No one wants to think about a disaster that will cripple or even destroy their data center. But even as hurricane season has ended for the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states, wildfires are raging in Southern California. Earthquakes are an ever-present danger. Disaster planning is moving up the priority list for many data center managers.
Disaster recovery (DR) planning typically focuses on data protection and application availability. Most organizations consider the information held on servers and storage devices to be infinitely more valuable than the technology itself. However, DR plans must also include provisions to protect equipment from physical damage.
To lease: Ideally, data centers would be located in a geographic area that is not prone to natural disasters. That’s rarely possible, so organizations need to do the best they can to insulate you from any disaster that occurs. That means locating the room in an interior room or at least as far away from windows as possible. In areas where hurricanes and tornadoes are the biggest threat, an underground location may be the best option (unless flooding is an issue). In seismic zones, it is critical to select a well-constructed building that meets the latest codes.
backup power: Power outages are one of the leading causes of equipment downtime, and UPS failure is the #1 cause of unplanned outages. The UPS must be carefully selected, deployed, and maintained to ensure a constant supply of conditioned power at a regulated voltage level.
Ceasefire: Many data centers rely on conventional sprinkler systems, but water can destroy equipment and cause other problems as well. A better approach is to employ a dry “pre-action” system that will extinguish most fires before the sprinkler system activates. Modern fire suppression systems use halocarbons, which remove heat from fires, or inert gases, which deprive them of oxygen. Both can provide excellent fire suppression if the system is properly designed, installed, and tested. The fire alarm should also be tested; if it is faulty, the fire suppression system may not activate.
flood control: If the data room is located in an area prone to flooding, a pumping system must be installed. The system must automatically activate and be connected to generator power to continue to operate if the utility fails.
earthquake protection: In earthquake prone areas, it is important to select racks and cabinets that are rated to withstand seismic activity. These units often have special mounting brackets to hold them securely to the ground.
Flexible Processes: Data center staff must understand their responsibilities and be fully trained in DR procedures. The equipment must be monitored by at least one person at all times. Run books must be kept up to date so equipment can be quickly recovered or reconfigured in an emergency. Disaster recovery processes must also be well documented, but flexibility is important. Staff must feel empowered to make decisions and improvise based on the current situation.
Proof: In most organizations, the disaster recovery plan is rarely, if ever, tested. The plan should be tested at least twice a year and updated as the business environment and priorities change.
These 7 steps can help you design a resilient and flexible data center infrastructure and select systems that will protect your valuable equipment.