A data center is a dedicated area or a building for data storage and transmission. Companies have a huge amount of data that needs to be stored safely, analyzed, and transmitted as required. A company gets it from various sources and needs it to make various strategic decisions. It comprises connectivity to several servers, network devices, components, computers, and has a complete mesh of cables. This whole network can be overwhelming if not organized and managed properly. Also, it may lead to data tampering or a system crash. To avoid all this, a proper data center architecture is crucial. It comprises a map or the layout of the cables, systems, and devices, types of communication systems, topologies, cable connections, positioning of switches, and other devices in a network. This certainly paves the way for building an efficient and modern data center that would suit the demands of 2021 in terms of the type of cables and network devices, connectivity, data security features, speed of data transfer, and distance of transmission. This post discusses the various facets of data centers, their architecture, and various components involved.

Factors to Consider When Building a Modern Data Center

Building a data center and designing the right setup and architecture are pretty complex. To simplify this process first understand and analyze your requirements and plan a budget. Before considering any factors, you need to know a few things pertaining to data center architecture. When we say architecture, it comprises the physical and logical map of the network and related communication systems. Architecture or the layout is done during the design phase. It mentions the physical placement of server racks, various connectors, switches, and other components involved, taking into consideration the logical flow, connectivity among devices, types of cables used, the area available, and so on.

The trend of data centers started more than a decade ago; however, they have now evolved a lot in terms of architecture and technology. Here some factors which may be helpful when building a data center:

  • Business requirements and scope: Devising a plan based on your budget and application requirements is crucial. It is important to consider your business expansion plans over the next five to 10 years so that your network should be designed to be scalable enough. Based on your budget, you may choose if you want fiber optics or a normal copper cable network. The best option, most times, is to combine both fiber and copper, to achieve speed, seamless connectivity, data security, and efficient storage.
  • Location: This is in reference to the area and its topography. The location also pertains to the country or state in which the data center is located. However, it is important to choose an area that is accessible, has got good connectivity, a mobile network, access to water, electricity, and so on. Also, consider the distance of transmission up to your company office. This will help you decide the type of wiring. If the distance is more than 50-60 km, consider fiber optics. In this case, you can transfer the data over a fiber optic cable with the help of media converters, network switches, and transceivers. You can connect a copper cable to one end of the media converter and a fiber optic cable to the other end.
  • Size and structure of the available area or building: Depending on the physical area available, you can plan the network architecture. In this case, you can use fiber optics in some difficult-to-access areas as these cables can bend to some extent and fit into compact spaces.
  • Sourcing equipment and network devices: The devices must be sourced from reliable and certified manufacturers and suppliers. Also, it is required to check compatibility issues among devices. However, most 10/100/1000 Base poe media converters are compatible with copper as well as fiber cables and connectors.

Data Center Architecture: A Logical Layout

Most data centers are multilayered in terms of design. You can have a data center with direct connectivity to your office, else you can opt for cloud connectivity, wherein you can use more than one cloud space. Cabling is an important aspect of logical design and should be done with a futuristic approach. Also, ensure the length of the cable is appropriate as it may get complicated and also pose safety risks for the personnel. Their compatibility with the connectors is just as important as their length. A modern data center must be dynamic, flexible, and scalable. Hence the cabling should support modern technology including artificial intelligence, 5G network, and fiber optic network devices. In the network design phase, you can use software that helps you get the design right in terms of network capacity, cabling, server bandwidth, port density, and cabinet-wise device installation. Above all, documentation of each of these aspects at every stage is important.

If you plan to install new network devices in your data center or are thinking of a complete overhaul such as a switch to fiber optics, ensure you source them from a reliable and certified player. VERSITRON is one of the leading manufacturers of fiber optic network devices, industrial network switches, media converters, and installation kits in the US.