The Vector Approach to Data Center Power Planning

How to avoid unplanned obsolescence in the power distribution infrastructure

Many data center power systems were planned and built based on old rules, old metrics, old server designs, and old assumptions for power density per U and per enclosure. In a startling number of cases, there isn’t much spare capacity for normal evolution of the data center, and there isn’t much visibility into the power distribution system the enclosure level. About 80 percent of data centers are facing serious and insidious problems that could cause unplanned downtime. It is time to drastically rethink how data center power infrastructures are planned.

This white paper describes an approach that considers the major milestones and thresholds in data center power requirements—and how planners should adjust their strategies and recommendations for data centers as they pass through different evolutionary stages.

Download the whitepaper