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Edits to Datacenter module 2
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### YamlMime:ModuleUnit
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uid: learn.philanthropies.learn-about-datacenter-design.introduction
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title: Introduction
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metadata:
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title: Introduction
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description: This content is a part of the "Learn about datacenter design, architecture, and infrastructure management" module.
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ms.date: 05/08/2025
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author: kiranchandratrey
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ms.author: elenasim
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ms.topic: unit
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durationInMinutes: 1
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content: |
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[!include[](includes/0-introduction.md)]

learn-pr/philanthropies/learn-about-datacenter-design/2-subsea-cables.yml

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### YamlMime:ModuleUnit
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uid: learn.philanthropies.learn-about-datacenter-design.subsea-cables
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title: Subsea cables
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title: Understand the impact of subsea cables on network architecture
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metadata:
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title: Subsea Cables
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description: This content is a part of the "Learn about datacenter design, architecture, and infrastructure management" module.
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In this module, we explore the foundational concepts that are essential for building reliable, scalable, and efficient datacenters.
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You'll gain an understanding of selection criteria for a datacenter site and importance of power and cooling systems. You'll also learn about the role of Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) and Building Management Systems (BMS) in monitoring operations.
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By the end of this module, you'll have a solid grasp of the critical elements that contribute to effective datacenter design and management.

learn-pr/philanthropies/learn-about-datacenter-design/includes/1-site-selection-design.md

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>[!div class="mx-imgBorder"]
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>[![Screenshot of a large-scale datacenter complex showcasing its strategic location with access to essential resources and infrastructure.](../media/aerial-view-of-datacenter-complex.jpg)](../media/aerial-view-of-datacenter-complex.jpg#lightbox)
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Have you ever wondered why datacenters are located in specific areas and not others? For instance, why aren't there major datacenters in places like the middle of the Australian Outback or the vast, open plains of central Mongolia?
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One of the primary reasons is that while these areas may offer plenty of available land, they often lack critical datacenter resources like reliable power, stable telecommunications networks, or cooling options. Additionally, harsh climates and remote locations can make it challenging to maintain and operate a datacenter effectively.
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By carefully selecting the right location and designing the facility thoughtfully, datacenters can deliver reliable performance, maintain uptime, and scale as needed while minimizing risks and keeping costs manageable.
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>[!div class="mx-imgBorder"]
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>[![Screenshot of a large-scale datacenter complex showcasing its strategic location with access to essential resources and infrastructure.](../media/aerial-view-of-datacenter-complex.jpg)](../media/aerial-view-of-datacenter-complex.jpg#lightbox)
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## Key factors in site selection
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Below are the key recommendations to consider when choosing the appropriate datacenter site location.

learn-pr/philanthropies/learn-about-datacenter-design/includes/2-subsea-cables.md

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## Subsea cables and their impact on network architecture
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Subsea cables enable high-speed, reliable, and scalable connectivity that support the ever-growing demands of global digital infrastructure, providing high-speed, low latency connectivity across continents. This global reach is essential for multinational companies and cloud service providers.
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learn-pr/philanthropies/learn-about-datacenter-design/includes/3-datacenter-layout-design.md

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Single-story and multi-story datacenters
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Did you ever ask yourself why most datacenters you come across are sprawling single-story buildings or clusters of buildings, rather than towering skyscrapers? The answer lies in practicality. Single-story datacenters have been the standard for a long time due to their simpler infrastructure management, easier maintenance, and lower costs.
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learn-pr/philanthropies/learn-about-datacenter-design/includes/4-subsea-datacenters.md

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## Examples of subsea datacenter projects
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- Microsoft Project Natick: In 2018, Microsoft deployed a subsea datacenter off the Orkney Islands in Scotland as part of its Project Natick. The sealed, cylindrical capsule housed 864 servers and operated for two years. The results showed a lower failure rate compared to land-based datacenters, owing to the controlled environment and lack of human interference. The project demonstrated the feasibility of subsea datacenters for sustainable and scalable computing.
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- Nautilus Data Technologies: Nautilus develops waterborne datacenters that operate on barges rather than the ocean floor. While not fully submerged, these facilities utilize water cooling from the surrounding environment. Their first commercial facility in Stockton, California, has shown promise as a more sustainable alternative to land-based cooling.
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- Baidu's Underwater AI Facility: In 2020, Baidu experimented with an underwater datacenter for artificial intelligence workloads, leveraging ocean cooling to reduce operational costs and increase efficiency.
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- *Microsoft Project Natick:* In 2018, Microsoft deployed a subsea datacenter off the Orkney Islands in Scotland as part of its Project Natick. The sealed, cylindrical capsule housed 864 servers and operated for two years. The results showed a lower failure rate compared to land-based datacenters, owing to the controlled environment and lack of human interference. The project demonstrated the feasibility of subsea datacenters for sustainable and scalable computing.
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- *Nautilus Data Technologies:* Nautilus develops waterborne datacenters that operate on barges rather than the ocean floor. While not fully submerged, these facilities utilize water cooling from the surrounding environment. Their first commercial facility in Stockton, California, has shown promise as a more sustainable alternative to land-based cooling.
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- *Baidu's Underwater AI Facility:* In 2020, Baidu experimented with an underwater datacenter for artificial intelligence workloads, leveraging ocean cooling to reduce operational costs and increase efficiency.

learn-pr/philanthropies/learn-about-datacenter-design/includes/5-key-zones.md

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Before we dive into the primary zones on the datacenter floor plan, it's important we define two commonly used terms in datacenter design and space allocation: grey space and white space.
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- White space: Refers to the areas in a datacenter that are dedicated to IT equipment, such as servers, racks, storage devices, and networking equipment. This is the space where customers (or the datacenter operator) can install their hardware.
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- Grey space: Refers to areas within a datacenter that are non-IT space but still play a crucial role in supporting the IT infrastructure. These spaces are generally used for supporting systems like power distribution, cooling, backup systems, and other operational equipment.
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- **White space:** Refers to the areas in a datacenter that are dedicated to IT equipment, such as servers, racks, storage devices, and networking equipment. This is the space where customers (or the datacenter operator) can install their hardware.
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- **Grey space:** Refers to areas within a datacenter that are non-IT space but still play a crucial role in supporting the IT infrastructure. These spaces are generally used for supporting systems like power distribution, cooling, backup systems, and other operational equipment.
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When thinking about these zones, it's also important to keep in mind topologies within a datacenter. Datacenter topologies refer to how the IT systems and infrastructure are organized to ensure smooth, reliable, and scalable operations. Think of it as the blueprint for how everything works together in a datacenter.
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learn-pr/philanthropies/learn-about-datacenter-design/includes/6-uptime-tier-classification-system.md

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There're four levels (Tiers I to IV), each offering different uptime guarantees and redundancy (backup systems).
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- **Tier I: Basic Infrastructure** (Low Reliability)
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- Uptime: 99.671% (around 28.8 hours of downtime per year).
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- Backup: No redundancy.
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- Best For: Small businesses with simple IT needs.
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- **Tier II: Partial Redundancy** (Moderate Reliability)
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- Uptime: 99.741% (around 22 hours of downtime per year).
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- Backup: Some redundancy in power and cooling systems.
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- Best For: Businesses that need reliable systems without breaking the bank.
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- **Tier III: Concurrently Maintainable** (High Reliability)
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- Uptime: 99.982% (around 1.6 hours of downtime per year).
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- Backup: All critical systems can be maintained without downtime.
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- Best For: Companies needing 24/7 operations, like large enterprises.
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- **Tier IV: Fault-Tolerant** (Very High Reliability)
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- Uptime: 99.995% (around 26.3 minutes of downtime per year).
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- Backup: Complete redundancy for all critical systems.
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- Best For: Industries where downtime isn't an option, like banking, healthcare, and cloud services.
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|Tier|Description|
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|---|---|
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|**Tier I: Basic Infrastructure** (Low Reliability)|- Uptime: 99.671% (around 28.8 hours of downtime per year). </br>- Backup: No redundancy.</br>- Best For: Small businesses with simple IT needs. |
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|**Tier II: Partial Redundancy** (Moderate Reliability)|- Uptime: 99.741% (around 22 hours of downtime per year).</br>- Backup: Some redundancy in power and cooling systems.</br>- Best For: Businesses that need reliable systems without breaking the bank.|
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|**Tier III: Concurrently Maintainable** (High Reliability)|- Uptime: 99.982% (around 1.6 hours of downtime per year).</br>- Backup: All critical systems can be maintained without downtime.</br>- Best For: Companies needing 24/7 operations, like large enterprises.|
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|**Tier IV: Fault-Tolerant** (Very High Reliability)|- Uptime: 99.995% (around 26.3 minutes of downtime per year).</br>- Backup: Complete redundancy for all critical systems.</br>- Best For: Industries where downtime isn't an option, like banking, healthcare, and cloud services.
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The Uptime Institute doesn't officially recognize a Tier V classification. However, the term "Tier V" is sometimes informally used in marketing or discussions to describe extremely high performance datacenters that exceed Tier IV specifications, such as:
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These claims don't align with the Uptime Institute's official standards but may reflect innovations or custom standards created by specific companies or industries.
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For official datacenter classification, Tier IV remains the highest level.
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For official datacenter classification, **Tier IV** remains the highest level.

learn-pr/philanthropies/learn-about-datacenter-design/includes/8-it-infrastructure-design.md

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## Optimizing placement for performance & maintenance
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Strategically positioning IT equipment within the datacenter is critical for maximizing performance and ensuring ease of maintenance. Proper placement helps reduce cable clutter, ensures optimal airflow, and improves accessibility for routine checks or upgrades.
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Considerations include:
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Strategically positioning IT equipment within the datacenter is critical for maximizing performance and ensuring ease of maintenance. Proper placement helps reduce cable clutter, ensures optimal airflow, and improves accessibility for routine checks or upgrades. Considerations include:
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- **Rack layouts**: Positioning servers, storage, and network equipment in optimized rack layouts maximizes available space and promotes efficient airflow. This is crucial for preventing overheating and maintaining system reliability.
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- **Hot and cold aisles**: Implementing proper airflow management by placing servers in rows that alternate between “hot” and “cold” aisles helps maintain temperature control, reduce energy consumption, and increase cooling efficiency.
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IT infrastructure design shouldn't only address the present but also anticipate future needs. As technology evolves and businesses expand, the datacenter will need to scale to support new applications, higher traffic volumes, and more complex data processing requirements.
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- Modular design: A modular design enables easy upgrades, adding additional servers or storage units without significant disruption.
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- Scalability in networking: As demand for bandwidth increases, scalable networking solutions allow the datacenter to accommodate new workloads and user requirements without overhauling the existing infrastructure.
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- **Modular design:** A modular design enables easy upgrades, adding additional servers or storage units without significant disruption.
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- **Scalability in networking:** As demand for bandwidth increases, scalable networking solutions allow the datacenter to accommodate new workloads and user requirements without overhauling the existing infrastructure.

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