A challenge

[GrumbleDook]

In a discussion with a friend (a Data Centre Manager) about how different school servers can be from school to school we hit on trying to see what a typical server room looked like, and whilst he enjoyed looking at the server room thread he wanted more quantifiable information ... so to settle a disagreement would folk care to answer the following?

 

1. What type of school are you? (S - Secondary including Upper schools, P - Primary, M - Middle, J - Junior, I - Infants, N - Nursery, O - Other and please add SP if special provision or ALT for Alternative education such as PRU)
   
2. 
   
3. How many learners do you have?
   
4. 
   
5. Approx dimensions of your server room
   
6. 
   
7. Is your server used for any other task (e.g. office, storage, etc)?
   
8. 
   
9. Was your servers room a conversion (eg no - dedicated room, yes - previously a toilet)?
   
10. 
    
11. How many Racks do you have?
    
12. 
    
13. What make(s)?
    
14. 
    
15. Dimensions (eg 19" x 42Ux 1200)
    
16. 
    
17. How is your rack filled (e.g. 4U - UPS, 10U - servers, 5U - switches / routers, 4U - patch panels, 3U - Cable Management, 16U - spare / blank)
    
18. 
    
19. How much power is available and drawn per rack (individual rack)?
    
20. 
    
21. What is the BTU output of the equipment in your rack (individual rack)?
    
22. 
    
23. What is the weight of your loaded rack?
    
24. 
    
25. What is the max cooling load of your A/C (BTU/hr)
    

 

 

If you don't know any of the answers then just say "Don't know" ...

[tmcd35]

1 - Secondary

2 - 850

3 - 2m x 4m (does that sound about right?)

4 - Toner storage, Software, 2 filing cabinets of assorted stuff

5 - Not sure, certainly a dedicated space now

6 - 2

7 - ?

8 - Er, tall! floor standing, 19", probably 42U

9 - Rack1 = 5-6U patch panels, 9U switches, 3U routers/servers, 6U UPS's, rest spare/blank

Rack2 = 4U CCTV DVR, 1U KVM, 5U Servers, 6-8U UPS, rest spare/blank

10 - Don't know

11 - Don't know

12 - Don't know

13 - 2xA/C units - Don't Know specs

 

(I may actually go look/measure and edit this post later - if I remember)

 

Edit: I do have a 2U server sitting on top of the 2 filing cabinets (not sure I should be admitting to that, or the fact it's out main 4Tb storage array... )

Edited November 22, 2012 by tmcd35

[twin--turbo]

1) S

2) 1100

3) 6M*3M plus a 2M*2M alcove

4) No (except some tonors)

5) Built

6) 5

7) Excel

8) 2x 19" x 42Ux 1000 / 2x 19" x 42U x 800

9) Rack 1 Structured cabling and 1U switches

Rack 2 2x4507 Cores , UPS, ASA, Firebox, Securus,

Rack 3 UPS, Blade enclosure 5 1U Servers, 2 Lefthand Sans, 1 MSA, Tape Library. Etc...

Rack 4 ComS circuits, voice router, call recorder, a few switches, Digital Signage server.

Rack 5 UPS, 5 2U servers, KVM, Call manager Server, Voicemail Server, 2x NAS, SAN, etc...

10) A work in progress , it was never correctly planned and quantified by the installers.

11) See 10. we have 15Kw of cooling though

12) Very Heavy, but it's solid ground floor. We have considerde this in a previous room and moved downstairs.

13) See 11

 

Rob

[glennda]

This is for my previous school

 

1. Secondary

2. 1600

3. 3 x 4

4. no

5. Yes built out of old store room.

6. 3 (was 4)

7. HP

8. 19" 42U 1200

9. rack 1 4U UPS - Rest Servers 4U San 1U Fiber Switch. Rack 2 - Switching and Patch panels Rack 3. Servers, KVM and routers. 1 x B500 free standing ups

10. B500 is 3 phase 32 amp, APC SUA10000 - 32amp 3 phase

11. not a clue

12. A lot

13. Don't know but had two large Daikin Air con units for the room kept at 19 degrees.

[6Foot2]

1. Secondary [Academy status acheived]
   
2. 1200
   
3. 2.6 x 3.2 x 3.1 [High ceilings!]
   
4. Server: No other use. Server Room: Storage of old kit awaiting repair and new kit awaiting deployment.
   
5. Don't know. It has always been a sever room while I have been here [9 years now]
   
6. Two. One for switches, one for servers.
   
7. Think one might be CISCO: It has lost all branding [switches] The server one: Don't know.
   
8. Server rack: 81" x 31" x 32" Switch rack: 23" x 26" x 53" [Exterior dimensions]
   
9. Server rack: 16 port KVM, LT03 tape drive with two tape libraries, 5 SUN servers for offsite network access, 7 Dell servers, 2 HP servers, 1 UPS. Switch rack: 4 switches, various makes and numbers of ports, 6 Ethernet patch panels, 2 fibre media modules.
   
10. Don't know.
    
11. Don't know.
    
12. No idea but HEAVY!
    
13. Don't know: Can say that it is a Dakin Inverter.
    

[twin--turbo]

With respect to (10)

 

The design and install were poor.

 

Insufficient outlets were specified , loadings not checked, etc. We battled to have it sorted but got nowhere. We are still neeedding to rectify this.

 

As an example (and this is on our other site which came second!) they specified too few cabinets for the server room despite us asking them to provide rack diagrams to ensure the space.

 

So after primary install they agree that there needs to be another rack to house equipment sitting on the floor. And it would need a UPS, and as such would need power.

 

My colleauge "Z" rings me up. we will call the installer "X"

 

Z: "Hi Rob, X have had a look in the ceeling and say there is a feed already there, so they can put in the extra UPS no problem"

Me: "Realy? A Spare 32A? Bonus.."

Z: "No, it's a 16A but X assure me it's fine"

Me: "But the UPS is an APC RT6000 right?"

Z: "Er, yeah... X say it's fine"

Me: "But 6000VA will overload the Supply"

Z: "Will it, they say that's how the other one is connected"

Me: Spits and rants.

Me: "Ask them to look on the back panel of the ups next to the incommer, look at the Rated supply. It's not 16A!!!!!"

Me: "So they need to fix that one too!"

 

 

 

 

Rob

[twin--turbo]

With Respect to (11)

 

Total heat output was calculated by "X" based on thermal output from device's . Obviously that is MAX output. Their calcs came in at under 7.5Kw

 

So we run two 7.5kws for N+1

 

Rob

[twin--turbo]

Also..

 

"X" put the structured cabinet on teh end of the run of cabinets. So there is a mass of cabling all running one way.

 

 

 

 

 

Basicaly if we had planned it, then It would ahve been done a whole heap better.

 

 

 

RANT OVER....

 

Rob

[tmcd35]

With respect to (10)

 

The design and install were poor.

 

Insufficient outlets were specified , loadings not checked, etc. We battled to have it sorted but got nowhere. We are still neeedding to rectify this.

 

 

Rob

 

After last weeks fiasco I've got the Business Manager to agree to getting the wiring in our server room sorted. The UPS holding up the main switch and routers in Rack1 died. So I risked my life for the sake of the school and climbed behind the racks to re-wire direct into the mains. Now...

 

I have no idea where the mains is coming from. We have 1 thick cable from a fused spur labled "servers" feeding the other rack. However in Rack 1 we do have 3 5-gang extension cables plugged into each other. Until the UPS failed and I rewired what I could, there where Y-splitter coming off of those and in once a Y-splitter off a Y-splitter, plugged in to a 5-gang extension, plugged in to a 5-gang extension.

 

I thank the last NM for the mess that is Rack1 (both electric cabling and data cabling - mess!!!). Although I have, er, ignored the problem for the best part of four years (if it ain't broke for $dietys sake DONT TOUCH IT). I have a major re-wireing effort planned next summer. If the school hasn't burn't down before then...

[CyberNerd]

1. S
   
2. 
   
3. 1750
   
4. 
   
5. 16' x 10'
   
6. 
   
7. No
   
8. 
   
9. Yes, it was last used as a cupboard for drama but I don't know what it's original purpose was
   
10. 
    
11. 4
    
12. 
    
13. Compaq and some random racks
    
14. 
    
15. 2x 19" x 42Ux 1200 1x19"x42U x 600 and 1x19"x24Ux600
    
16. 
    
17. 1 has 10 home built servers. 1 has SAN and !BM Bladecentre. 1 has external network equipment 1 has internal network equipment (9 switches)
    
18. 
    
19. 970W switches 2.6KW servers (rack 1). don't know about the other
    
20. 
    
21. don't know
    
22. 
    
23. don't know
    
24. 
    
25. 32 metres cubed per min. Can't find BTU specs
    

[AngryTechnician]

1. Primary (Prep)
   
2. 510
   
3. 250cm D x 220cm W x 280cm H
   
4. No
   
5. Conversion, previously one corner of open plan office
   
6. 1
   
7. Standard and Pochin Enclosure Systems
   
8. 800 x 1000 42U
   
9. 17U servers, 6U patch, 2U cable management, 8U switches/routers, 9U UPS = 0U spare!
   
10. Available: 4800W, drawn 2000W approx.
    
11. Unknown
    
12. Unknown
    
13. Unknown
    

[mthomas08]

1.S

2.1600

3.Approx dimensions of your server room

4.Yes, Technician+desk and storage - is also first room before our office.

5.Yes was previously 1 small office + storage - wall setup for previous Head of ICT (when he was head of IT and ICT)

6.2

7.Dont know

8.Dont know

9.2X UPS, 10X Servers, 2X Switches

 

Sorry couldnt tell you the rest. All I know is a seperate line was put in for power this year (power cuts/trips occuring everywhere) and we do have air con finally working fully in the room.

[3s-gtech]

1. Secondary

2. 850

3. 3m width x 6m length x 3m height

4. No

5. Yes - built long before servers - probably a stroage area

6. 2

7. Dell

8. 19" x 42U

9. 1 is 4U UPS, 15U or so servers with a shelf for a Mac Mini etc, the rest blank. 2 is 11U of switches, 1U of router, 6U of patch panels, the rest blank.

10. 1 is 2 x 3000VA UPSs, 50% and 10% load. 2 is 1 x 3000VA UPS, 10% load.

11. Not a clue. Lots, still a few Netburst Xeons in there. Very little in the second rack.

12. At a guess, 150Kg for the first rack, and 75Kg for the second. Solid concrete first floor.

13. Again, not sure. Small unit, 9KW or so? Don't know how much heat it can deal with though.

[bossman]

@GrumbleDook:

 

1. S

2. 750

3. 4m x 2m

4. No

5. Yes – Store room

6. 2

7. APW and Cooper B-Line

8. Both 19” 42U 1200s

9. Cooper B-Line = 6 x 2U’s PSU, 8 x 2U’s Servers, 2 x 2U SAN’s, 1 x 2U backup disk box, 1 x 2U Quantum LT04 16 tape-loader, 2 x 1U cable tidies, 2 x 1U Gig switches, 1 x 1U KVM x 16 usb

 

APW = 3 x 6U Servers, 3 x 2U UPS, lots more space to fill

 

10. Cooper = 14w APW = 2.9w

11. 25000 BTUs

12. Just put me back out!!! Special non static floor covering over solid concrete.

13. 40000 BTUs

Edited November 22, 2012 by bossman

[DSapseid]

1. S

2. 557

3. 5x4

4. Small bit of storage and has my 44" large format printer in

5. Yes 2 Store cupboards. One was taken over in 2003 the second and the server room double to present in 2011.

6. 2

7. Prism

8. 19" 42U 1200

9. Rack 1: 1U kvm, 8U UPS (i think), 33U servers (again i think! the rack is full!) Rack 2: 10U Switches, 6U Patch Panel, 8U Cable management, 3U county broadband stuff

10. not a clue! UPS is 15kva and supplies both racks

11. not a clue!

12. Hate to think!! The UPS was 1/3 ton on its own!

13. 2 x 7kw Daiken Units/

 

edit: forgot to mention that rack 1 has 2U of patch panel in the back and rack 2 has 3 shelves on the back which have the mac mini and mac pegasus drive and enviromental monitoring etc on.

Edited November 22, 2012 by DSapseid

[robknowles]

1) S

2) 1360

3) 2.2m x 3.8m

4) No

5) Yes - office and and a store room knocked together

6) 4 Racks

7) APC

8) 3 Racks (Server etc) are 42U - 60cm wide and 1.1m depth, 1 Rack (Comms) is 42U - 80cm wide and 1.1m depth)

9) Server Rack - 18U Servers, 2U ToR Switches (rest is empty), Storage Rack - 16U SANs, 3U iSCSI Switches (rest is empty), VDI/Backup Rack - 15U Servers, 2U Shelf for Mac Mini/Securus/Time Capsule, 2U Tapeloader, 2U ToR Switches (rest is empty), Comms Rack, 11U Patch Panels, 9U Switches/Routers/Firewalls/Ruckus Controller. (rest is empty)

10) Server/SAN Racks, about 12 Amps Drawn and Comms Rack about 5amps. 15000KVA UPS is available that services all racks.

11) Not sure

12) Servers etc racks about 190-200KG, Comms about 100KG

13) 10KW plus 7KW

 

Thanks,

 

Rob

Edited November 22, 2012 by robknowles

[localzuk]

1. M

2. 545

3. 2m x 3m

4. Yes, toner storage

5. Yes, used to be a paper store

6. 1

7. Prism

8. 19" x 42U don't know depth - standard depth

9. 10U UPS, 1U environment monitoring, 1U Wireless controller, 3U fibre patch panels, 4U switch, 2U KVM, 18U servers, 3U cable management

10. 32A available around 16A drawn.

11. Don't know

12. Don't know

13. Don't know

 

With 9 - 18U servers will become 9U servers soon, when 9U are retired, meaning 10 will also drop by about 4.5A.

[aleach2]

1) S

2) 1100

3) 3.7m x 2.7m

4) Some Minor Storage (Toners & Spare Laptops)

5) Dedicated Room

6) 2

7) Prism

8) 19" x 47U x 1200mm

9) Rack 1 = 4U UPS (2x 2 UPS), 4U Hitachi SAN, 9U Servers (4 x 2U + 1 x 1U), 2U NAS, 2U Switches (VMware Backend), 25U Free | Rack 2 = 4U Core Switch, 2U Routher, 1U WiFi Controller, 1U Smoothwall Appliance, 1U Virgin Switch, 1U Fibre Converter, 11U Fibre Cables, 8U Cable Management Arms.

10) 3 x 16Amp Commando Connectors, not sure how much power is used

11) Unknown

12) Heavy!!!!!!

13) Unknown, we have 1 x moderate size AC

Edited November 22, 2012 by aleach2

[Sylv3r]

1. S

2. 1,514

3. 5m x 3m x 2m (length x width x height)

4. No

5. It has already been designated as the server room, but only within the last few years does it tick all boxes

6. 3

7. Can't remember

8. 3 x 19" x 42Ux 1200)

9. Off the top of my head, can't think

10. Don't know

11. Don't know

12. Don't know

13. Don't know

[pcstru]

Cripes.

 

1. S

2. ~2400

3. We have two server rooms, a primary and a 'backup'. P is ~3m*5m, B is ~3*2.5 (but is a wierd shape).

4. (presume you mean room). Not really, although some surplus stuff lingers too long until I nag.

5. School predates technology so they are both conversions.

6. 4 in primary, 1 in secondary but soon to expand to 2.

7. No idea.

8. 4 * 42U 19" 1200 inm primary, 1 24/27U in backup.

 

I need to check to answer the rest with any degree of accuracy!

[6Foot2]

@GrumbleDook: quite a few replies have indicated in reply 12 that the loaded rack is HEAVY [my reply included] and @twin--turbo mentioned a consideration not included in your post: server Room location: Ground floor or first floor?

Our Server Room is located on the first floor and although our loaded rack is heavy it is not a 'threat' to the floor. This may not be true for all schools?

 

[Our Finance Department has a safe that certainly could not be located on our upper floors]

[GrumbleDook]

@GrumbleDook: quite a few replies have indicated in reply 12 that the loaded rack is HEAVY [my reply included] and @twin--turbo mentioned a consideration not included in your post: server Room location: Ground floor or first floor?

Our Server Room is located on the first floor and although our loaded rack is heavy it is not a 'threat' to the floor. This may not be true for all schools?

 

[Our Finance Department has a safe that certainly could not be located on our upper floors]

 

I'm not so much worried about which floor the server room is in for this survey ... that question was mainly to give examples weights so that the consideration of threat to raised floors ... not that many schools have raised floors in their server rooms.

[glennda]

This is for my previous school

 

1. Secondary

2. 1600

3. 3 x 4

4. no

5. Yes built out of old store room.

6. 3 (was 4)

7. HP

8. 19" 42U 1200

9. rack 1 4U UPS - Rest Servers 4U San 1U Fiber Switch. Rack 2 - Switching and Patch panels Rack 3. Servers, KVM and routers. 1 x B500 free standing ups

10. B500 is 3 phase 32 amp, APC SUA10000 - 32amp 3 phase

11. not a clue

12. A lot

13. Don't know but had two large Daikin Air con units for the room kept at 19 degrees.

 

Should have also said there was a second "backup room" which consisted of 2 x 42U racks - on with patch and switching in, the second with 8u of servers storing onsite backup (1 x 4U 36bay 32TB backup server 1 x HP DL380, 1 x HP MSA60).

[6Foot2]

... that question was mainly to give examples weights so that the consideration of threat to raised floors ... not that many schools have raised floors in their server rooms.

 

For clarity we do not have a raised floor [false floor] in our sever room.

[elsiegee40]

Going back to the dark ages of mainframes... weight of equipment was rarely a threat to the raised floor. There was too much cable underneath holding it up. We rarely reused cabling as kit changed. It was left in place and new cables laid under the floor where we could find room!