The data center is definitely one of the key places within the organization that uses a lot of power. And it cannot be helped; the power is necessary to run the servers, keep the room heated or cooled, and maintain air flow through your equipment so as to avoid overheating.
While organizations today are creating, capturing and storing more data, that is putting even more pressure on the data center. The good news is that there are ways to absorb that pressure without increasing the consumption of data center power.
In a recent blog captured in ZDnet, Bill Detwiler, head technology editor for Tech Republic, shared five practical power saving tips. This video was originally posted in the TR Dojo Blog. During this video, Detwiler shares with viewers how to reduce power and reduce the power bill.
These tips are important whether you are seeking to save money or simply become more environmentally friendly. By cutting back on data center power, you can improve both your environmental impact and your power bills. The five practical tips shared by Detwiler are based both on professional opinion and Tech Republic reader input.
Server Virtualization – this is always a good way to reduce data center power consumption. And, while the servers put in place are larger than what you may have had in the past, they can hold so much more data. In other words, you are consolidating down your servers, while improving your capabilities.
Consolidate Hardware – this is a good time to reevaluate your power consumption to determine if you have hardware that is not being used. Also evaluate your rack use – if you have a few racks that are only used at about 30 percent capacity, consolidate them to create a right fit for the environment.
Ditch the KVM and Monitors – you don’t need these accessories in the data center to get the job done – especially not on every system. Instead, consider creating a crash cart that is only connected when needed.
Reexamine Your Cooling System – whether in your server room or data center. Examine if you have uneven airflow, leaking raised floors, humidity instability or improper set-points. If power bills are particularly high, it may be good to hire an outside consultant.
Avoid Frivolous IT Purchases – when eight servers are purchased to do the job of two, power is being wasted. Be sure that the purchases you make are a right fit for the environment.
Check out this video in full if you want to get into more detail on conserving data center power. You can even stick around after the credits for a few fun bloopers.
Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMCnet and has also written for eastbiz.com. To read more of Susan’s articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by Carrie Schmelkin