Data centers are created worldwide nowadays. Their popularity is due to the rise in IT technologies. DCs are responsible for data processing and storage, as well as computing tasks. They come as huge brains that can process complicated information quicker than humans do. Thus, multiple tasks are entrusted to them.
Defining Data Centers
Most modern enterprises, businesses, and companies have their own server rooms or data centers. This relates to mid-sized and large businesses. Small companies usually rent some space in the memory of such DCs to enjoy their capabilities. Anyway, no business can run without such systems nowadays. Below, we’re going to explore the largest data center in the world and outline its capabilities, advantages, and peculiarities.
The main purposes of DCs include:
- provide computing and processing capabilities to deal with huge volumes of data;
- store information reliably and durably;
- eliminate the risk of information leakage, theft, or damage.
Modern data processing is impossible without such huge systems. Thus, new DCs appear on the world map regularly.
The Largest Data Center
At the moment, China Telecom stands as the biggest data center in the world. It is owned by China Telecom Co. and provides data storage space for thousands of corporations and enterprises in the region. Statistically, 50% of the entire Chinese market is served in this DC.
The DC occupies a territory of 10,763,910 square feet and is located in Hohhot. The infrastructure comprises 400 DCs in Mainland China and overseas markets, with Inner Mongolia Information Park being the main division. This place was chosen not by chance; the following reasons contributed to the deployment of the largest data center in the world there:
- Beijing-Tianjin economic circle radiation belt passes in this place, making it convenient for info transmission and related services.
- The environment is favorable for DC deployment since an average temperature reaches 42.8°F (6°C) in the region. It means that it is possible to save power and expenses on cooling since the natural ventilation is enough to keep the required climate and temperature within the norm.
The park occupies a territory of 100 hectares and is equipped with the required infrastructure for maintenance, security, etc. Here, not only critical network infrastructure is located. A warehouse, security departments, tech staff buildings, programming centers, and others are found. Thus, it comes as a separate world that can exist independently without the involvement of external forces.
Technological Innovations
A wide range of data center innovations is implemented here to meet the demands of modern consumers, guarantee high capacity, and provide a lot of space for shared usage.
Equipment of the latest generation is installed to react instantly and work smoothly. High-load hardware with the biggest server in the world is mounted to guide processes and process information effectively. Hardware is maintained and replaced timely when updated models are introduced on the market to eliminate deterioration.
Due attention is paid to cooling systems. Although 8 months out of 12, the climate is favorable to natural cooling, fans and other ventilation tools are installed to maintain the required environment during the rest of the year. Liquid cooling strategies are implemented to make the DC more friendly to the climate.
The Scale of the Project
The DC is titled as the largest server farm in the world for a reason. Just look at these figures:
- Subdivisions in 40 countries around the world;
- 50% of the Chinese market is covered by the park;
- 95T in intercontinental capacity;
- 230 PoPs (points-of-presence);
- $2,5 billion of initial investment into the Mongolia Park only.
These figures speak a lot and prove the scale of the project.
Security and Resilience
Being the largest data storage in the world means storing tons of valuable information, that is, enhanced data center security measures are taken to secure info from theft, leakage, and other types of scamming. Intruders can do harm to the infrastructure via two channels, namely, physically (by penetrating the park and causing damage) or virtually (by braking systems or sending viruses).
The infrastructure of such a high scale has the highest level of security and clients’ info protection. The latest developments in the sphere of virtual and physical security are implemented here:
- surveillance systems;
- biometrical passes;
- improved software & protection algorithms.
Software developers create highly secure algorithms to withstand hacker attacks and foresee all sorts of harm.
Management and Monitoring
A lot of attention is given to operation control. Sensors are installed everywhere to monitor all sorts of functioning. These include:
- environmental control;
- access monitoring;
- remote maintenance and configuring;
Monitoring systems allow for watching DC operations remotely. If metrics or indicators are violated, alarms are sent to the control board, and a maintenance team is sent to solve the problem and prevent downtime or malfunction.
Environmental Sustainability
Environmental sustainability in data centers is another important issue since they consume much power and natural resources. Thus, improved technologies are used to enhance eco-friendliness. For instance:
- liquid cooling solutions are more power-effective if compared to air ventilation or fans;
- power-effective hardware consumes less energy to reduce the amount of electricity required for system performance.
Skilled employees do their best to reduce the negative footprint without reducing the largest server storage capacity.
The future of data centers is positive since it is impossible to imagine the workflow of modern people without them. Yet, the main task of developers is to make them as green and effective as possible.
