Smart modular DC solution: make any room a data centre

With the development of big data, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT), increasing demands are placed on data centres, in turn driving their advancement as the cornerstones of the intelligent digital world.

Huawei smart modular data centre solution builds next generation data centre intelligence, making full use of our proprietary smart lithium battery — SmartLi — to implement full lithium battery backup. It builds a smart and green data centre based on SmartLi inside, a smart screen visualising the digital twin, and intelligent perations and Maintenance (O&M).

The solution is more adaptable to the environment and easier to deploy. It is a one-stop solution to the “limitation of area, load bearing, and floor height”.

A modular design and standard architecture equate to fast installation and on-demand deployment. Huawei smart modular data centre solution— awarded the world’s first “Uptime Tier IV Ready” certification — it integrates power, cooling, racks, cabling, and management system. This means it can be quickly deployed in a relatively small space, and at an extremely competitive price-point.

Changing the game, with SmartLi inside, now any room can be a data centre. Indeed, with far lower requirements placed on net height, the solution has no need for a traditional raised floor design. Instead, air conditioner pipes and power and signal cables are routed from the top, meaning that equipment can be accommodated in ceiling heights as low as 2.6 metres, far below the 3 metres minimum height required for a traditional data centre.

Elsewhere, the SmartLi Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) has extremely low load-bearing requirements — falling below 1000 kg/m2 – meaning that the power supply system and Information Technology (IT) devices can be deployed in one same module.

Compared with lead-acid batteries, this high-density solution slashes the space needed for the lithium batteries by 70 per cent, meaning more revenue-generating IT cabinets can be deployed instead.

Finally, flexible capacity expansion becomes possible, with the Huawei smart modular data centre solution — with SmartLi inside — offering a fully modular backup power supply. This brings into reality a truly modular system, from the power module to the battery module, where enterprises only pay for what they need now, significantly reducing Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), simply expanding when the business grows.

A digital twin and unified management

The smart modular data centre uses a 43-inch local touch screen to integrate Information & Communication Technology (ICT), automatic optimisation, intelligent communications, and infrastructure.

A digital twin is implemented for physical modular data centers and intelligent i3 features — iPower, iCooling, and iManager — are also accommodated on the local smart screen:

• iPower: Visualizsd data centre power distribution links, key modules to systems, and predictive maintenance.
• iCooling: Visualised cooling links and cooling energy efficiency optimisation boost Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) by 8 per cent to 15 per cent.
• iManager: Global data centre visualisation, diagnosis, and optimisation reduce O&M costs by 35 per cent.

NetEco visualises the operating status of the equipment room environment, cooling, power supply, and distribution subsystems. It implements proactive defense, rapid fault location, and proactive fault isolation, making O&M far simpler for the centre’s staff, lowering skill requirements and helping to ensure stable services.

Huawei’s smart modular data centre was able to satisfy burgeoning business demand without the usual challenges entailed by rapid expansion and facilitate enterprise digital transformation.