Edge Computing Datacentres and Micro Data Centres

A Micro Data Centre is a self-contained datacentre or server room environment in a rack cabinet or arrangement of cabinets. Also known an MDC, the solution contains everything needed for easy deployment including power protection, cooling and connectivity. Micro Data Centres provide an on-site data processing facility exactly where it is needed and can be a standalone solution or connected to a wider IT network and Cloud datacentre environment.

On-site Server Room Facilities

An MDC provides a cost-effective solution for sites where space is at a premium or the existing server room or datacentre cannot be easily expanded or reconfigured. Typical installation sites for this type of datacentre includes factories and industrial automation, retail and distribution warehouses, hotels and office complexes, universities and colleges, transportation and security infrastructures.

All that is needed for an MDC to be installed are connections to a local:

mains power supply for the built-in uninterruptible power supply
pipework and ducting access or ventilation for the built-in air conditioning system
IT network or Cloud access

Custom Built Data Centres

MDCs can also be configured for harsh and remote environments to bring high power computing to the Edge of the data processing network. MDCs built for a harsh environment would allow for higher ambient operating temperatures and extremes, vibration and air polluted with corrosive elements, dirt and dust.

Data Centre Maintenance Contracts

Each critical system within the MDC will require preventative maintenance and can be included within a maintenance contract. Other services would include emergency call-outs, 24/7 technical support, spares, consumables and service level agreement on response and fix times. Remote MDC monitoring can also add another layer of security to the installation.

Please contact our projects team for a site survey or site review.

The datacentre industry is always evolving, and many organisations face a growing demand to combine on-site computing with hyperscale based cloud services. Few will outsource all their IT functions and will retain an on-site server room but what will this look like in the future? The answer to this lies in how the organisation intends to make use of the latest innovations within computing and telecoms.

Cisco predicts a tripling of digital traffic over the next five years, led by developments in Edge computing and the deployment of 5G wireless technologies. For data processing at the Edge, new types of datacentre are being developed which will also play a role in 5G (fifth generation) wireless connectivity.

The world has an insatiable appetite for data, with over 2.5 quintillion bytes of data being generated each day. At the same time speed is paramount. We want access to that data, to be able to store and share it at an ever-faster rate. The days of ‘waiting’ are long gone as we expect IT systems to provide instantaneous service and no one will accept latency in any form.

Edge computing is a form of distributed computing on smart devices and Edge servers situated closer to the end user and point of data processing than a centralised data centre environment. Edge computing relies on locally available IT hardware in server rooms, micro and small data centres to reduce latency within the network.

A microdatacentre (or micro-datacentre or micro data centre – MDC) is a self-contained managed environment (in a cubicle or container) housing server racks, cooling (air conditioning) and power (UPS system) connections. A microdatacentre is a smaller alternative to a fixed-building datacentre and allows operators to install datacentre-type processing power close to the point of need in an ‘Edge’ computing format. Once installed the operator or user simply installs and configures their IT servers into the racks,

An on-premise data gateway is a on-site or Edge system, node or smart device that provides quick and secure data processing between the data collected and processed on-site (locally) and an off-site (remote) location such as a Cloud datacentre.

We have over 30 years of experience working within data centre and server room environments. Our knowledge and experience means that we know how to design, install and maintain the right cooling, energy management, power and monitoring solutions for any critical IT environment.

Field based engineering locations: Chester, Warrington, London, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Dublin and Glasgow for nationwide service coverage, site surveys, maintenance visits and emergency call outs.
Call us for a free survey.

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