Wall Street Firms Building More Energy-Efficient Data Centers
Idle Servers Are the Devil's Playthings
Idle or underutilized servers are the biggest energy sappers in data centers, say experts. An idle server uses the same amount of power as one that is running at full capacity, notes Bittman, who says most servers run at just 5 percent to 10 percent of capacity because they typically house just one application. "I've seen cases where there are thousands of servers [in a data center] using low utilization rates," he relates. "That creates a huge amount of waste, both in hardware and energy costs."
Worse still, 10 percent to 15 percent of servers are "ghost servers," meaning they are plugged in and running, but are no longer used for any application, according to Aperture's Yellen. The first step to running not just a more energy-efficient data center, but a more efficient data center overall, he suggests, is getting a handle on what actually is in there. "The challenge is knowing what servers you could unplug," Yellen says (see related sidebar, below).
Gauging a data center's true capacity is an important factor in the equation, Yellen adds. While available rack space may make it visibly appear that a data center has not reached its capacity, other constraints may dictate otherwise. "Space is not the issue," Yellen says. "You may have a lot of [physical] space left but not any 'data center' left," meaning the data center may have reached its capacity in terms of power and cooling.
Unfortunately, most financial institutions don't have the information they need to manage their data centers properly, Yellen contends, stressing that firms must closely monitor and manage their data center assets. "Put a system in place that tracks everything [you've] got," he says, explaining that the system should answer the question, "Is your data center efficient?" "Visibility allows you to see where you are and where you need to go," Yellen adds.
One way to make data center assets more transparent is by fostering a better relationship between the two groups that manage data centers, Yellen continues. "There are two groups running the data center: IT and facilities," he says. "IT picks the equipment and facilities pays for the power." Yellen notes that the EPA also recommends bringing the two groups together to improve data center operations.
Wachovia began the process of mapping its data centers in early 2007, according to the bank's Stephenson. Part of the project is an analysis of the company's server space and determining the process and power utilization, he explains.
With the support of Charlotte-based Intepoint, a provider of visualization and simulation strategies, Wachovia is creating what it calls a "MapQuest" of its many data center assets, Stephenson relates, adding that Wachovia also is using New York-based Tideway Systems' Foundation solution to obtain a complete view of its data center IT components that support the company's lines of business. "Intepoint is a connecting tool that connects all the different entities to provide seamless flow between the [units]," he comments. "[We're] trying to pull all of the events into one blended event."
While Wachovia has "a good profile of our server set," Stephenson says, the organization still is looking into other vendors and solutions for data center management, including Aperture, AssetPoint (Greenville, S.C.) and Global DataCenter Solutions' (London) Nlyte.
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