Climate-friendly colocation data centers

The existing environmental label "Energy-Efficient Data Center Operation" (DE-UZ-161) contains an interdisciplinary approach that encompasses all areas of a data center and its infrastructure. This system-related approach includes not only the energy efficiency of individual components but in particular also the environmentally conscious management of the data center as a whole. The operator of a UK colocation data center has so far only been able to apply for this eco-label if his or her customers have ensured the requirements for the efficient operation of information technology, which in practice was an insurmountable hurdle.

The importance of UK colocation data centers has increased significantly in recent years. The share of UK colocation data centers in the total data center area was already 32% in 2020. In 2020 the share was still 15%. Reasons include the new business processes of digitization and the increasing networking of products and the associated increase in cloud applications, the services of which are mainly offered via UK colocation data centers.

As digitalization progresses, the number of data centers and in particular colocation server UK data centers will continue to increase. As a result, both energy consumption and the need for raw materials, and especially critical raw materials, will increase.

The present eco-label "Climate-friendly UK colocation data center" addresses the areas over which a UK colocation provider has an influence.

Such UK colocation data centers can be awarded the environmental label for "Climate-friendly UK colocation data center":

- Whose building technology is operated in a particularly energy-efficient and resource-saving manner?

- Whose operators develop and successfully implement a long-term strategy for increasing energy and resource efficiency for the data center infrastructure,

- That motivate their customers to use energy-efficient information technology and

- Which through guaranteed minimum standards and transparent reporting create the conditions for UK colocation customers to operate information technology in an environmentally friendly manner.

Intelligent PDUs for remote monitoring solutions

When moving to a colocation facility, the IT teams set up several paths to the control interfaces of the hardware according to the rules of technology. The most reliable way to achieve the required redundancy is with a KVM switch or a serial console.

When purchasing the new equipment, energy consumption plays a decisive role, since the electricity costs are among the highest recurring operating costs in the colocation data center. A smart PDU selection reduces the number of power distributors from the colocation provider to the IT infrastructure. They can also be used to use the amount of energy paid more efficiently. When determining the performance, it depends on the form factor, the number of sockets, and the required range of functions. Intelligent PDUs allow remote energy management with capacity planning and monitor not only the consumption values but also the power supply and output power. It is also decisive whether 1 kW or more than 100 kW (direct or alternating current) is to be distributed via the PDU.

IT leaders who are mindful of security also opt for a colocation-based approach based on trust and control. They do not leave it to the data center operator alone to monitor the guaranteed SLAs. You also monitor the power consumption and environmental parameters yourself in parallel using a remote monitoring solution. Because in the event of a data center failure, there is a risk that, despite all the SLAs, the most important major customers will be given priority and others will be switched to an alternative data center very late.

With a remote monitoring solution embedded in a management solution, the company remains responsible for the availability of its IT systems. Asset management tracking with an integrated access control system also enables a detailed assignment of access authorizations. For example, a service technician from the colocation provider only has access to the cabinet in which he is to remove, repair, or replace a component. The IT administrator in the company can understand which component the technician has worked on.

At this point, intelligent PDUs are a space-saving and inexpensive solution. If they are equipped with sensor ports, the sensor data can be managed via the PDU controller. The sensors for monitoring the environmental conditions, for the cabinet access including camera and also asset management components can thus be integrated into the remote monitoring solution of the PDU or a common DCIM solution via PDU.