DATA CENTRES
Addressing data centre challenges in the era of surging AI workloads The surge in data means that data centres are more critical than ever, and so are the power and cooling requirements for them, which means a holistic approach is imperative, according to Martin Ryder, channel sales director Northern Europe at Vertiv.
Understanding the future of business operations requires a thorough look at the upcoming surge in data, a trend that has caught the attention of stakeholders across industries. In this rapidly changing landscape, hyperscalers play a key role as pioneers, setting the specifications that will drive the next significant transformation. The ongoing collaboration between hyperscalers and the supply chain represents a close partnership aimed at aligning expectations and optimising available resources. The certainty of this transformative wave is not up for debate; the focus has shifted to figuring out when this shift will fully take place. Customers, realising the importance of this imminent change, are actively expressing interest, with some forward-thinking entities already making strategic adjustments to smoothly integrate with the upcoming artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. As we navigate through this evolving terrain, the combination of increasing bandwidth requirements and the continuous influx of data is fundamentally reshaping the business landscape. Beyond the traditional considerations of power and cooling, attention is now squarely on connectivity, emerging as a critical element that significantly influences the design and functionality of data centres. The relationship between hyperscalers, the supply chain, and businesses adapting to the demands of the AI era highlights the complexity and interdependence of these crucial components in shaping the future of data management and technological advancement. Exploring power requirements One of the primary challenges looming on the horizon is the significant surge in power
requirements, a direct consequence of the deployment of high-performance CPUs and GPUs essential for handling intricate AI workloads. As businesses gear up for the AI revolution, this surge presents a pressing issue that demands strategic solutions from data centres. Critical infrastructure solution providers are taking a leading role in providing innovative solutions for power management and optimisation. Effectively navigating the challenge of rising power demands entails a proactive exploration and implementation of such cutting-edge solutions. There is an emphasis on the integration of energy- efficient hardware within data centres, which involves not only adopting state-of-the-art hardware designs but also staying abreast of advancements in processor technology. The strategic emphasis on power efficiency goes beyond immediate operational needs. It aligns with the broader imperative of promoting sustainability in the face of escalating energy consumption. By taking a forward-thinking stance on power efficiency, data centres can not only meet the challenges posed by burgeoning AI workloads but can also contribute to a more environmentally conscious and sustainable future. Cooling Shifting our attention to the critical domain of cooling unveils a closer examination of thermal management within data centres, not least the ongoing trend toward liquid cooling. Throughout the years, data centre designs have progressed from chilled water systems to indirect adiabatic systems, with a recent resurgence of interest in chilled water systems with three distinct options for liquid cooling at the rack level.
Martin Ryder
vertiv.com
In this rapidly changing landscape, hyperscalers play a key role as pioneers, setting the specifications that will drive the next significant transformation. “
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