Data Center Handbook, 2nd Edition

PREFACE DATA CENTER HANDBOOK (SECOND EDITION, 2021)

As Internet of Things, data analytics, artificial intelligence, 5G, and other emerging technologies revolutionize the services and products companies, the demand for computing power grows along the value chain between edge and cloud. Data centers need to improve and advance continuously to fulfill this demand.

To meet the megatrends of globalization, urbanization, demographic changes, technology advancements, and sustainability concerns, C‐suite executives and technologists must work together in preparing strategic plans for deploying data centers around the world. Workforce developments and the redundancy of infrastructures required between edge and cloud need to be considered in building and positioning data centers globally.

Whether as a data center designer, user, manager, researcher, professor, or student, we all face increasing challenges in a cross‐functional environment. For each data center project, we should ask, what are the goals, and work out “How to Solve It.”¹ To do this, we can employ a 5W1H² approach applying data analytics and nurture the creativity that is needed for invention and innovation. Additionally, a good understanding of the anatomy, ecosystem, and taxonomy, of a data center will help us master and solve this complex problem.

The goal of this Data Center Handbook is to provide readers with the essential knowledge that is needed to plan, build, and operate a data center. This handbook embraces both ...