Modular data center: overview of solutions. Operational data center - “mobile” or “modular”? Factory acceptance tests

Modular data centers can significantly reduce investments in the construction of data centers, primarily due to the absence of the need to build a permanent building and the ability to expand the site as needed. Savings on capital costs can reach 50%. In the context of an economic recession, the demand for such solutions is growing.

The concept of a modular data center (MDC) is built on the idea of ​​a standard solution - a module with a given set of power supply, cooling and physical security systems. Most of the components of such a block are already pre-assembled and pre-installed by the manufacturer, which makes it possible to significantly reduce the work required to install a ready-made solution on the customer’s side. In addition, individual modules are independent in terms of life support, which, combined with short deployment times, allows you to increase the power of the data center as needed.

“Thanks to scalability, the possibility of phased commissioning, as well as the independence of each module for critical life support systems, the customer has the opportunity to gradually invest only in the volume of the data center required at the moment. This fully corresponds to the current economic situation of many companies, in addition, in this way the problem of underutilization and idle capacity is solved, which ultimately significantly reduces the payback period of the data center,” says Stanislav Tereshkin, head of the data center department of the Asteros group.

What are the benefits of the MDC?

The economic feasibility of using modular technologies covers four aspects: reduced capital investment, lower operating costs, no downtime due to capacity expansion as needed, and a shorter return on investment due to faster site commissioning.

To launch a modular data center, it takes 4–6 months from the start of design, which is 2–3 times less than for a conventional data center. “The accelerated commissioning of modular data centers is also due to the fact that the modules, along with elements of the engineering infrastructure, are assembled directly at the vendor’s plant, where all engineering and installation resources are concentrated. This is much faster than performing this work at the customer’s site,” explains Vsevolod Vorobiev, head of the data center department of the Jet Infosystems network solutions center.

An important factor in reducing time is that modular solutions do not require the construction of a permanent concrete building with thick walls and ceilings. As a rule, modular technologies require the presence of a “prefabricated” room that can be placed either inside another building or in an “open field”. “When asking what a data center should be like, we often come across the stereotype of a concrete building with strong walls and ceilings,” he shares his experience Alexander Perevedentsev, Deputy Head of the Engineering Systems Sales Support Department at Technoserv. - However, in reality, such a data center has no advantages over a modular one. Usually the desire for monumentality fades when the customer compares the construction time and budget with the costs of constructing a modular structure.”

“With proper planning, the design and commissioning period can be reduced by 2 times or more due to the actual absence of construction of capital structures (including design, project examination, obtaining construction permits and the construction itself," comments an expert from NVision Group. Arseny Fomin.

In terms of capital costs, certain savings can be achieved through the use of ready-made standard products, which are cheaper than solutions developed to order. However, an even greater role is played by the ability to commission individual units in stages, thereby reducing the size of the initial investment. “Constructing a data center based on the principle of modularity makes it possible to invest money in stages, creating operational fault-tolerant clusters that allow you to simultaneously solve the business tasks assigned to them (make a profit) and return the investment. The initial investment of the project is 20%–30%, the rest is distributed over time in accordance with the stages of putting the data center into operation,” explains Pavel Dmitriev, Deputy Director of the Department of Intelligent Buildings at Croc.

The overall CAPEX savings when using modular solutions is up to 30%, calculated by the research company 451 Research. System integrators surveyed by CNews cite figures ranging from 15% to 50% savings on capital costs, depending on the design features of the facility.

In the area of ​​operating costs, savings occur due to the unification of engineering systems; accordingly, costs for maintenance personnel, the purchase of spare parts and repairs are reduced. In addition, it becomes possible to reduce your energy bill. According to Schneider Electric, the modular approach can reduce the total cost of ownership (Total Cost of Ownership, TCO) by $2–7 per 1 W of data center power. “Electricity savings come from the fact that modular data centers are usually more compact than “classic” ones. The volume of air that needs to be cooled is smaller, so air conditioning systems consume less electricity,” explains Valentin Foss, a representative of the Utilex company.

However, not all market players agree that the savings on OPEX are significant: “Operating costs will be approximately the same compared to a non-modular data center,” believes Arseny Fomin. However, he stipulates that “savings can be achieved due to the absence of the need to maintain and repair a capital building.”

Examples of modular data center projects in 2015–2016.

Efficiency in making and implementing strategic decisions has long been a key factor in competition in a market economy. In developed markets, the struggle for even the minimal and short-term business advantage often acquires irrational proportions. This fully applies to the corporate IT industry, including the field of data processing centers. At some point, equipment manufacturers decided to extend the approach of “boxed” solutions even to such a complex complex as the engineering infrastructure of a data center. As a result, the concept of container data centers was born. At the first stage, the main task and advantage of such solutions was their mobility, which consisted in the ability to quickly transport a data center from one place to another, quickly put it into operation and just as quickly shut it down. Hence the name - “mobile data center” or MDC. Many Western companies soon appreciated this concept, and instead of using the mobility of the system, they began to use these complexes to speed up the commissioning of stationary computing sites. In this context, a container assembled, configured and tested by the manufacturer is ideal. Thus, the second name of the concept appeared - a modular data center (again, MDC), it is also called “container”.

The idea seemed very successful to many; as a result, in the “pre-crisis” period of 2006-2008, dozens of companies around the world presented their IDC developments. APC, Emerson, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Sun Microsystems (now Oracle), SGI - this is an incomplete list of international manufacturers working on the creation of such solutions.

The sharp deterioration in the global economic situation has frozen the demand for such solutions. But the emerging “thaw” is again beginning to fuel interest in modular data centers.

The use of systems of this class is still more expensive than similar stationary data centers, but the price of solutions is constantly decreasing. In addition, the economy is gradually reviving, and with it comes interest in solutions that increase the efficiency of work and the speed of business expansion. At the same time, we must not forget that the choice of an international data center must be approached carefully, since such decisions have many pitfalls.

Filling of the “container”

From an engineering point of view, a container data center is a small, autonomous, ready-to-use module, which is internally equipped with SCS, uninterruptible power supply and air conditioning systems, fire protection and conditional access, monitoring and infrastructure management (Fig. 1, 2). An important characteristic of the MCDC is its resistance to environmental influences, since such a complex can often be installed outdoors.

Such complexes are often placed in standard 20- or 40-foot metal containers for shipping (although this is a “relic” of the original focus on mobility). There are other design options that require placement in special, larger containers. One MDC can accommodate from several to ten or more full-size (up to 60U) server racks, and the power of the installed equipment ranges from several tens to hundreds of kilowatts.

Now, the ability to use modules as basic components for creating and scaling data centers is coming to the fore. Developers began to offer such systems as a full replacement for traditional data centers or as stand-alone expansion modules. Among the important advantages of the MCDC is the fact that the customer gets rid of the need to develop and build their own facility with a complex engineering infrastructure. There is no need to carry out construction work to accommodate the complex, and, as a result, the number of necessary permits and approvals with government agencies is reduced. Instead, you can take a ready-made and proven solution, which is also easily scalable - the same containers are added as needed. Since installation work and testing of all subsystems are carried out at the manufacturing plant, when putting a modular data center into operation, only commissioning work will need to be performed on site, which, as the practice of foreign implementations shows, takes from several days to a week.

A separate issue is the delivery time of the complex to the customer. The duration of the project was a little more than three months - from July 9 to September 15, 2009 (Fig. 3).

Let us note that the “mobility” with which it all began is very conditional. To put the MDC into operation, it must be connected to the power grid and data transmission channels. In addition, if a water cooling system is used, then it is also necessary to provide a water supply and the presence of an external refrigeration machine (chiller). Theoretically, it is possible for the MDC to be powered by an autonomous diesel generator and use an air cooling system (then a chiller is not needed), but given the current cost of fuel, the economic efficiency of such a solution will be very doubtful.

We also note that container (modular) and mobile data center options are different. A complex intended for transportation will be significantly more expensive, since it must be equipped with a special damper platform to ensure safe loading and transportation.

MCDC - selection criteria

The choice of a complex integrated solution, be it a conventional or container data center, is associated with the need for a detailed analysis of the company’s needs, the formation of clear requirements and criteria for assessing the effectiveness of the project. For example, in large-scale projects where many containers are used, it is not always rational to use an individual power supply or cooling system for each of them. It is more profitable to connect these subsystems centrally, using the principle of container groups - especially if the data center is not intended to be moved.

Also, when choosing container data centers, it is extremely important to pay attention to the adaptability of the solution to our licensing system, including in matters of fire extinguishing systems, compliance with NBU shielding requirements, etc. It is also necessary to take into account local climatic norms, temperature ranges, and precipitation, since the complex will be located outside all year round. We cannot discount the issues of connecting technical services, which require experienced technical specialists with a narrow focus who know the nuances of how mobile solutions work.

The price of one container data center is quite high. Its cost is higher than a stationary data center of similar capacity. However, it should be taken into account that the price of a mobile data center does not include the cost of organizing external support systems - diesel generator set, chiller, transformer substation, fuel and lubricants warehouse, necessarily with grounding, and so on (in each case this is an individual set), and a traditional data center at the specified cost already contains all these subsystems that make up a significant portion of the project.

What about the staff? It requires a separate room that meets sanitary standards, and there should simply be bathrooms there that are not provided for by the basic design of the MDC; therefore, an extension must be made. In (Fig. 3) additional side rooms for personnel are clearly visible, attached to the 20-foot container at the ends, as well as the pipes of the cooling system.

In some cases, with large-scale use of containers (in projects of 1 MW and above), the difference in cost may be reduced; including through the use of common subsystems of guaranteed power supply and air conditioning. However, it is worth considering the point that large deployments, even those based on container data centers, are largely inflexible. The entire future complex must receive electrical power at once (as well as develop a system of guaranteed power supply and air conditioning), even if at first it is planned to install only a few containers and increase their number as needed. In addition, it is inconvenient to serve a large number of open-air data centers, therefore, it is necessary to build a shelter, and this is work with an architect, BTI - in general, it’s still the same construction.

All other things being equal, the cost of a mobile or modular data center is obviously higher than a stationary data center. But in some cases, its mobility (modularity) is the main requirement of the customer. It is not always possible to launch the construction of a stationary data center, for example, in the far north. And in this case, data center modularity is an advantage. And also when there is a temporary need for the same data center, but in different places.

The basis for the emergence of this solution at one time was mobile data centers (“data centers in a container”), which appeared on the market about 3 years ago. The mobility of data centers - initially their most important characteristic - began to fade into the background, giving way to factors such as autonomy and speed of deployment. As a result, manufacturers began to abandon the term “mobility”, moving towards “modularity”, and expand their solutions - scaling modular data centers to the size of standard data centers, without being limited to a separate container.

Limitations of a modular data center

One of the disadvantages of this solution is the difficulty of adapting to non-standard equipment (High-End arrays with non-standard form factors, with atypical requirements for the cooling system). Such equipment is difficult to fit into the “building blocks” of a modular data center with its engineering systems “tailored” to the classical scheme. In this case, it is necessary to design the corresponding systems specifically for a modular data center.

Sometimes customers take the path of creating a small stationary data center for atypical server equipment. Standard servers “live” in a modular data center built nearby. This equipment distribution scheme is more economical than building a conventional data center for all servers.

The fact that modular data centers “prefer” standard servers results in a definite advantage for customers - this equipment is easy to manage.

The logical consequence is a reduction in operating costs - the cost of its maintenance.

It must be said that the volume of capital investments in the construction of a stationary data center will be lower than when purchasing a modular one. In the case of a modular data center, the customer in total purchases walls, metal structures, and supporting parts. But you need to think comprehensively and take into account the future: by reducing the costs associated with the engineering equipment of “empty” areas that would take place in a large-scale standard data center, you can reach the payback of a modular data center much faster - in 2-3 years the customer will in the black.

There are restrictions on the construction of a modular data center: such a data center requires an indoor hangar or a place where it can be built. It is impossible to implement a “modular” scheme in a building with free rooms in different parts of it.

Taking into account the peculiarities of construction sites in Moscow (high cost of space, complex technical condition of building structures), it is more economically profitable to build a modular data center outside the capital. In addition, it is more difficult to obtain the necessary electrical power in Moscow than in the region.

When it comes to energy efficiency, a modular data center can successfully implement the same “green” technologies as a fixed data center. The only solution that cannot be used here due to its massiveness is the Kyoto Cooling wheel.

The emergence of technology for creating a data center (DC) based on a sea container back in 2007 did not attract much attention from experts: the solution seemed not just niche, but rather an experiment that one of the leaders of the global IT market could afford.

However, the new product was in demand because it solved the problem of quickly deploying a small but highly reliable DC. Competitors appreciated the successful move, which led to the emergence of a new class of DCs, the so-called. mobile DC. Unlike traditional DCs, which are located in conventional buildings made of concrete and brick, these solutions are supplied as finished products and can be installed and operated even outdoors.

A natural development in this direction was the emergence of a new class of data centers - modular data centers (Modular Datacentre, MDC). The technology for their creation allows you to quickly build and scale a deployed facility, and then expand it to the level of large DCs. According to experts, from the moment the contract is signed until the commissioning of a classic DC with an area of ​​250-300 sq. m takes from 7-8 months to 1 year. For a similar modular DC, due to the fact that all its elements are standard, the time for design, supply, installation and commissioning is reduced to 3-5 months.

Container and modular DCs have ceased to be a niche type of business, came out of the shadows and became a significant factor in the growth of the entire DC market relatively recently, at the turn of 2009-2010--- . The spread of modular DCs, the increase in the number of not pilot but commercially launched facilities is one of the significant trends in the global DC market based on the results of 2012.

From container to module

Considering the well-known definitions of a modular data center, several interpretations can be distinguished: the term “modular” (modular data center, containerized data center, containerized modular data centers) may hide systems or solutions with different functions and capabilities 1 .

At the first stage, the concept of modular DCs was traditionally tied to sea containers (ISO size) and was considered as a functionally complete DC housed in a standard metal case. However, the development of the modularity concept gradually went beyond the concept of “container DCs”. At the same time, the latter have not yet lost their importance and remain in demand in various sectors of the economy.

Since a unified terminology has not been formed, it is not yet included in the regulatory framework. The expert community is considering several options for the concept of a “modular DC”, all of which are based on the assumption that such DCs are built on a container base. That is, according to the definition of IMS Research, a pre-assembled, completely closed mobile shell in which ALL subsystems of the DC 2 infrastructure are located.

As the concept developed, most experts began to lean toward a different view of modular DCs. This approach assumes the possibility of preliminary installation and testing of engineering and IT subsystems of the DC in a container, which is a metal structure in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped of arbitrary dimensions, but standardized by the vendor. An example is the HP-Flexible Data Center solution, in which the DC was formed from four functional blocks (containers) connected via a central node.

Another approach is based on the fact that the base of a modular DC can be any closed space, including a container (standardized or not). The modularity of such a DC is due to the fact that all subsystems of the DC infrastructure are assembled from standard blocks, modules, pre-fabricated and tested at the manufacturer. These blocks are connected both within one type and with all other types, which allows scaling both a specific subsystem and the DC as a whole. This versatility applies to both hardware and software. In general, it can be assumed that not all modular DCs are located in a container, however, most container DCs belong to the class of modular DCs.

The emergence of container and then modular DCs gave impetus to the formation of a new paradigm for creating DCs, the so-called. Data Center 2.0. According to its authors, it proclaims a departure from the traditional option of building a DC, which was based on the business model of the DC as a building, premises, rented out. The new concept allows us to consider the DC as an element of IT, a kind of software and hardware complex with the help of which various services are offered to clients.

Economics of the issue

The advantages of modular DCs are significant: mobility in terms of delivery of the finished product, speed of deployment outside the production site, outsourcing of design and potential tax savings.

According to 451 Research estimates, the use of modular data centers in most cases reduces construction costs, and capital cost savings in this case will range from 10 to 30%. According to calculations by Technoserv specialists, a modular DC costs 1.5-2 times less than a rented or purchased site. However, if the customer has his own premises, in which there is no need to reinforce floors, major repairs, or other construction work, then the cost is comparable, or a modular solution will be 10-15% more expensive.

According to Schneider Electric, the use of a modular approach reduces capital and operating costs by $2-7 per 1 W of DC power. Forrester's assessment also coincides with these conclusions, according to which a traditional scheme for creating a DC with a capacity of 2 MW will require costs of about $127.4 million, and a DC implemented using a modular scheme will cost $77.1 million 3 . On average, according to experts, in 2012, a modular DC per 1 MW cost the customer $6 million, excluding delivery and commissioning.

DCD intelligence company compared the costs of creating a DC with a capacity of 4 MW in the USA (rice.  1) . According to her calculations, the creation of a traditional DC will cost the customer 13-14% more than the modular option. The main advantage is achieved by reducing the costs of installation and commissioning of equipment. It should be noted that the hardware and software for a modular DC are significantly more expensive.

Fig.1. Comparison of costs for creating a 4 MW DC in the USA, prices in US dollars, as of 01/01/2013 Source: DCD Intelligence

The undoubted advantage of a modular DC is factory assembly, which allows you to eliminate most technological defects before sending the module to the customer. At the same time, modular DCs have high information and physical security, and the monitoring systems supplied in the kit are already based on DCIM solutions.

Obviously, the concept of modularity implies standardization of solutions: this creates the basis for improving the quality and reliability of the units and further reducing operating costs. In addition to the short deployment time, another advantage is its high scalability: the modular solution minimizes capital costs at the first stage, and later makes it possible to increase the capacity of the DC without significant modifications to the engineering infrastructure.

Energy Saving

The advantages of modular DCs also include high energy efficiency values ​​for both individual modules and the modular DC as a whole. This is due to the fact that already at the design stage of such a data center, designers optimize the energy consumption and heat dissipation of all its components, taking into account the design capabilities.

Practical measurements have shown that the use of modular design provides significant improvements in energy efficiency and allows significant cost savings to be achieved. For example, at the IO Phoenix DC at the end of 2012, the PUE coefficient of the part where the raised floor is used was 1.73, while the average annual PUE of the modular part was 1.41. For the USA (Arizona), this translates into annual savings of $200,000/1 MW of IT equipment power 4 . Company representatives note that the modular part of the DC is superior to its analogue with a raised floor, partly due to the unique design of the modules, which provides air flow control an order of magnitude more efficiently than in the case of using hot and cold aisles for this purpose. Perhaps the only energy-efficient solution that cannot yet be used in modular DCs is the Kyoto Cooling wheel: its dimensions do not fit into the dimensions of known modules.

Use cases

Even taking into account the limitations and doubts discussed below when implementing modular DCs, this solution is likely to be in demand in two cases: if there is a need to quickly replace an existing DC or to build a new one in conditions of limited space (reserve DC, DC in a remote branch of the company). Another area of ​​use of modular DCs is the colocation service. Building a large-scale DC without confidence that its space will be in demand is a huge risk for the provider. Modular technology is flexible and allows you to minimize capital costs right at the start.

When locating a new DC, few designers assume that 2-3 years after its commissioning, a situation may arise that requires moving the DC to another area or even region. In the case of a stationary DC, moving it risks turning into absolute hell for the owners. In the case of a modular DC, disassembly/assembly and relocation will take minimal time, and the move can be optimized: enter/exit the DC “modularly”.

Modular DCs cope almost painlessly with such problems as increased energy consumption of equipment in racks and the need to increase heat dissipation: the design itself provides for prompt changes in the parameters of the equipment being placed.

Problems of implementing modular DCs

In addition to the undoubted advantages, experts also note a number of limitations in the construction of modular DCs: in some cases, their price negates the advantages compared to traditional DCs. In addition, many vendors do not have a unified approach to standardizing blocks and modules themselves, which sometimes causes potential clients to return to a traditional solution. However, IMS Research believes that the inevitable standardization of products and increased production volumes in the future will significantly reduce the cost of modular data centers.

The customer's conservatism should be considered a certain barrier. For example, preventative and routine maintenance are clear to the customer. But how will the new product behave in the event of equipment failure? Obviously, if repairs are necessary, the standard infrastructure will not cause any difficulties, but the problems that may arise in the case of repairs in a modular DC can confuse the customer, especially since he is unlikely to be able to quickly eliminate the malfunction on his own. This results in the unfortunate problem of vendor dependency.

If we talk about large and very large DCs, for example, those owned by such giants as Microsoft, Google or Amazon, then the capabilities and advantages of modular DCs make them a preferable option both in terms of scalability and cost optimization. But if we are talking about a small DC being designed, for example, with a power consumption of 200-300 kW, then the choice in favor of an innovative solution is at least not obvious.

Another criterion is the area of ​​the DC under construction. According to experts, the profitability threshold for modular DCs is still at the level of 200-250 sq. m. m. Thus, both by the “power” criterion and by the “area” criterion we are talking about medium or large DCs, and for small DCs direct construction is optimal.

Future owners of modular DCs should take into account the difficulty of adapting them to non-standard equipment, for example, Hi-End arrays with non-standard form factors and atypical requirements for the cooling system. In some cases, integrating such equipment into a modular DC is not easy: this may require additional clarification of the project. A palliative is known when standard servers are placed in a modular DC, and non-standard servers are installed in a DC built according to the classical scheme.

In 2012, the Uptime Institute conducted a survey among IT professionals, trying to find out what they considered to be the significant shortcomings of modular solutions. The largest number of respondents (35  %) reported that vendor offerings are not flexible enough and do not meet their requirements (rice.   2) . 33 more % believe that modular DCs are currently too expensive. 32  % of respondents note the short service life of such solutions, 30  % indicate the novelty of the technology and the lack of a sufficient number of implemented projects, and 27  % are unhappy that the solutions are “locked” by the manufacturer. In addition, 15  % of respondents complain about the small selection of products, and 12  % is not satisfied with the block size.

Rice. 2. Results of the Uptime Institute survey among IT specialists Source: Uptime Institute, 2012

The cornerstone issue of any project is the payback period. Most experts believe that the determining factors for the payback period are the business model and deployment conditions. The intended purpose of the modular data center also matters: will it be used as a commercial data center or as a departmental data center?

Modular DC suppliers

The range of suppliers of modular data centers and their components is unusually wide. There are vendors here for whom modular DCs are the main type of business; suppliers of engineering infrastructure elements of classic DCs and IT solutions; as well as companies providing DC services.

The former include: AST Modular, BladeRoom Group Ltd, Cannon Technologies, COLT Technology Services, Datapod, Flexenclosure, Elliptical Mobile Solutions, IO Datacenters, MDC Stockholm, NxGen Modular and Silver Linings Systems.

The main players in the second segment are Schneider Electric and Emerson Network Power. Among the vendors supplying IT solutions to the market, the most famous are: Dell, HP, IBM, Cisco, SGI, Huawei, Google, Toshiba, Bull.

The focus of this review is on companies belonging to the first two groups (see table).

Table. List of the main players in the modular DC market, as of 10/01/2013 Source: company data

AST Modular

The Spanish engineering company produces a line of modular DCs in ISO containers of standard sizes 10", 20", 40" and 53". Two versions are possible. The first option houses the IT subsystem and all subsystems of the engineering infrastructure, including the fire extinguishing subsystem. For the second, two modules have been developed: IT Unit and Power Unit. The racks located in the IT Unit can be supplied with 3-40 kW, and up to 19 racks can be placed in a 40" container. The infrastructure allows for high reliability of the DC - up to the Tier IV level. The solution of this particular company was chosen by VimpelCom for the DC in Yaroslavl.

BladeRoom Group Ltd

The company supplies a modular DC under the BladeRoom system brand. Based on the module, it is possible to build a DC with an area from 600 to 60,000 sq. m. m, while the heat dissipation system provides power input from 1.0 to 24 kW/rack (air cooling). The engineering infrastructure of the BladeRoom system allows you to organize a DC with various levels of reliability, Tier II-IV. In the latter case, two independent power inputs are used, UPSs are configured to 2N, diesel generators are also configured to 2N. The ventilation system maintains the temperature of the IT equipment in the module in the range of 18-24 °C. The company guarantees the order, delivery and commissioning of a modular DC (120 racks) within 12 weeks.

COLT Technology Services

The UK company is known as a provider of DC services in Europe. To implement modular data centers, it offers a solution under the Colt ftec data center brand. The solution includes Colt spaceflex, Colt powerflex, Colt coolflex modules. The area of ​​the Colt spaceflex IT module varies in the range of 125-500 sq. m. The power supply module provides power up to 3 kW/sq. m, or up to 230 kW/row of racks at 25 kW/rack. The company's latest rollout was announced in July 2013 in the Netherlands. Here on an area of ​​about 1000 sq. m additionally installed company modules, supplied power 1.6 MW, up to 20 kW/rack with a guaranteed PUE of 1.21.

Flexenclosure

Flexenclosure is a Swedish vendor that develops and produces prefabricated modular DCs, as well as elements of electrical power infrastructure (primarily for the telecommunications industry). The eCentre solution is a prefabricated modular DC for housing and powering server and telecommunications equipment. It is optimized to improve energy efficiency and minimize total cost of ownership. The modular eCentre DC includes power, cooling and security infrastructure.

Elliptical Mobile Solutions

Elliptical Mobile Solutions founded in 2005  and occupies a special position among suppliers of modular data centers. The company specializes in...  n. micromodule level (rack level) and produces two main products: R.A.S.E.R. HD and R.A.S.E.R. DX. Both devices are functionally complete DCs. R.A.S.E.R. module DX is a unit in which 42 IT devices can be installed with a total power consumption of no more than 12 kW. R.A.S.E.R. module HD also supports the installation of 42 IT devices, but their total power consumption can be in the range of 20-80 kW, which is provided by a water cooling system. At the same time, the manufacturer announces the PUE of the device is no higher than 1.1 (!).

IO Datacenters

IO Datacenters company offers infrastructure modules and software for creating modular data centers. The IO.Anywhere product line has three types of modules: CORE, EDGE and ECO.

IO.Anywhere CORE includes three types of modules: up to 18 50U racks, up to 50 50U racks and a power module that provides information module operation with a power consumption of up to 600 kW. All modules are supplied with a software package for controlling energy distribution and heat dissipation.

IO.Anywhere EDGE includes two types of modules: up to seven 50U racks for solving IT problems and an infrastructure module for hosting uninterruptible power supply, cooling and fire extinguishing subsystems.

MDC Stockholm

A company from Sweden offers a solution based on functionally independent modules (server module, cooling module, uninterruptible power supply module, control module).

NxGen Modular

The NxGen Modular company was founded relatively recently, in 2009, but among its customers you can find both Microsoft and Apple (DC in Prineville, Oregon, USA). The company supplies both components of modular DCs and modular DCs themselves. Among the company's main products are DC in a container: up to 300 kW for IT systems; energy module; a cooling module and a module that integrates power, cooling and cabling subsystems on a common platform.

Silver Linings Systems

The company supplies modules for DCs in two versions: a module standardized by SLS and a module based on an ISO container. The modules are interfaced with power and cooling modules. In the first option, from 4 to 10 racks (45U) can be placed in one or two rows. The design of the module provides heat dissipation from the rack in the range of 7-35 kW. In the latter case, no more than four racks can be placed in the module.

The second option involves the use of ISO containers of standard sizes: 20, 40 or 53 feet. In the first case, the module consists of two containers, in the latter there are five. The module can accommodate from 8 to 50 racks. The design provides heat dissipation from the rack with power consumption in the range of 7-28 kW. The modules are announced without an uninterruptible power supply system, as well as without a fire extinguishing system. It is likely that the selection of devices for these engineering infrastructure subsystems will be carried out by the project integrator.

Emerson Network Power

The company offers several products (SmartRow, SmartAisle and Smart-Mod) under the umbrella brand Smart Solutions. SmartRow is a functionally complete open module consisting of 3-6 IT racks, a cooling unit, a power supply unit and a fire extinguishing unit. SmartAisle is a functionally complete open module, including up to 40 IT racks in a double-row design (20 X 2) with permissible power up to 10 kW/rack, cooling and power supply systems.

The modules are supplied with the Liebert iCOM controls software and hardware complex. For remote monitoring and control of infrastructure elements of the SmartAisle module, Avocent, Liebert Nform and Liebert SiteScan systems can be used.

Unlike SmartRow and SmartAisle, SmartMod is a group of container-based modules that allow you to install an IT system, cooling and power supply systems inside the container. An option is possible when the power supply system is located in a separate module.

To implement projects based on these products, the company offers the SmartDesign design package. All components on which these solutions are based are also manufactured by Emerson Network Power.

Schneider Electric

The company has developed a set of modules and a DC architecture based on them. Main modules: Data Center Module, Facility Power Module (500 kW), Air Cooling Module (400 kW) and Water Cooling Module (500 kW).

The modular DC segment is attracting the interest of an increasing number of suppliers of infocommunication products. For example, NEC planned to begin deliveries of modular data centers in 2013. Its developments will be used in large stationary DCs. In the Russian Federation, several companies announced their products for this segment. The pioneer was the Sitronics company, which in 2010 launched Daterium container DCs on the market. Currently, it offers Daterium 2 and Daterium 3. In 2013, Technoserv presented its modular IT-Crew project.

The introduction of modular DCs has also begun on the Russian market. In addition to the large VimpelCom project mentioned above, in October 2013 Aeroflot, HP and Technoserv announced the completion of a project to create a backup data center for the air carrier. The solution includes a product from the Technoserv company - the modular DC "IT-Crew".

Figures and facts

How big is the potential of the modular DC segment in the future? Experts from IMS Research, who use to define modular data centers not the term modular data center, but containerized data centers (which includes modular, container, and mobile data centers), believe that supplies of containerized data centers in 2013 will increase by 40  % compared to 2012. According to the report of this company, in 2012 compared to 2011, the volume of this segment of the DC market almost doubled.

Container and modular solutions appeared in 2005-2006, but IMS Research experts believe that essentially this market segment began to take shape only in 2011. IMS Research expects North America to be the largest market for modular data centers in 2012, but predicts that shipments to China will double annually over the next five years due to the region's rapid growth of the data center industry and the need to rapidly deploy data centers. A number of experts, on the contrary, believe that the greatest success awaits modular DCs in the developing markets of Asia and Africa.

TechNavio experts are less optimistic. They assume that in 2012-2016. in the USA, the market for modular data centers will grow within 11.2% 5 .

According to DCD intelligence, the largest relative increase in the volume of investments in modular DC technologies in 2011-2013. been to Russia and France (rice.   3) . Apparently, it is worth talking about relative rather than large gross growth here. However, Russian IT companies in such a situation may try to create their own solutions, even based on imported components. DCD intelligence suggests that there is some interest in the solutions being discussed in the BRIC countries.

Rice. 3. Relative growth in the volume of investments in modular DC technologies, 2011-2013.

Recently, the Softline group of companies introduced to the market a fundamentally new form of providing data center services - “Data Center as a Service” (DCaaS). The solution includes the production of a modular data processing center (MDC), its installation at the customer’s site, service support and a monthly payment plan.

The “Data Center as a Service” service involves the production of a modular data center, its delivery, installation and connection at the customer’s site, as well as its further support on a monthly rental basis, that is, without the need for capital investments and staff expansion on the part of the customer. Perhaps this is the main conceptual feature of our solution, which puts it on par with services such as, for example, IaaS or HaaS.

Implementation stages

After signing the contract and making an advance payment, production of modules for the future data center begins at the plant of our partner, the St. Petersburg manufacturer of modular data centers GreenMDC. At the same time, if the site does not have a site for installing the module, we carry out work to prepare it. It is important that the site be provided with the possibility of access by freight vehicles and a crane for the delivery and installation of ready-made data center modules.

Within 4-5 months, the customer receives a turnkey ready-made modular data center, manufactured taking into account the recommendations of the Uptime Institute not lower than the TIER-III level. Each MDC from GreenMDC undergoes a factory testing program in the presence of our specialists. In the future, this allows you to avoid possible malfunctions at the customer’s site. The solution configuration includes all engineering systems necessary to ensure uninterrupted operation of computing equipment (cabinets, power supply systems, fire extinguishing systems, cooling, monitoring, etc.). Softline delivers and connects the ready-made modular data center to utility networks using its own resources. The customer can fill the MSDC with its own computing and communication equipment (servers, storage systems, network switches, etc.) and use it at its own discretion. However, as part of an additional project, we are ready to equip the data center with computer equipment.

Further, during the term of the contract, again on the basis of monthly payments, service support for the MDC is provided. It includes the necessary work in accordance with the regulations, which are carried out, as a rule, once every three months. Routine work includes visual inspection, checking the functionality of systems, diagnostics and troubleshooting, remote monitoring of engineering systems with connection to the first line of support with information about possible malfunctions, timely warranty replacement of failed components of engineering equipment and other measures necessary to ensure uninterrupted operation MTsODa.

Planned contracts are designed for 3-5 years (36 months is the minimum period): during this time, the customer operates the data center according to its needs, but until the expiration of the contract, the engineering equipment is listed on Softline’s balance sheet.

Focus services

The idea to offer data centers as a service arose after analyzing the requests of our clients. Many of them began to require the power of their own data center, and in the shortest possible time and often under conditions of a limited budget. Since today Softline is actively developing various “services as a service” schemes (infrastructure, software, equipment), the data center is no exception. We have developed a high-quality and reliable solution that is optimal in terms of cost and speed of deployment, and we have found a partner - the GreenMDС company.

As for the focus of the service, when assessing potential customers, we do not focus on a specific vertical. DCaaS target customers are large businesses in a variety of industries: retail, oil industry, telecom, public sector, etc. Their needs may also be different: some need to build a backup data center, others need to quickly equip them with their own data center. the center is a newly opened branch or a new production site.

What are the benefits?

First of all, the customer receives a ready-made modular data center without significant initial investments, which during the construction of a “classic” data center would reach tens and hundreds of millions of rubles. According to the monthly payment scheme used by Softline, he, without paying the full cost of the data center, can already use it here and now. The service fee even includes insurance against equipment loss and negligence. It also allows you to use different budget items and transfer costs to the operating budget.

The second advantage is the speed of production and launch of the MDC. Softline offers several standard projects, each of which can be implemented in 4-5 months, but is not limited to them. If necessary, together with our partners we can develop a solution for the specific requirements of the customer.

Third: while Softline provides service support and maintenance of the data center, the customer does not need to additionally increase the staff and generally worry about technical issues, monitoring, and troubleshooting. Let me emphasize: within the framework of this solution, we mean Softline’s support only for the engineering infrastructure, but if necessary, we are ready to take over all the customer’s IT equipment for maintenance.

Fourth - a high level of solution protection. We are building a modular data center that meets Uptime Institute recommendations of at least TIER3 level.

Finally, by concluding an agreement with Softline, the customer enjoys all the advantages of the “one-window principle”: he gets a contractor, pays a fixed fee and knows exactly when the MDC will be put into operation. Interaction with the manufacturer (GreenMDC), search for financing, delivery, installation of the module - Softline takes care of all this.

Like a cloud data center, the “data center as a service” solution is highly scalable: as the customer’s needs for computing power grow, it can be expanded by attaching the necessary additional module to the existing data center. But a modular data center is installed on the customer’s premises, and all corporate data does not go beyond its IT perimeter.

GreenMDC - Russian developer

GreenMDC is a Russian developer and manufacturer of modular data centers. AND at The “Data Center as a Service” service became possible thanks to the joint efforts of Softline and GreenMDC. Our partner produces reliable modular data centers that ensure stable operation of the IT infrastructure and ease of operation. For joint projects with us, GreenMDC specialists use all their many years of experience in the development of modular data centers, multi-stage assembly quality control and load testing of all engineering systems of the MSDC before delivery to the customer. Softline acts as a project operator and leads the project from start to finish: from document flow and work coordination to subsequent maintenance of a data center that is already ready and put into operation.

The office and production of GreenMDC are located in St. Petersburg, so the complex solution and the final product are domestic - despite the presence of both domestic and imported components in it. In addition, the customer does not actually buy the equipment, but rents it.

Basic service package

There are several typical modular data center configurations, with a number of racks from 6 to 10 and a maximum IT load of 30 to 80 kW per machine room, 5 or 8 kW per rack. We can also provide a micro-data center designed for two racks - this is very small capacity for some small objects. If the customer needs to deploy a larger data center, we are ready to consider an individual solution.

In some very rare cases, the customer cannot determine the optimal data center option for him. Then we are ready to conduct an audit, determine the number of servers, applications, systems that will be stored in the data center - and, accordingly, calculate the required capacity of the data center.

Spreading

The “Data Center as a Service” product offering is designed for Russian clients, but for construction in remote regions we can build data centers and provide support with the help of our authorized partners. The Softline company does business in the CIS countries, including the countries of the Unified Customs Union, so in the future it is quite possible to launch this solution in these countries.