Revitalise ageing data centres

28-08-2024

Legacy data centres Data centres Buildings

As the data centre market matures, many ageing facilities require updates and upgrades to align with modern technologies and accommodate both current and future developments. This blog explores the essential steps and opportunities to revitalise data centres to meet today’s and tomorrow’s demands.

In today's digital landscape, data centres are the backbone of business operations and our society, facilitating everything from cloud storage to real-time data processing. However, data centres constructed in the late 1990s and early 2000s are now struggling to cope with the demands of modern technology and the impact of, for example, AI.

This blog explores the critical journey of modernising ageing data centres, focusing on space management, energy efficiency, cooling solutions, operational updates, and strategic asset management decisions.

Assessing the need for data centre upgrades

Before tackling the specifics of upgrading a data centre, it is important to conduct a thorough assessment to identify the specific needs and areas for improvement. This assessment should examine the data centre's existing infrastructure, including server capacity, storage solutions, and energy consumption. It is also important to evaluate how these elements stack up against current power standards, grid connection requirements, efficiency benchmarks, and environmental and permit regulations.

By benchmarking against newer facilities, operators can identify key areas where technological and infrastructural enhancements are needed. This process involves looking at the physical hardware and considering the software and network architectures supporting data operations. The outcome of this assessment will guide the development of a targeted upgrade strategy that addresses both immediate performance bottlenecks and long-term operational goals.

Core upgrade areas for ageing data centres

For ageing data centres, there are common areas that usually need attention:

Supporting infrastructure

While integrating the latest server technologies might seem obvious, these systems demand different support from existing infrastructure. The increased computational loads should not compromise system reliability. Therefore, transitioning to newer generations of processors can results in updates of your data centre support infrastructure. This includes upgrading power distribution units (PDUs) to handle higher power densities, enhancing network infrastructure to support faster data transfer rates, and reinforcing structural components to accommodate the increased weight and space requirements of modern equipment.

Energy efficiency

In the early stages of data centre design, these facilities were not designed with efficiency in mind. By integrating advanced power management systems, optimising airflow management and implementing more efficient UPS systems, we not only enhance operational reliability but significantly cut down on energy wastage.

Cooling systems

As server densities increase, effective cooling becomes more critical to prevent overheating and maintain system reliability. Modern cooling solutions, such as liquid cooling systems and advanced air management strategies, such as hot and cold aisle containment, can significantly reduce the cooling energy required and improve the overall energy efficiency of the data centre.

Beyond these core technical areas, there are other important aspects to consider when modernising legacy assets. For instance, have you thought about incorporating redundancy to ensure reliability? Additionally, optimising the layout and floorspace for new server technologies can significantly enhance efficiency. Adhering to key design principles remains crucial when planning upgrades and retrofits.

It is about making the right strategic decisions that balance costs with benefits, ensuring that each upgrade contributes to a more efficient and sustainable operation. Based on the future requirements of your data centre, a strategic timeline can be developed for when and how to implement upgrades. To ensure continuous operation, it’s crucial to schedule these upgrades in a way that minimises or eliminates disruptions. Because uptime is crucial, scheduling upgrades with minimised or no disruptions is essential.

Get in touch

Are you ready to transform your data centre into a state-of-the-art facility? Read more or contact us today to explore how we can assist you in upgrading your data centre.