Advantages of a Two Tier Data Center
Data center tier standards refer to a categorization that is used to assess the degree of uptime availability within a company. The two tier data center system was developed by the Uptime Institute for the purpose of measuring performance standards and return on investment (ROI).
The standards are determined by a four-tiered scale with 1 being the weakest and 4 being the most robust. The tiers are progressive, which means that each successive tier incorporates the attributes of the former tier.
A Tier II Data Center
The majority of data centers built are designed to meet Tier II requirements, because it offers a favorable combination of reliability and cost. A Tier II or two Tier data center is described as basic redundant, because its power and cooling systems contain redundant capacity components. The purpose of these components is to protect the system from IT process disruptions that may be caused due to onsite equipment failure and would otherwise cause downtime and possible data loss. The redundant components usually include:
- Generators
- UPS modules
- Power Distribution
- Chillers
- Pumps
- CRACs
These components may fail due to operational errors, installation errors, defects, wear and tear, or manufacturing defects. Industries which are likely to opt for Tier II data centers include educational and institutional organizations. Tier II data centers have a 99.75 percent availability (or 22 hours of maintenance or outages per year). Typically, three maintenance schedules are planned in a two year period and one outage is anticipated. Tier III and Tier IV data centers have an even higher uptime rates of 99.98 (1.6 hours per year) and 99.999 (one failure every five years) respectively. However, to achieve the extra incremental uptime requires an exponential increase in cost. For all but the most critical applications, there is not cost justification for all the additional infrastructure required for the higher tier levels.
At Data Center Resources we can provide a best of breed solution for your Tier II data center. We guarantee that we will not only match, but will exceed your expectations when it comes to providing data center infrastructure solutions. We are also aware that this is only one aspect of our service; ultimately we aim to establish long-term relationships with all our clients, which is why we are a satisfaction-driven team committed to easing the pressure of the hectic demands you face every day. Contact us today to find out how we can provide the uptime your data center needs at a cost your organization can afford.
