Micromodular data centers - a solution for small VPS / VDS providers



Factory micromodular data centers combine information technology and auxiliary infrastructure in an autonomous unit.

Mini-data centers are rapidly developing in the final network connections - in factories, container ships, and cellular base stations. The reason for this is the fact that all enterprises are trying to introduce computing and storage capacity closer to the place where the data is generated. In addition, the density of data and computing power is constantly increasing - the need for large sizes disappears. Now most of the data centers of VPS service providers (virtual servers) do not represent premises larger than 1 room.

The so-called micromodular data centers (MMDC) are not something supernova, nor are they the only solution to the geo-distributed data processing problem. However, according to the analytical company 451 Research, over the past three years, the popularity of micromodular data centers has increased, and the combined annual growth rate was 42%. It is possible that MMDC sales in 2018 reached almost $ 30 million (in comparison, in 2017 this figure varied within the limit of $ 18 million). Despite the not-so-large market, MMDC sales in 2018 will include about 2,000 new units, and in addition they will become an integral part of expensive projects.

Daniel Bizot, senior data center technology analyst at 451 Research, said micromodules are not yet in the public domain. However, according to him, such a product has enormous growth potential, and not only because completely new technologies are used there, but because in the future with the help of micromodules it will be possible to solve many problems and satisfy the demand for highly distributed capacities.

The desire for localized computing resources is growing as companies advance their digital initiatives. Businesses are struggling with bandwidth limitations and are trying to reduce the response time for every millisecond for delay-sensitive applications. In an industrial setting, companies need local storage and processing capabilities to make the most of smart data processing systems. Telecommunications companies and content distributors are seeking to more efficiently deploy and manage peripheral computing solutions in response to demand for digital services.

According to Bizo, the digitization of the physical world will require huge amounts of storage, so micromodules should be the first step to ensure this process.

What are micromodular data centers?


The micromodular data center, in fact, is a device encapsulated in its own protective shell. Climate control, power distribution and network connection are built into the assembly unit, as well as other functions such as physical protection, fire extinguishing system, damping and protection against electromagnetic interference.

The case of the micromodular data center is located inside its own shell (encapsulated and closed-loop), but in its functionality it is not inferior to the data centers that are standard in the understanding of ordinary people. Therefore, it is not surprising that this technology can help in solving the problem of deploying portable IT facilities.

Currently, compact, solid-state technical devices are widely used, and server racks or rooms can be found in almost any branch of any company. VPS providers also do not lag behind them, optimizing their spending as much as possible and dumping prices for their services more and more. This is especially true for virtual servers running Windows Server - this is VPS Windows. Micromodular data centers differ from traditional systems. At the product level, they are more carefully designed and integrated, unlike typical IT racks or server racks.

When considering what infrastructure requirements should be used in a decentralized approach to IT technologies, many companies are faced with the fact that in most cases their existing distributed capacities must be decommissioned or upgraded. Most of the existing sites are not suitable for digital services, because they do not have the necessary reliability, stability and protection.

Another advantage of micromodular data centers is the ease of deployment. According to Bizo, testing and integration of components of micromodular data centers is carried out by the supplier and its partners through the channels, which significantly accelerates their deployment. Since all parts are prefabricated and autonomous, therefore, less labor is required. This is especially attractive for financial services companies. For example, for banks, the main advantage of micromodular data centers is their predictability and the ability to constantly monitor. Indeed, the fact that it is possible to test and assemble everything in one place, and then send it under guard to another place and install, looks much more attractive than launching an entire project: hiring contractors in the right place, long-term work,

Another distinguishing feature of a micromodular data center from typical IT racks or server racks is that the decision to deploy micromodular data centers is always carefully weighed and planned. The use of micromodules will make deployment more strategic and, as a result, become part of a larger architecture.

Who produces micromodular data centers?


Micromodular data centers have different sizes. For each case, the company can deploy different options for the data center: put one rack for local file caching or configure several racks to create a high-performance computing cluster. In the end, the company can combine a group of racks to create a larger micromodular unit with power from tens to hundreds of kilowatts.

Since the second half of 2016, the number of manufacturers of micromodular data centers has increased markedly. For example, STULZ, a specialist in environmental monitoring systems, offers the STULZ Micro DC lineup, which includes three racks that can be scaled in size (see the photo at the beginning of the article).

Located in Tempe, Arizona, Instant Data Centers offers its line of microdata centers, including built-in cooling, fire safety, shock and vibration isolation, as well as a standard waterproof shell.
Schneider Electric, in turn, offers its prefabricated microdata center, which includes power, cooling, security and appropriate infrastructure management, in addition, it has the ability to scale up to 100 kilowatts. HP introduced the HPE Micro Datacenter micromodular data center, which includes the benefits of several developments. The project is a storage, network computing solution from HPE coupled with a secure enclosure, UPS, power distribution, cooling and monitoring systems from Schneider Electric.

According to Bizot, technologies such as the Internet of things, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud VPS / VDS - north, etc., can provoke demand for micromodular data centers. And telecommunication service providers, in order to optimize their networks and the digital services running on them, need more computing units and storage facilities that could be deployed in the networks of telecom operators. Of course, we will not get ahead of ourselves and talk about speed, but it will be a shame if micromodular data centers do not go beyond the current speed of work.

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