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Product Insight

The Relationship Between Containment and DCiM

Product: Polar Express

The Relationship Between Containment and DCiM

The separation of supply and return airflow is a well-known way to create huge efficiencies in cooling IT equipment. Subzero’s average containment project drops the IT intake temperature around 10 degrees. Left alone, the containment POD will deliver a consistent, predictable, and reliable supply temperature with little to no difference from the bottom to the top of the rack, and from one end to the other end of the aisle.

That said, most data center managers are not content with only a sustainable IT intake temperature. Most want the added benefit of the huge energy savings that come from adjusting the temperature and humidity set points. As these set points are moved to levels more in line with the ASHRAE standard another important issue needs to be considered – the ability to monitor and regulate supply airflow as thermal loads change.

Thus the correlation between containment technology and an environmental monitoring system as a function of DCiM.

How Cloud and Virtualization Affect Containment Cooling

The impact of virtualization on the average supply temperature is an important consideration. Virtualization increases the processor and memory resources usage. In layman’s terms, more energy is consumed and thus more thermal load. This means that some rack row configurations can have a significant increase in density while others will be reduced.

The good news is that containment changes the way supply-cooling air is used. Instead of relying on the perforated tile in front of the rack, a contained cold aisle turns the supply air into a large pool of air that each server can draw from at any given time and volume. What is needed is a oversupply of air to ensure plenty of cooling capacity.

Now lets tie it together: containment creates consistent and reliable supply airflow to the known thermal load given that a positive pressure is maintained.  Changes in set points can be made to lower cooling costs. The question remains… What happens when the thermal load gradually increases due to changes in equipment or virtualization?

The Answer is PolarXpress™!

PolarXpress is a wireless environmental monitoring system that focuses only on the IT intake. A low cost, easy to deploy system that with it’s superior graphic interface makes it easy to read and understand.

PolarXpress is one third the cost of comparable monitoring programs that require integration into more expensive systems.

Monitor your containment from anywhere! Keep up with environmental changes brought on by new equipment or virtualization.

Intelligent Containment Environment – ICE

Another Subzero innovation is the ICE Door. This intelligent door system can contain the PolarXpress environmental system. In this way both IT and Facilities personnel can access key environmental data and ensure the optimal operating environment.

The ICE Door can also be used by a myriad of applications such as security, inventory control, messaging, calendar, etc…

Containment Monitoring Requires Fewer Sensors

One way to drive down the cost of an environmental monitoring system is by using it in connection with a containment system. Note that one third of the sensors are required.

Data Center
Product Insight

Disrupt the Status Quo with Subzero Engineering’s Arctic Enclosure

Product : Arctic Enclosure

Subzero Engineering’s Innovation and technology now allow one to shift perspective to a new option when selecting enclosures

The similarities of the buying process for an IT Enclosure can be as frustrating as buying a car.
Ford people will never be caught owning a Chevy and Chevy folks would rather walk than drive a Ford. It seems that purchasing enclosures fall into the same scenario.

Even though there is comfort in staying with what is familiar, it’s time to change… because times have changed. Over again I hear “my Ford started every morning, even on the coldest winter days” or “my racks worked well for that deployment last time.” Innovation and technology now allow one to shift perspective to a new option when selecting enclosures.  Enter the Arctic Enclosure Rack / Cabinet Systems by Subzero Engineering.

The Arctic Enclosure was created with these changes in mind. The way legacy data centers were designed 20 years ago is not necessarily how most are designed today. I rarely see a Greenfield data center designed with a raised floor and perimeter CRACs, and almost all leverage the use of airflow management and containment solutions. Why? Because these strategies have essentially been the core of 30% energy reductions and PUEs approaching closer to 1.0 than ever before. So the early adopters have paved a successful public awareness of these successes. One interesting thing that escapes me during many site visits is how many enclosures do not meet the most rudimentary airflow integrity parameters? I am consistently asked to assist in sealing up deployed racks at these sites.

Enclosures (cabinets / racks) can encompass more than 60% of the surface area in a contained aisle.

Five primary areas of focus affect airflow leakage within the enclosure:

1. Left of Rails
2. Right of Rails
3. Above the U space
4. Below the U space
5. Under the enclosure system itself

When designing the Arctic Enclosure, all five areas of leakage were addressed, creating a solution with solid airflow integrity.  In most cases enclosure manufacturers trick the consumer by pulling the front rails as far forward as possible to hide the airflow integrity flaws. Think of it this way: if your airflow management and containment strategies were designed to operate and deployed to not exceed 3% leakage at a given IWC and the enclosure system is performing at 16%+ leakage at the same IWC that could degrade the air integrity of the entire pod down to 10%+ overall.

Two ideas come to mind how to overcome the emotional slant that can affect the decision of enclosure systems. First of all, keep in mind that enclosure systems can occupy 60% of the overall containment system performance.  One of the best methods to ensure the overall performance is to have the enclosures considered a key part of the design. Second, consider that millions of dollars in IT equipment may reside in the enclosure systems. Therefore, the potential added expense of selecting an enclosure system that includes enhanced airflow management considerations seems like an acceptable and reasonable trade-off. The efficiency gains alone may be outweighed by the improved ROI.  A comprehensive evaluation of enclosure systems’ features, outside of airflow, should be employed before any decision is finalized. Start by researching how the Arctic Enclosure might be the right choice for your data center.

Protecting your investment should be more about solving ALL of the IT needs while supporting energy efficient practices that help pay for themselves rather than just doing what you’ve always done.

Company
Team

Subzero Engineering Business Philosophy Keeps the Cogs in Motion

Comments by Doug Kilgariff
Director Technical Environments & Data Center Solutions

The reason I joined Subzero Engineering — A culture of shared success!

Wishin’ and Hopin’ and Thinkin’ and Prayin’. 

Sometimes a song, good or bad, get’s stuck in your head. I was in the middle of a deep thought on business connectivity when I heard Wishin’ and Hopin’ and Thinkin’ and Prayin’ and I thought of the irony of it as it relates to business creation. It sounds a lot like the growth strategy that some business owners are employing these days. Now, I’m not saying that it’s the conscience direction that some business owners are moving in, but more like a natural default. It happens when the crazy, chaotic, whirling dervish of business life spins so fast.

Doing the same thing and expecting new results! 

We all know the saying about “doing the same things and expecting a new result”.  The bottom line is it just doesn’t work. Leadership with vision realizes this and looks to change when necessary to grow. I’ve seen really good companies lose their way because of stale thinking and antiquated methodology – they become disconnected.  When sales are down disconnected companies fall back to the old practices of cutting services, people, and quality. They start pounding the pavement in a vain effort to regain lost momentum without a clear understanding of why their business is suffering and how it got there. This is typically when the good people in the company leave and the company will slowly become irrelevant and die off.

It all starts with a direction and planning! 

This simplistic process can make an immediate impact on the health of the company moving forward. Direction starts with a good plan that takes into consideration the needs of the company, the clients, as well as the greater community. Planning is the most overlooked and under utilized business practice today. The great companies have the foresight to tap into the creative and intellectual capabilities of their people to create direct, and focused planning.

The Power of Positive Communication! 

Now I’m not knocking the power of positive thoughts, but alone they are just that… thoughts. Positive action and positive belief coupled with massive action planning is far more valuable. Identifying growth opportunities and connecting the company internally starts with simple communication.  Communication, however, is the first thing that typically disintegrates and then conflicts between, and within, departments tend to arise. To mitigate this, smart companies invest time and resources to on-going process refinement, as well as the continuing education of all employees. A clear cultural success strategy is also necessary for growth.

I came to Subzero because of the culture and the people.

We take risks, we challenge ideas, we encourage debate and we act on each other’s strengths. Our tradition is to continuously develop and promote a culture of shared success. Shared success that is based on a foundational belief that each person is acting in the best interest of the company, our clients, our partners, and each other. We are invested in each other’s successes, and embrace and encourage when we misstep. We empower to act! It creates an unbelievably vibrant dynamic that encourages opinions, and gives each of us a platform. Everyone has a voice! Everyone is encouraged to contribute, and everyone is expected to participate. It helps create and maintain a healthy company and defines our mission.

Transparency and communication! 

We are advocates for our clients! We are committed to doing business the right way. These are not statements we take lightly.  Transparency, communication, integrity and innovation are what keep us focused and committed. All are true measures of our culture. It’s what we wear proudly and what we proudly offer to our clients and partners.

Our simple promise! 

There is a huge value to positivity in business and in life. I try to live my life every day with the belief that good things are always around me. True success starts and ends with the right people, the right vision and certainly the right planning. Our promise is simple; we will always provide the best of us.

Company
Team

You can’t change the wind, but you can adjust the sails.

A message from Subzero Engineering CEO, Larry Mainers

Business is a lot like sailing; both require people (crew), equipment, a starting point, a destination, and of course, the voyage.

Like business, sailing can be a lot of fun: sun, sea, sails and wind… not too shabby. And just like life, sailing has its good and bad days. On good days the wind is in your favor, on bad days… not so much. Thus, the analogy goes. Based on this, it would seem that our ability to adjust the sails on the contrary days is the difference between success and failure.

Sadly, it’s not always as simple as adjusting the sails. For example, try adjusting your sails in a hurricane.

Positive thinking alone does not equate to success, but it can be a powerful ally. The facts are that many positive, bright, and talented people venture out into the world of business only to be brushed back by the strong winds of adversity. What then defines the companies that consistently prove successful where others have not?

The answer can be found with the captain and crew.

When you align yourself with talented, positive, and bright people the winds of adversity are mitigated. Surrounding yourself with great people creates dynamics that cannot be easily defeated. No wind can change the direction of an army of dedicated people.

Our world has a way of glorifying the individual, but most of the time that individual shines because of the team they have. For instance it’s always the star quarterback that is interviewed after the game. But if you privately ask the quarterback, he will tell you that without the great people surrounding him he could not advance the football even one yard.

I have had the privilege of owning and operating several successful companies. In each case what made the company successful were the people.

I am proud to be at the helm of Subzero Engineering. Our crew is filled with talented, bright, and passionate people who work as a team. Combined, we are a force to be reckoned with. Instead of one person with a vision, we are many with a singular focus.

There is an old proverb that says “And if somebody could overpower one alone, two together could make a stand against him. And a threefold cord cannot quickly be torn in two.” It is essential in sailing to use lines or ropes that use multiple strands, that create incredible strength. A great business joins the talents and drive of many people into one singular goal, one cord. Additionally, great people make the joys and challenges of business a real pleasurable experience. For me –  this makes the voyage, not the destination, a far better experience.

My motto is simple; if you surround yourself with great people who share your vision, you will find that when the wind of adversity blows you can hold the course by merely adjusting the sails.

Data Center
Team

Two Subzero Engineers Meet Modern Data Center Challenges through DCEP and CDCDP Certification

CDCDP (Certified Data Center Design Professional) – The CDCDP training addresses how to setup and improve key aspects such as power, cooling, security, cabling, safety etc. to ensure a hi-available data center.

DCEP (Data Center Energy Practitioner) – The US Department of Energy has partnered with the data center industry to develop an educational program and accreditation for those working as data center professionals.

Subzero Engineering showcased their continued commitment to saving energy and maintaining best practices

Two of Subzero Engineering’s CorporateEnngineers were sent to participate in these advanced learning opportunities. Subzero is proud to announce the recent CDCDP accreditation of Rick Lake and the DCEP accreditation of Gordon Johnson.

Rick Lake shares his comments
(CDCDP / DCIM Manager / Subzero Engineering

“Today’s modern data centers are complex and require an enormous amount of knowledge and skill to correctly design, build and operate.  From servers to storage, chillers to cooling towers, efficient utilization of electrical power to industry best practices… all this and more demands that those who design, operate, and manage data centers be fully trained to meet these incredible challenges all while maintaining a competitive advantage.  Contractors and consultants who work in the data center industry face a similar challenge to maintain a current knowledge base and skill set required to service the data center industry in a meaningful way in order to provide products and relevant services for this dynamic industry.

One of the ways that the data center industry has met this challenge is through embracing certification programs that deliver specific training that provide the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed. The Certified Data Center Design Professional (CDCDP) training program is one such program designed to cover all aspects of data centers. The course syllabus includes topics specific to design, cooling, power, IT equipment, and management; taught over a period of seven days through case studies.  The program requires the student to pass a series of five examinations to obtain the certification that is valid for a three-year period, after which refresher courses must be taken in order to maintain the certification.

Subzero Engineering, the industry leader in airflow management products and services, has recognized the relevance of this certification and in 2012 sent two staff engineers to become fully CDCDP certified via the training offered by CNet Services.

As one of those individuals, I am happy to say that the program succeeded in providing relevant and up-to-date information that has increased my knowledge of the data center industry in general.  With this valuable information, I feel fully equipped to assist clients make specific, cost-effective and measurable improvements to their operations.”

Gordon Johnson shares his comments
(EE, CDCDP, DCEP / CFD Engineer / Subzero Engineering)

“My recent experience attending the DOE DCEP training and certification program in Dallas was exceptional.  I completed and successfully passed the Level 1 Practitioners (Generalists) program and am now looking forward to putting into practice the training and skills received to perform accurate energy assessments in data centers.

The disciplines covered in the training (IT-equipment, cooling systems, air management, and electrical systems) as well as the experience gained using the DC Profiler Tool will be invaluable with my work at Subzero Engineering of data center containment, air flow management, and data center energy efficiency.  Besides having the training and experience now to perform energy assessments in data centers, I look forward to transferring the knowledge received to our customers, data center staff, and my coworkers.

In summary, I feel the recent training and certification received has elevated my standards and awareness in what is necessary in order to further reduce energy consumption levels in data centers and related costs, which in the end translates into more overall savings for our customers.”

Data Center
Press ReleaseProduct Insight

New Style Containment Aisle End Doors and Panels

At Subzero Engineering, we continue to improve our products and services to better serve our customers.

We’re excited to announce, we are now carrying a new style of doors and panels which replaces our current style. With this new style, we are currently carrying an I-40 series which is similar in size to the Premium series we carried. In the near future, we will be carrying an I-30 series which will be lighter compared to the I-40 series and similar to our current Lite series products.

Our new style of doors and panels have a sleek, smooth finish with a superior fit and effectively encloses both hot and cold aisles. Our doors come in three different styles: dual, single, and hinged. Our products are manufactured at our corporate office location in Salt Lake City, UT to provide you with a perfect custom fit.

Data Center
Educational Article

Data Center Tour by The New York Times Features a Subzero Containment System

New York Times Article and Video Reference

James Glanz of The New York Times and Ken Brill, an expert in the field, tour a data center and cover the topics of data center cooling, cold aisle containment, backup power management, and energy efficiency.

A Subzero cold aisle containment system is shown at the 2:52 minute mark in the video. This is a large data center that features 6 backup diesel generators that could power a small city of about 30,000 people.

Cold aisle containment systems typically include aisle end doors and a roof system so as to contain the supply airflow to the intake of the IT and server equipment. Cold aisle containment ensures uniform and predictable air temperature at the IT intake, allowing equipment to be cooled to manufactures’ specifications.

Learn More about Data Centers
Data Center
Press Release

Subzero Engineering Launches New Site!

We are proud to announce the launch of our new website.

Working with a local creative firm Red Olive, we underwent a little branding revision and kicked everything up a notch. Check out the site and give us your feedback. If you think we should add a feature, let us know. Please also connect up with us on our Facebook and Twitter pages for continuous updates on new products and services.

Some great new features of our site are:

  • Our products are categorized into Containment and Airflow Management.
  • There’s a new page on our Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) service.
  • A new Support page with our product specification and installation manuals available for download makes it easy to find the information you need.
  • A Projects page with examples of past customer data center designs.
  • Our Hot Aisle Containment and Cold Aisle Containment pages talk about the benefits of each.
  • Our Custom Containment Manufacturer page shows off our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.
Data Center
Educational Article

Meeting the Demand for Truly High Performance, Sustainable and Flexible Data Centers

Article Featured in Networks Europe Magazine

By: Andy Connor, Director – EMEA Channel

The data center industry faces potentially opposing challenges over the next few years. On the one hand, the demands of our digital age show no sign of stopping, and with 5G expected to reach mainstream adoption, one could reasonably argue that the digital infrastructure required to support such applications is going to increase significantly. What’s clear is that it needs to be agile, scalable, quick-to-deploy, and, above all, efficient, if it is to meet the users’ expectations.

At the same time the data center industry, as a major power consumer, must become more sustainable, and move forward from the easy wins of carbon offsetting to a much more sophisticated programme of carbon reduction and eventual elimination – Net Zero.

Set against these twin objectives, optimising data center performance has never been more important, and in order to achieve this, at Subzero Engineering, we believe a number of things have to happen:

Data drives decision-making

Cliché or not, the saying that ‘if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage or improve it’ remains true. For data center owners and operators, this means understanding either how your existing facility performs under varying environmental conditions and identifying ways to improve it. This may mean major modernizations work will need to take place where efficiencies are lacking. Or designing a new facility, which offers the layout, optimum flexibility and environmental performance to meet the constantly changing requirements of digital customers alongside sustainability targets.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software will play an increasingly important role when it comes to data center design and construction, retrofit and helping to improve the efficiency and performance of legacy data centers. It allows the simulation of an endless combination of racks, cabinets, cabling and mechanical and engineering (M&E) equipment, with the anticipated IT load, to ensure optimization. In providing data-driven analysis of the cold and hot air within the data center, CFD analysis also delivers optimized layout recommendations and highlights how energy costs can be reduced by optimising and maximising cooling usage throughout the data center. Such an Environmental Impact Evaluation provides valuable information to help operators reduce energy usage and carbon emissions and will play a critical role in meeting Net Zero data centers.

Modernization is critical

Armed with the data, it’s time for action. And this is where I believe that data center containment solutions can play a critical role – especially as data center owners/operators look to improve both the IT and environmental performance of new and legacy facilities. The benefits are many, and both hot and cold aisle containment solutions optimize the interaction of the cold supply and hot exhaust air within the data center. This eliminates hot spots and significantly reduces the prospect of equipment failure. It also applies to the M&E and the IT hardware, both of which might otherwise be challenged to cope with extreme, unregulated temperatures. Improved reliability is a prerequisite for today’s digital applications.

A new kind of micro data center will emerge, that is truly vendor agnostic, with the user’s choice of data center components

Once installed, containment solutions provide major environmental benefits, including higher cooling supply temperatures, lower CRAC fan speeds, a lower carbon footprint and a lower PUE. Another key containment outcome is significantly reduced energy usage, hence a smaller energy bill. Combined with an energy management and monitoring programme, containment solutions also allow operators to extend the lifecycle of their systems, which is a major sustainability win.

Greater flexibility at the edge

The edge infrastructure market is predicted to surge over the next two years, but today is dominated by small-scale micro data centers which are often pre-populated, single rack solutions. This can mean little flexibility in terms of their make-up, size or ability to scale up a single system in a modular manner and that the key needs of our digital age – flexibility, agility, scalability, speed – may not be met.

We believe that a new kind of micro data center will gain momentum in the coming months, one that can be truly vendor agnostic, and designed with the user’s choice of data center components (power, cooling, racks, cabling, safety systems). Such systems can be provided as standardized, but highly flexible or fully customized solutions, enabling the user to define their edge based on the business requirements. Furthermore, they can offer a 20-30 percent cost saving when compared to a fully containerized micro data center.

As we look towards Net Zero, sustainability and performance demands must be met. It requires greater flexibility in our infrastructure and a data driven approach to design and deployment.

Company
Success Story

How Subzero Engineering Helped atNorth Standardized its Approach to HPC Colocation

Article Featured in Data Centre Magazine

A case study by Subzero Engineering shows how leading Nordic data center services firm atNorth was able to standardize its approach to HPC colocation

Read Article

Article Featured in Networks Europe Magazine
By: Andy Connor, Director – EMEA Channel

The data center industry faces potentially opposing challenges over the next few years. On the one hand, the demands of our digital age show no sign of stopping, and with 5G expected to reach mainstream adoption, one could reasonably argue that the digital infrastructure required to support such applications is going to increase significantly. What’s clear is that it needs to be agile, scalable, quick-to-deploy, and, above all, efficient, if it is to meet the users’ expectations.

At the same time the data center industry, as a major power consumer, must become more sustainable, and move forward from the easy wins of carbon offsetting to a much more sophisticated program of carbon reduction and eventual elimination – Net Zero.

Set against these twin objectives, optimizing data center performance has never been more important, and in order to achieve this, at Subzero Engineering, we believe a number of things have to happen:

Data drives decision-making

Cliché or not, the saying that ‘if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage or improve it’ remains true. For data center owners and operators, this means understanding either how your existing facility performs under varying environmental conditions and identifying ways to improve it. This may mean major modernizations work will need to take place where efficiencies are lacking. Or designing a new facility, which offers the layout, optimum flexibility, and environmental performance to meet the constantly changing requirements of digital customers alongside sustainability targets.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software will play an increasingly important role when it comes to data center design and construction, retrofitting and helping to improve the efficiency and performance of legacy data centers. It allows the simulation of an endless combination of racks, cabinets, cabling and mechanical and engineering (M&E) equipment, with the anticipated IT load, to ensure optimization. In providing data-driven analysis of the cold and hot air within the data center, CFD analysis also delivers optimized layout recommendations and highlights how energy costs can be reduced by optimizing and maximizing cooling usage throughout the data center. Such an Environmental Impact Evaluation provides valuable information to help operators reduce energy usage and carbon emissions and will play a critical role in meeting Net Zero data centers.

Modernization is critical
Armed with the data, it’s time for action. And this is where I believe that data center containment solutions can play a critical role – especially as data center owners/operators look to improve both the IT and environmental performance of new and legacy facilities. The benefits are many, and both hot and cold aisle containment solutions optimize the interaction of the cold supply and hot exhaust air within the data center. This eliminates hot spots and significantly reduces the prospect of equipment failure. It also applies to the M&E and the IT hardware, both of which might otherwise be challenged to cope with extreme, unregulated temperatures. Improved reliability is a prerequisite for today’s digital applications.

A new kind of micro data center will emerge, that is truly vendor agnostic, with the user’s choice of data center components

Once installed, containment solutions provide major environmental benefits, including higher cooling supply temperatures, lower CRAC fan speeds, a lower carbon footprint and a lower PUE. Another key containment outcome is significantly reduced energy usage, hence a smaller energy bill. Combined with an energy management and monitoring program, containment solutions also allow operators to extend the lifecycle of their systems, which is a major sustainability win.

Greater flexibility at the edge
The edge infrastructure market is predicted to surge over the next two years, but today is dominated by small-scale micro data centers which are often pre-populated, single-rack solutions. This can mean little flexibility in terms of their make-up, size or ability to scale up a single system in a modular manner and that the key needs of our digital age – flexibility, agility, scalability, speed – may not be met.

We believe that a new kind of micro data center will gain momentum in the coming months, one that can be truly vendor agnostic, and designed with the user’s choice of data center components (power, cooling, racks, cabling, safety systems). Such systems can be provided as standardized, but highly flexible or fully customized solutions, enabling the user to define their edge based on the business requirements. Furthermore, they can offer a 20-30 percent cost saving when compared to a fully containerized micro data center.

As we look towards Net Zero, sustainability and performance demands must be met. It requires greater flexibility in our infrastructure and a data-driven approach to design and deployment.