1

Northwestern University Information Technology Data Center Elements

Research and Administrative Computing Committee

Presented October 8, 2007

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Evanston Data Center Physical Space

Staff offices

171: Operations/Printing (1950 ft2)17

3:

Re

sea

rch

(9

50

ft

2)

172: Hosting (3850 ft2)

Mailroom (2600 ft2)

Note: All areas shown have computer room raised floors

3

Chicago Data Center Physical Space

232: Hosting (1000 ft2)234: Departmental Hosting(800 ft2)

Note: Areas do not have computer room raised floors.

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Data Center Tier Classification

The Tier classifications were created to consistently describe the site-level infrastructure required to sustain data center operations, not the characteristics of individual systems or sub-systems.

The requirements were established by the Uptime Institute, Inc. and are necessarily and intentionally very broad to allow innovation in achieving the desired level of site infrastructure performance, or uptime.

The individual Tiers represent categories of site infrastructure topology that address increasingly sophisticated operating concepts, leading to increased site infrastructure availability.

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Data Centers Tiers

Tier I: Basic Site Infrastructure• Non-Redundant Capacity Components and Distribution paths. • Any Capacity Component or Distribution Path failure will impact the computer systems. • Planned work will require most or all of the systems to be shutdown.

Tier II: Redundant Capacity Components Site Infrastructure• Redundant Capacity Components, but single Non-Redundant Distribution Paths serving the site’s

computer equipment. • Redundant UPS modules and engine generators are required.• A distribution path failure will cause the computer equipment to shut down.

Tier III: Concurrently Maintainable Site Infrastructure• Redundant capacity components and multiple distribution paths serving the site’s computer

equipment. Generally, only one distribution path serves the computer equipment at any time.• Each and every capacity component and element of the distribution paths can be removed from

service on a planned basis without causing any of the computer equipment to be shut down.

Tier IV: Fault Tolerant Site Infrastructure• Redundant capacity systems and multiple distribution paths simultaneously serving the site’s

computer equipment• The site is not susceptible to disruption of service from a single unplanned worse-case event.• Infrastructure maintenance may be performed by using redundant capacity components and

distribution paths to safely work on the remaining equipment.

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Tier Rating of NUIT Data Centers

Northwestern University’s central IT data centers are Tier I facilities.

Tier I: Basic Site Infrastructure• Non-Redundant Capacity Components and Distribution paths. • Any Capacity Component or Distribution Path failure will impact the computer systems. • Planned work will require most or all of the systems to be shutdown.

Building Cost Comparison of Tier Facilities

Construction Cost (+/- 30%)

Tier I Tier II Tier III Tier IV

Raised Floor (per sq. ft.) $220 $220 $220 $220

Useable UPS Output (per kVA) $10,000 $11,000 $20,000 $22,000

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Electrical Infrastructures

Evanston Data CenterRoom 172: Hosting

• Dual Power Feeds• Two 150kVA UPS units running in parallel• 750kVA Diesel Generator• Single Distribution Path

Room 173: Small Research Center• Single Power Feed• Single 160kVA UPS unit• No Generator• Single Distribution Path

Chicago Data CenterRooms 232 and 234

• Single Power Grid• 350kVA UPS unit• 375kVA Diesel Generator• Single Distribution Path

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Electrical Capacity for Evanston Data Center

Hosting Rooms 171 and 172• What is the protected load capacity?

Safe Electrical Draw is 240kVA

• What is today’s consumed load?

Today’s Draw is 210kVA

A power reduction plan is underway to shed loadand bring the total draw down to 195kVA for these tworooms. Thus providing 45kVA of unused safe draw to utilize.

Small Research Center Room 173• What is the protected load capacity?

Safe Electrical Draw is 128kVA

• What is today’s consumed load?

Today’s Draw is 20kVA

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Electrical Capacity for Chicago Data Center

Hosting Rooms 232 and 234• What is the protected load capacity?

Safe Electrical Draw is 300kVA

• What is today’s consumed load?

Today’s Draw is 300kVA

A power co-generation project to bring additional power into this location has been cancelled by Facilities Management. Facilities Management is recommending the purchase of a larger diesel generator.

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Cooling Capacity

Evanston Data Center• Room 171 40 Tons supports up to 120kVA*

• Room 172 80 Tons supports up to 240kVA*

• Room 173 20 Tons supports up to 60kVA*

• Mail Room 60 Tons supports up to 180kVA*

*Aging units cause lower operating efficiencies causing a 25% inefficiency in cooling capacity.

A HVAC upgrade project is underway to replace aging units will be completed in June 2008.

• Room 172 180 Tons supports up to 510kVA

• Room 173 60 Tons supports up to 190kVA

Chicago Data Center• Rooms 232/234 60 Tons supports up to 90kVA

Staff offices

171: Operations/Printing40 tons of cooling1

73

: R

ese

arc

h2

0 t

on

s 172: Hosting80 tons of cooling

Mailroom40 tons of cooling

232: Hosting234: Departmental Hosting

60 tons of cooling

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Fire Suppression

Evanston Data Center• Pre-action sprinkler system

• Fire Protection project is underway and upgrades

will include FM200 protection in Rooms 171, 172

and 173

Chicago Data Center• Pre-action sprinkler system

• FM200 fire suppression system

232: Hosting234: Departmental Hosting

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Physical Security

Evanston Data Center• NetBotz Surveillance Monitoring System

• DDC Sensors Environmental Monitoring System

• Marlok Access System

• AI Phone Door Call Entry System

Chicago Data Center• NetBotz Monitoring System

• Marlok Access System

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Network Connectivity and Security

Evanston Data Center• Dual Fiber Connection to Evanston NUNet

• Dual CISCO 6509 Switches

• Redundant Netscreen Firewalls

Chicago Data Center• Dual Fiber Connections to Chicago NUNet

• Dual CISCO 6509 Switches

• Redundant CISCO PIX Firewall Blades in 6509 switches

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Storage Capacity

Evanston Data Center• Storage Area Network

• Dual Cisco 9509 Fiber Channel Directors• 57.2 TB Disk Storage• 700 TB Tape Storage

• Disk Storage• IBM DS8100 Enterprise Disk Array• IBM DS4500 Disk Array• IBM DS4100 Disk Array

• TAPE• IBM 3584 ATL• IBM Ultrium LTO1 and LTO2 tape Drives

Chicago Data Center• Storage Area Network

• Dual Cisco 9509 Fiber Channel Directors• 4.2 TB Disk Storage• 100 TB Tape Storage

• Disk Storage• IBM DS4500 Disk Array

• TAPE• IBM 3310 ATL• IBM Ultrium LTO3 tape Drives