It looks like a science fiction future: huge digital infrastructure networks, with tens of thousands of severs man managed by robots, or perhaps managed by distant administrators using a holographic interface. But here in 2023, with Microsoft and Google launching chatbots and Apple revealing the vision pro VR helmet, the future is getting closer every day.
What could the advances in AI, virtual reality and robotics for the data center, which prosper on automation? This is the question we asked at our DCF executive round table, which had a lot to say on this subject.
Here is an introduction to our panel of industry experts:
Here is our conversation.
Data Center Frontier: Data centers have always been highly automated installations. What are the most promising opportunities in automation and management of data centers? Can AI, augmented reality and robots play a significant role?
Rich Okoney, JLL: I believe it. There is an enormous amount of unexploited potential which can be deployed in robotics, AI and RA in the next five years and beyond. More specifically, with AR, which is already deployed in many organizations in the operations of the facilities and to optimize training. Augmented reality can be a very effective tool in the operations of the data center with regard to predictive maintenance, agility in technical training and even the integration of analysis in the platform.
There has been a huge amount of buzz around AI in recent months and it is a technology that will clearly change the situation in several industries, and even in a way that we cannot yet predict. In the space of the data center, it will probably play a significant role, but applications and innovations are still under development and it is too early to say where it will have the most impact.
Don Macneil, Edgeconnex: Edgeconnex has been founded with its automated data centers since creation. Our initial edge facilities have been built “lights” and unmanned, with our owner DCIM platform, Edgeos, built to manage our facilities remotely. This innovation was very economical and effective, but has also proven to be invaluable during the covid when many customers could not go to the site (s) where their infrastructure was deployed. We ensured the continuity of business for our customers during the pandemic and allowed them to manage and operate their infrastructure remotely with the peace of mind of the reliability of 5 9.
We seek to continue to automate our facilities while we are playing in size and geographically worldwide. In addition, we actively test many technologies to ensure that our sites are secure, reliable and durable. In addition, we work to provide our customers with more transparency in the sources of network power – by focusing on green sources (solar and wind). By understanding the local environment and the weather, we can help our customers manage workloads. One day without wind or low wind, we could push the workloads consuming a power to another day when the wind returns, and the power is therefore “greener”.
Joe Goldsmith, NTT GDCA: The data center has always been based on automation technology for efficiency and resilience. Resilience and availability guarantee that our customers need cannot be achieved without automation.
Automation tools and systems of the current data center guarantee that supplies and cooling remain available even when power outages occur. And, providers must constantly add more automation to meet the growing demands of the data center from higher densities and an increase in cooling needs.
For data centers to work effectively, buildings management systems and data centers infrastructure management solutions use sensors and other feedback mechanisms to continually monitor and modify parameters.
These systems are generally based on traditional fixed algorithms and manual monitoring to operate. Examples include:
- Temperature feedback (too hot or too cold) to modify temperature settings
- Air flow sensors that can trigger filter replacements
- Measure external ambient temperatures, which can affect economy solutions
Now, the solutions fueled by AI promise to pass automation to the next level without relying on isolated systems. They can “learn” how the underlying data centers systems are linked and make changes that have not been taken before. Thus, AI will help build better more effective, more effective and lower cost centers that achieve sustainability objectives.
Adam Compton, Schneider Electric: I like to examine whether the data centers can become scanned … aren’t they, by nature, digitized? However, we all appreciate the complicated human network which allows a data center to operate. And unlike a factory machine which has traditionally shown its physically failure with a mediocre immediately identifiable outing of a defective part / function, the failure of a data center is invisible and often slow to manifest itself.
So yes, you can scan a data center and we like to do it. We have been in the DCIM sector since I started in this industry 25 years ago by ensuring that there was a graceful closure of the network and the ability to communicate with the higher reflection of a UPS via SNMP. Naturally, sophistication has multiplied in 25 years. Today, the value of a data centers management tool begins with the design – design systems that integrate physically and digitally.
A good DCIM offer makes it possible to plan and model the optimization of critical IT infrastructure. And of course, no DCIM product can be worthy unless it can monitor and manage critical infrastructure. A solution that has it and focus only on the management of critical infrastructure for> 25 years will have what the modern data center operator needs to design, build, exploit and maintain a data center from any What size at any place.
The future will include preventive and normative services, and the future is now. The future will also allow a IOC to answer new vital questions as the energy efficiency of my data centers is and what is the carbon footprint of my data centers. And this future is also now.
Dave Young, Dartpoints: Automation in the management of data centers has been an important trend with promising industry opportunities. The installation infrastructure has benefited from the development of IoT devices capable of providing large amounts of telemetry data that helps the management of facilities. These data sets, associated with AI, will move the operations of a reactionary approach to predictive management which uses automated elements to optimize performance. In addition, data analysis will provide valuable information on performance, capacity and models of use that stimulate proactive decision -making for range points using automated features.
AI, augmented reality and robots will play a role in it allowing data centers to become more effective and more effective. The compilation of these technologies will have a deep impact on the industry. The AI will allow operators of the data center to take advantage of information that supports maintenance activities, optimization, capacity planning, network management, security and threat detection and infrastructure management. AR will provide real -time information for remote practices, visualizations, training and support activities. Robots will quickly become widespread in physical security; However, they will quickly adopt AR roles, such as physical rounds, environmental surveillance and remote operations. These developing technologies will change industry and influence the way in which data centers operators will manage their environment.
Ryan Baumann, Kohler: In all industries, it is important to remain open to innovations and progress that can improve automation and efficiency. AI is no different. If it is implemented correctly, AI Calculation will continue to lead and further accelerate the needs of the landscape of the data center, affecting a variety of aspects, including improved performance, safety and optimization of configurations and deployments .
Following: How will the data center industry create the workforce of the future?
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