From A to Z: The Ultimate Data Center Glossary

Introduction

Are you navigating the complex world of data centers, but finding yourself lost in a sea of technical jargon? Fear not, for we've compiled the ultimate glossary just for you. Whether you're a seasoned IT professional or a newcomer to the field, this comprehensive guide will help demystify the terminology surrounding data centers, empowering you to speak the language of data infrastructure with confidence.

(From A to Z mention all the key terms related to data centers)

A

Ampere: A measure of electrical current.

AC: Alternating Current, a power delivery method using sinusoidal waveforms, favored over DC for its ease of voltage transformation.

ACAE: Air Conditioning Airflow Efficiency, quantifying heat removal per unit airflow.

AHU: Air Handling Unit, a system for circulating and conditioning air.

Air Mixing: Unintended blending of hot and cold air streams.

Airside Economizer: Utilizes external air for data center cooling when conditions permit.

AMS: Asset Management System, tracks equipment and inventory.

Array: Storage system comprised of multiple devices and cache memory.

ASHRAE: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, advancing air management sciences.

Automation: Implementing processes or systems to operate with minimal human intervention.

Anomaly Detection: Identifying deviations from normal behavior or patterns within a system.

Analytics: The process of analyzing data to derive insights and make informed decisions.

Authentication: Verifying the identity of users or systems attempting to access resources.

B

BACnet: A protocol facilitating communication in building automation and control networks.

BAS: Building Automation System, managing various functions within a building.

Baying: Establishing a barrier between hot and cold air streams to prevent recirculation.

Blanking Panel: Installed in unused rack spaces to prevent airflow recirculation.

BMS: Building Management System, overseeing data center assets.

Branch Circuit Monitoring (BCM): Records and monitors individual electrical circuits, tracking various parameters like amperage and voltage.

Bandwidth: The capacity of a network to transmit data, typically measured in bits per second.

Battery Backup: Emergency power supply using batteries to keep systems operating in the situation of outages.

Bandwidth Throttling: Limiting the speed or volume of data transmitted over a network.

Backup Generator: A secondary power source, often fueled by diesel or natural gas, used during prolonged outages.

Biometric Authentication: Verification of identity based on unique biological characteristics like fingerprints or retinal patterns.

Blackout: Complete loss of electrical power over a wide area, leading to service disruption.

C

C/H: Cooling/Heating, denoting systems for temperature control.

Cabinet: A structure for housing IT equipment, also known as a rack.

CADE: Corporate Average Data Center Efficiency, a measure of overall efficiency.

CapEx: Capital Expenditure, the cost of acquiring capital assets.

Carbon Footprint: Measurement of CO2 emissions resulting from business operations.

CFD: Computational Fluid Dynamics, used for airflow analysis in data centers.

CFM: Cubic Feet per Minute, a measure of airflow rate.

Chiller: Equipment for cooling water using compression and heat exchange.

Close-Coupled Cooling: Cooling systems positioned near server racks to minimize airflow path.

Coefficient of Effectiveness (CoE): Uptime Institute metric evaluating cooling efficiency.

Cold Aisle: Aisle where rack fronts face each other, receiving chilled airflow efficiently.

COP: Coefficient of Performance, assessing heat pump or cooling unit effectiveness.

CR: Computer Room, housing data center equipment.

Cooling Tower: Device cooling water via evaporation, often part of chiller systems.

CRAC: Computer Room Air Conditioner, using refrigerant for cooling.

CRAH: Computer Room Air Handler, utilizing chilled water for cooling.

CSI: Cold Supply Infiltration, measuring hot air mixing with cold inlet air.

CUE: Carbon Usage Effectiveness, evaluating data center sustainability in terms of carbon emissions.

Current Transformer (CT): Device transforming electrical current between levels.

Cutout: Opening in raised floor for airflow or cable access.

CW: Chilled Water, used in cooling systems.

Capacity Planning: Forecasting future data center requirements to ensure adequate resources.

Cluster: Grouping of servers or other resources for improved performance or redundancy.

Convergence: Integration of multiple technologies or functions into a unified system.

D

DC: Data Center, a facility housing computing and networking equipment.

DC: Direct Current, a constant power delivery method.

DCiE: Data Center Infrastructure Efficiency, a measure of data center efficiency.

Dead Band: Control technique preventing unnecessary cycling of controlled variables.

Delta T: Temperature difference across a device, influencing thermal dissipation.

Deploy: Installation and testing of hardware or software in a live environment.

Dewpoint: Temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapor.

D/H: Dehumidifying/Humidifying, systems for controlling humidity levels.

Dry-Bulb Temperature: Air temperature unaffected by evaporative cooling.

Dry Cooler: Heat exchanger using air to cool liquids, often for condenser heat rejection.

DX: Direct Expansion, method involving refrigerant directly expanded into coils.

Data Migration: Transfer of data from one storage system or format to another.

Distributed Computing: Utilization of multiple computers to solve complex problems or perform tasks.

Data Encryption: Process of encoding data to make it unreadable without proper decryption keys.

E

EFC: Equivalent Full Cabinets, quantifying the number of full cabinets if all equipment were concentrated.

ESD: Electrostatic Discharge, commonly known as "static discharge."

Edge Computing: Processing data closer to its source or destination to reduce latency and bandwidth usage.

Energy Efficiency: Maximizing energy usage effectiveness to reduce environmental impact and operational costs.

Environmental Monitoring: Continuous tracking of conditions like temperature and humidity to ensure optimal data center operation.

Encryption Key Management: Practices and systems for securely generating, storing, and distributing encryption keys.

Emergency Power Off (EPO): Mechanism for rapidly shutting down power to a data center in case of emergency.

F

F: Fahrenheit, a unit for measuring temperature.

File storage or file-level storage: System where data is organized into files and folders, typically accessed via Network File System (NFS) or Server Message Block (SMB).

Ft2: Square feet, a unit of area.

Fire Suppression: Systems and methods for extinguishing fires in data centers to protect equipment and personnel.

Fault Tolerance: Ability of a system to continue functioning in the event of a hardware or software failure.

Fiber Optic: Communications technology using thin strands of glass or plastic to transmit data as light signals.

Firewall: Security device or software controlling traffic between networks, typically enforcing access policies.

Failover: Automatic switching to a backup system or resource in case of primary system failure.

G

GPM: Gallons Per Minute, a measurement unit for flow rate.

Green Computing: Practices and technologies aimed at reducing the environmental impact of computing systems and data centers.

Grid Computing: Distributed computing infrastructure utilizing networked resources to perform complex tasks.

Generator: Equipment generating electricity as a backup power source during outages.

Gateway: Device connecting different networks, enabling communication between them.

Granular Control: Precise management and adjustment of individual components or settings within a system.

H

HAC: Hot Aisle Containment, a system efficiently directing heated air from rack outlets to air conditioning equipment return ducts.

HDG: Hot Dipped Galvanizing, a method of coating steel with molten zinc.

Hot Aisle: Aisle where rack backs face inward, receiving heated exhaust air from equipment.

HPDC: High-Performance Data Center, a facility with above-average kW loading.

Hot Spot: Area with elevated ambient air temperature, often caused by poor airflow management.

Hp: Abbreviation for horsepower, a unit of power.

Hr: Abbreviation for hour, a unit of time.

HVAC: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning system, controlling interior air quality and temperature.

High Availability: Design principle ensuring systems are operational and accessible with minimal downtime.

Hardware Redundancy: Duplication of critical components to maintain system functionality in case of failure.

Hybrid Cloud: Integration of private and public cloud services, offering flexibility and scalability.

Heat Load: Total amount of heat generated by equipment in a data center, impacting cooling requirements.

Humidity Control: Regulation of moisture levels in the air to maintain optimal environmental conditions in a data center.

I

Intermediate Distribution Frame (IDF): A rack for managing and connecting telecommunications cables between end-user devices and a main distribution frame (MDF).

In-Row Cooling: Technology positioned between racks in a row, drawing warm air from the hot aisle and delivering cool air to the cold aisle, minimizing airflow distance.

Inlet Air: Air entering equipment, such as heated air returning to be cooled for air conditioning equipment, or cooled air entering racks and servers.

IP: Internet Protocol, a communication technology utilizing the internet for data transmission.

IR: Infrared spectrum utilized by thermal imaging technologies.

Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Practice of managing and provisioning data center infrastructure using code and automation.

Incident Response: Process for addressing and mitigating security incidents or disruptions in a data center.

Inverter: Device converting DC power to AC power or vice versa, commonly used in UPS systems.

Insulation: Material or barrier used to prevent heat transfer and maintain stable temperatures in a data center.

Integration: Process of combining different systems or components to work together seamlessly within a data center environment.

J

JVM: Java Virtual Machine, interpreter for Java. Software converting Java intermediate language into executable machine code.

Jitter: Variability in packet arrival times, impacting network performance and quality.

JSON: JavaScript Object Notation, a lightweight data interchange format used for transmitting data between a server and a web application.

Joule: Unit of energy, often used to measure power consumption or heat output in data centers.

Job Scheduler: Software managing the scheduling and execution of tasks or processes in a data center environment.

Jumbo Frame: Ethernet frame larger than the standard 1500 bytes, potentially improving network performance by reducing overhead.

K

kBTU: Kilobritish Thermal Unit, equivalent to one thousand BTUs.

kCFM: Kilocubic Feet per Minute, equal to one thousand CFM.

kV: Kilovolt, representing one thousand volts.

kW: Kilowatts, indicating one thousand watts of power.

kWh: Kilowatt-Hour, measuring one thousand watt-hours of electrical energy.

kVA: Kilovolt-Amperes, calculated by multiplying voltage by current (amperage).

KVM: Keyboard, Video, Mouse, a technology enabling remote access to multiple servers from one or more KVM sites. Additionally, it can refer to Kernel-based Virtual Machine, a version of the Java Virtual Machine designed for small devices with limited memory.

Key Performance Indicator (KPI): Quantifiable metrics used to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of data center operations.

Key Management: Practices and systems for securely generating, storing, and distributing encryption keys in a data center environment.

Kernel: Core component of an operating system responsible for managing resources and facilitating communication between hardware and software in a data center.

L

Latent Cooling Capacity: Cooling capacity associated with wet bulb temperature and objects causing condensation.

Line Noise: Interference or distortions overlaid on the power waveform, potentially causing electromagnetic interference.

Liquid Cooling: Cooling technology utilizing liquid to remove heat. Common methods include chilled water and refrigerant cooling in data centers.

Load: The demand placed on a system, such as electrical demand on the power supply system or cooling demand on the cooling system.

Logical: Pertaining to concepts or operations in the digital realm, distinct from physical entities.

Load Balancing: Distributing computing or network workload across multiple resources to optimize performance and reliability.

Lifecycle Management: Management of hardware or software assets throughout their entire lifespan, from acquisition to disposal, within a data center.

Local Area Network (LAN): Network connecting devices within a limited geographic area, typically within a single building or campus.

Low Latency: Minimal delay in data transmission or processing, crucial for high-performance applications in data centers.

M

Make-Up Air: Conditioned air supplied by a Makeup Air Unit (MAU) or Makeup Air Handler (MAH).

MAU: Makeup Air Unit, serving the same function as a Makeup Air Handler (MAH).

MERV: Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, ASHRAE 52.2, quantifying air filtration efficiency based on particulate size.

Mirror: Replicating data from one storage device to another in real-time to prevent data loss, also known as "RAID 1."

MW: Megawatt, a unit measuring power equivalent to one million watts, commonly used to denote data center power capacity.

Migration: Transfer of data, applications, or systems from one environment to another, often involving hardware or software upgrades.

Modular: Design or architecture composed of standardized, interchangeable components, facilitating scalability and flexibility in data center infrastructure.

Monitoring: Continuous observation and analysis of data center systems, networks, and performance metrics to ensure optimal operation and identify potential issues.

Multi-Tenancy: Hosting multiple tenants or users within the same data center infrastructure while maintaining security and isolation between them.

N

N+1: Concept of redundancy ensuring that system capacity includes used capacity plus one additional device, allowing continued operations in the event of one system failure.

NEBS: Network Equipment-Building System, design guidelines applied to telecommunications equipment.

No.: Abbreviation for "number."

Nominal Cooling Capacity: Total cooling capacity of air conditioning equipment, comprising latent and sensible cooling capacities.

Network Security: Measures and protocols implemented to protect data and systems from unauthorized access or malicious attacks.

Node: Device or point in a network infrastructure, such as servers, switches, or routers, enabling data transmission and processing.

Network Redundancy: Duplication of network components or paths to ensure continuous operation and minimize downtime.

Noise Reduction: Techniques and technologies employed to minimize unwanted sound or interference within a data center environment.

O

OpEx: Operating Expense, ongoing expenses associated with data center operation.

OSD: On Screen Display.

Overcooling: Situation where air is excessively cooled below optimal levels, often referring to rack inlet temperatures.

Outage: Period of time during which a system, service, or application is unavailable or not functioning properly.

Optimization: Process of maximizing efficiency and performance within a data center environment.

Orchestration: Automated coordination and management of various tasks, workflows, or processes within a data center.

Outsourcing: Practice of contracting third-party providers to manage certain aspects of data center operations or services.

P

PF: Power Factor indicates the portion of apparent power that is real power. Non-resistive components in the load create power factor, resulting in inefficient power usage. Power companies may penalize low power factor loads.

Pole: Row of power receptacles supplied by a PDU.

Pole Position: Power receptacle location on a pole.

Policy: Set of rules governing the storage requirements of virtual machines and their applications.

PH: Phase, describing the relationship between multiple time-varying waveforms, commonly referring to single-phase or three-phase power.

Plate and Frame: Type of heat exchanger utilized in water-to-water systems, featuring a series of plates held in a frame to facilitate heat exchange.

Plenum: Chamber for receiving and directing airflow.

Primary Loop: Water loop cooling the condenser side of a chiller, often cooled by dry coolers or cooling towers.

Provisioning: Setup and allocation of IT resources, including management.

PU: Packaged Unit, an air handler shipped as a complete device ready for use.

PUE: Power Usage Effectiveness, a metric measuring data center efficiency by dividing total energy consumption by the energy used by IT equipment.

Predictive Maintenance: Strategy utilizing data analytics and machine learning to predict equipment failure and schedule maintenance proactively.

Physical Security: Measures and protocols implemented to safeguard physical assets and prevent unauthorized access to data center facilities.

Patch Management: Process of identifying, deploying, and managing software updates or patches to address vulnerabilities and ensure system security.

Performance Monitoring: Continuous assessment and analysis of system performance metrics to optimize operation and identify potential issues.

Q

QoS: Quality of Service, a measure of the overall performance and reliability of a network or service, often defined by parameters such as bandwidth, latency, and packet loss.

Queue: A data structure used to manage and prioritize tasks or requests awaiting processing within a system or network.

Quorum: Consensus among a majority or predefined number of nodes or components in a distributed system, necessary for decision-making or system operation.

Quick Deployment: Rapid setup and implementation of hardware, software, or infrastructure within a data center environment.

Quantum Computing: Emerging computing paradigm utilizing quantum-mechanical phenomena, offering potentially exponential computational power compared to classical computing.

R

Rack: A fixture for housing IT equipment, also known as a cabinet.

RAH: Recirculation Air Handler, a device that circulates air without cooling it.

RAID: A storage configuration composed of multiple independent hard drives storing the same data using various methods known as "RAID levels," such as mirroring and striping.

Raised Floor: Metal flooring supported by stanchions, creating an airflow and cabling plenum, also referred to as RMF.

Return Air: Heated air returning to air conditioning equipment.

RFI: Radio Frequency Interference.

Rh: Relative Humidity.

RMF: Raised Metal Floor, an alternative term for raised floor.

ROI: Return on Investment, a financial metric indicating earnings as a percentage of total invested assets.

Rotary Heat Exchanger (Thermal Wheel): A scalable and waterless air-side economizer design with 90% effectiveness in heat rejection.

RPM: Revolutions per Minute, a measure of angular velocity.

RPP: Remote Power Panel.

RTU: Rooftop Unit, an outdoor air handler mounted on a rooftop.

Root Cause Analysis: Systematic investigation to identify the underlying cause of issues or failures within a data center environment.

Remote Management: Ability to monitor, control, and manage data center infrastructure and operations from a remote location.

S

S+S: Combining two independent systems.

SCFM: Standard Cubic Feet per Minute, a measure of gas flow rate adjusted to standardized conditions.

Sensible Cooling: Lowering the dry bulb temperature of air without causing condensation.

Short Cycling: Chilled airflow returning to cooling units without passing through IT equipment, also known as bypass.

Stripe: Dividing data into equally-sized units spread across multiple storage devices, also called "RAID 0."

STS: Static Transfer Switch, a solid-state device transferring power feed from one source to another, like from the utility to a generator.

Sub-Floor: Space beneath a raised computer floor, also known as a sub-floor plenum.

Supply Air: Cooled airflow released from air conditioning equipment.

Scalability: The ability of a system or infrastructure to accommodate growth and expansion without requiring significant changes to its architecture or design.

Security Measures: Protocols, technologies, and practices implemented to protect data, resources, and infrastructure from unauthorized access, breaches, and cyber threats.

Server Virtualization: Technology allowing multiple virtual servers to run on a single physical server, optimizing resource utilization and enhancing flexibility.

T

TCE: Triton Coefficient of Effectiveness, a metric for measuring data center efficiency, synonymous with UCE.

Thermistor: A resistor that modifies its resistance as per temperature fluctuations.

Temperature Control: Techniques and technologies employed to regulate and manage temperature levels within a data center environment.

Tier Classification: A standardized system for rating data center infrastructure based on levels of redundancy and reliability.

Telecommunications Infrastructure: Network equipment and systems supporting communication within and outside the data center environment.

Thermal Management: Strategies and practices for managing heat generation and dissipation within data center facilities.

U

UCE: Upsite Coefficient of Effectiveness, a metric for data center efficiency, developed by the Uptime Institute, synonymous with UCE.

UPS: Uninterruptible Power Supply, a device installed in line with the utility power supply, equipped with energy storage to ensure continuous power supply even during utility outages. While battery-based storage is common, flywheel-based storage is becoming popular due to lower maintenance costs.

Underfloor Cooling: Cooling systems installed beneath raised floors to efficiently regulate temperatures within data center spaces.

Uptime Guarantee: A commitment by data center providers to ensure a certain level of continuous operation and availability for their services.

Unified Threat Management (UTM): Integrated security solutions combining multiple security features such as firewall, intrusion detection, and antivirus into a single platform.

Utility Rebates: Financial incentives provided by utility companies to encourage energy-efficient practices and technologies within data centers.

V

V: Volt, a measure of electrical potential.

VA: Volt-Amp, a unit of apparent power. In AC circuits, it represents the magnitude of voltage multiplied by current. Real power is obtained by factoring in the power factor (see PF).

VFD: Variable Frequency Drive, a device providing AC power with adjustable frequency, often used to regulate the speed of induction motors. In data centers, it's frequently employed to control the speed of fans, pumps, and chillers.

Virtualization: The process of creating virtual versions of computing resources, such as servers, storage, or networks, to improve efficiency and flexibility in data center operations.

Voltage Regulation: Techniques and technologies used to maintain stable voltage levels within the data center infrastructure to ensure reliable operation of electrical equipment.

VLAN: Virtual Local Area Network, a network segmentation technique that partitions a physical network into multiple virtual networks, enhancing security and efficiency.

Virtual Machine: A software-based emulation of a physical computer system, allowing multiple operating systems or applications to run on a single physical machine simultaneously.

W

W: Watt, a measure of power commonly used in electrical discussions. Watts are determined by multiplying voltage (volts, see V) and current (amps, see A). In AC circuits, this relationship also involves power factor (see PF).

Waterside Economizer: A system that employs an alternative source, such as a dry cooler or cooling tower, to cool the secondary loop water used by Air Handling Units (AHUs). This setup includes piping, valves, and, in the case of a cooling tower, a heat exchanger.

Wet-Bulb Temperature: The temperature measured using a wet-bulb thermometer, reflecting the cooling effect of evaporation. It depends on both the dry bulb temperature and the air's dew point. Drier air results in a lower wet-bulb temperature.

Wg: Inches of water column, a unit of pressure defined by the height of a water column supported by a pressure differential. 1 inch of water column equals 0.036 pounds per square inch (psi).

Wireless Networking: Technology allowing devices to connect and communicate without physical cables, commonly used for data transmission within data centers.

Warm Aisle: An aisle in the data center where the backs of server racks face each other, facilitating efficient airflow management by directing heated exhaust air toward cooling units.

X

Xen Hypervisor: A virtualization platform that allows multiple operating systems to run concurrently on a single physical machine.

XFS File System: A high-performance file system developed by Silicon Graphics International Corp., commonly used in Linux-based data center environments for efficient storage management.

XDR Memory: Extended Data Rate memory, a type of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) offering increased data transfer rates, often used in servers and high-performance computing systems.

XSS Protection: Cross-Site Scripting protection, a security mechanism implemented in web applications to mitigate the risk of XSS attacks, which involve injecting malicious scripts into web pages.

XaaS Marketplace: An online platform or ecosystem where users can access and purchase various XaaS offerings from different providers, facilitating cloud service consumption and integration.

Y

YAML Configuration: YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language) configuration files are commonly used in data center setups to define and configure various aspects of software and infrastructure in a human-readable format.

Yield Management: A strategy employed in data centers to optimize resource allocation and maximize output, balancing capacity and demand fluctuations to achieve optimal efficiency.

Yotta Scale: Refers to the massive scale at which data centers operate, handling exabytes and yottabytes of data, highlighting the immense storage and processing capabilities required.

Yoke: A structural component used in data center construction to support overhead cabling, racks, or equipment, ensuring proper distribution of weight and load-bearing capacity.

Z

Zero-Day: A zero-day vulnerability refers to a security flaw in software or hardware that is exploited by hackers before the developer has a chance to create a patch or fix for it.

Zone: In the context of data centers, a zone refers to a specific area within the facility that may have its own dedicated cooling, power, or security configurations.

Zero-Trust: Zero-trust architecture is an approach to cybersecurity where no entity, whether inside or outside the network perimeter, is trusted by default, requiring strict verification and authorization for all access attempts.

ZFS: ZFS (Zettabyte File System) is a high-performance file system and volume manager designed for data centers, known for its scalability, data integrity features, and efficient storage management capabilities.

Zero-U: Zero-U refers to rack-mounted equipment that does not take up any vertical rack space, typically installed vertically at the side or rear of a rack, maximizing space utilization in data center environments.

Conclusion

By familiarizing yourself with these key terms and concepts, you'll be better equipped to navigate the intricate world of data centers and make informed decisions about your organization's IT infrastructure. Whether you're managing your own data center or leveraging cloud-based services, understanding the language of data center technology is essential for success in today's digital landscape. So dive in, expand your knowledge, and empower yourself to conquer the challenges of modern IT with confidence.