that it promotes availability.
Components can be replaced, upgraded or reconfigured without the risk of down-
time. For complete and total availability, you can configure redundant modules.
Different types of modular design
One reason modular design is so powerful is the variety of ways it can be applied,
from subsystems and components to a complete data-center-in-a-box to
separate IT or facility containers:
• Interchangeable UPS power and
battery modules enable scalability of
power, redundancy, and runtime, and
can be hot-swapped for repair without
system shutdown.
Modular UPS and Batteries

• Standardized modular wiring distribution
breaks down room wiring into row-level or
rack-level modules, eliminates confusing /
mistake-prone wiring tangles, and simplifies
and speeds the process of unplug-rear-
range-reconnect.
• Modular power distribution can range from
rack-sized units that serve an entire row to
power strips that serve a single rack.
• Modular rack-level air distribution breaks
down room airflow into local control at the
racks for precise cooling of hot spots.
• Modular infrastructure pods are stand-alone
designs that integrate power distribution,
cooling, UPS and the IT rack. They are an
economical way to retrofit a data center,
particularly if you want to introduce higher
density racks into a lower density environ-
ment.
Modular PDU
Pod Module

Data Centers
For more information on modularity and its applications,
check out our white paper library, keyword “modular.”
• Facility modules are pre-engineered, pre-assembled / integrated, and pre-test-
ed physical infrastructure systems (i.e., power and cooling) that are delivered
as standardized “plug-in” modules to power and/or cool a data center site.
They are a cost-effective way to scale capacity, though issues such as secure
space and the proximity of the data center need to be considered.
Whether you’re in a large enterprise data center or a small server room, modularity
in its many forms offers higher reliability, faster deployment times, and lower costs.

Data Centers
Conclusion
There is a growing consensus that conventional
legacy data center design will be superseded by
modular, scalable data center designs.
The benefits of modularity include reduced total cost of ownership,
increased flexibility, reduced deployment time, and improved
performance. Reference designs can also play a role in simplifying
your retrofit, accelerating deployment, and ensuring performance to
specification.
For more information on a variety of topics related to
data center design and operation, visit our white paper
library navigation guide.

Data Centers
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The New Approach to Retrofitting

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