Environmental Monitoring Channel Feature
So How Much Environmental Monitoring Should Take Place in the Data Center?
Critical infrastructure in the data center is perhaps the most critical it has ever been as server malfunctions and failures can wreak havoc for businesses nowadays since economic times are still testy.
And from keeping tabs on data center temperature to humidity to water to power, the amount of things to watch over in the data center can give any manager a headache.
Fortunately for IT personnel out there, there is a pack out there ready to bring environmental monitoring strategies to the data center – ITWatchDogs. For over a decade, ITWatchDogs has manufactured climate and power monitoring systems enabling administrators to monitor server room conditions through a Web browser with a live video feed and current measurements of temperature, humidity, air flow, light, sound, power, water leakage and door position, showing current and historical data through HTTPS and providing SNMP/Email alarming under abnormal conditions.
“Environmental factors like heat, humidity, airflow and electricity can be equally as devastating as viruses, spyware and other network threats,” Mo Sheikh, marketing programs manager for ITWatchDogs, said in a recent article. “Such conditions have a major impact on the reliability and longevity of servers and critical equipment in general.”
“Abnormal conditions can come about anytime due to weather conditions, equipment failure or issues with a facility, and can damage or reduce the life of components, overall reliability and cause recurring problems and expense,” he added. “A low-cost investment in a Web-enabled environmental monitor that can alert administrators as climate or power conditions start to decline can save hundreds of thousands of dollars by allowing users to act before a disaster strikes.”
One of the most crucial things to monitor in the data center is heat and, accordingly, a comprehensive environmental monitoring strategy includes several temperature sensors. However, it is important to note that you should not just place a monitor in the data center room as it is also vital to monitor the top, middle, bottom, side, front, and back of the server rack as temperatures can vary in different parts of the rack based on how much a server may be processing.
Probes should also be placed around critical devices because the temperature inside a rack-mounted device could be as much as 20 degrees higher than the surrounding area. Moreover, a probe near the room’s thermostat can help monitor what the thermostat is “seeing” as it controls the air conditioner.
Another element to monitor in the data center is water.
“Moisture and humidity sensors should monitor for leaks inside cooling equipment, potential leaks that come from nearby pipes, or water caused by a flood or disaster,” Sheikh commented. “Water sensors should be placed at the lowest point (wherever water would tend to puddle) on the floor, and underneath any pipe junctions. Air-conditioning condensation trays should also be equipped with sensors to detect overflow.”
When it comes to power, the best approach is to monitor currents coming into the data center and arrange for an orderly shutdown of IT equipment in the event that power is knocked down. Failing to monitor power can result in electrical failures that can cause air conditioning units to shut down and servers to overheat.
According to Sheikh, in addition to keeping tabs on power, it is imperative to monitor smoke and we don’t just mean putting smoke alarms in the room.
“Smoke alarms can trigger power shutdowns. Also, they’re usually not tied to an alerting system that contacts IT personnel,” he said. “Alarms may be noticed by facilities managers—or the local fire department—but the maintenance of sensitive server equipment is not their top priority. Here, the best approach is to wire the smoke alarms directly into the climate monitoring and alerting system, essentially extending the functionality of the climate sensors to the smoke alarm.”
For more about environmental monitoring and ITWatchDogs, click here.
Carrie Schmelkin is a Web Editor for TMCnet. Previously, she worked as Assistant Editor at the New Canaan Advertiser, a 102-year-old weekly newspaper, covering news and enhancing the publication's social media initiatives. Carrie holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and a bachelor's degree in English from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Jamie Epstein
Server Room Climate & Power Monitoring
