Continuing growth of our server fleet does not only require more space. It also demands an expansion of our cooling capacities. Such is necessary to eliminate the electrical energy, which is transformed by our servers almost 1:1 into temperature. During the hot months in summer, everyone has certainly already experienced sometimes the rising temperature in a room where even only a simple PC is operated and has wished for a computer system that behaves “neutral” to the generated warmth. Our datacenter holds way above 1.000 constantly operating server systems by now and directly related to this is the warm air exhaust as one can easily imagine.
Even though our present air conditioning could still cope with many more servers, as it had been originally built to handle up to 1500 servers, we intentionally do not want to bring our recent climate control to it’s limit. Instead we are commited to guarantee a failure free system operation around the clock for our clients.
This stands to reason that we will launch the second level of our air conditioning, as scheduled during the next 12 weeks and thereby upgrade the present cooling capacity by another 150%. Afterwards we can set up 2.000 additional dedicated machines while the temperature will remain ‘cool’ in the true meaning of this word.
Just like before, with our first level of climate control, also this second one will be technology- and enegywise top of the notch. With the assistance of free cooling systems mounted on the rooftop of the building, this new extension will equally use the outside air for cooling down the data center. The water temperatures are being therefore adjusted to a level, that even in summer the free cooling remains active. It will therefore not be necessary, during many times, to engage the power consuming mechanical cooling system. Our new climate control will be working extremely efficient in regards to energy. This not only protects the environment and saves costs, but is also beneficiary to our clients as we directly pass on those savings to them. A 24/7 surveillance of all systems via webserver, smoke detector, water intrusion detection and the like is standard of course.
For the expansion of our cooling capacities we will be setting up a completely isolated cooling circuit, which is operating totally independant from the primary one. This means that we do not only lay all the pipes, but all the electrical wiring another time around. Additionally, recirculating air coolers within the data center itself and a new cold water aggregate on the roof of the building will be installed. The result: Two independent, redundant climate systems by all means.In the most unlikely event that one system should fail – regardless why and which part of it – the other one takes over and keeps on running.
That is how we define high availability and a maximum of safety for the servers of our clients. This upgrade requires again a substantial financial investment which we however pleasantly accept to the benefit of our customers. At the same time, the prices of our servers and services are not raised by a single cent.