2.4 - Environmental Impacts

Question 1

Why does the environment impact systems?

Answer 1

Electronic equipment are sensitive to environmental factors like heat, humidity, airflow, and power quality

Question 1

What are the environmental baselines (what you should have; not have)

Answer 1

Temperature - Acceptable temperature for areas containing computing devices are 18-27 degrees c (64- 81 degrees f) Circulation needs to be taken into account

Humidity - High humidity can cause corrosion, Low humidity can cause excessive static electricity (acceptable humidity 50-70%)

Power - Continuous clean (filtered) power and consistent voltage

Fire - Fire detection and suppression capabilities

Question 2

How should data centres be laid out?

Answer 2

Hot aisle/cold aisle circulation - Data centres exert hot air which is circulated to the ceiling and cold air enters the data centres ensuring that it does not intake hot air

Question 3

What is a Brown out

Answer 3

Prolonged period of low voltage

Question 4

What is a sag?

Answer 4

Moment of low voltage

Question 5

What is a surge

Answer 5

Prolonged period of high voltage

Question 6

What is a spike?

Answer 6

Moment of high voltage

Question 7

What is a Blackout

Answer 7

Prolonged period without power

Question 8

What are power protection controls?

Answer 8

Voltage regulators, surge protectors, powerline conditioners, battery backups/UPS (uninterrupted power supplies) -> helps with brown out, sags, surges and spikes

Question 9

What are power resiliency controls?

Answer 9

Battery backup/UPS generator, supplier diversity -> helps with blackout

Question 10

How can you make a fire detection and suppression plan?

Answer 10

• Consult with local fire department
• Install fire detection equipment
• Install fire alarm with strobe lights
• Have emergency power- off electrical switch
• Locate portable fire exinguishers
• Use clean fire suppersion agent -> FM-200, Novec 1230 or inert gases that wont damage electric equipment
• Maintain fire suppression equipment

Question 11

What is electrostatic discharge (ESD)?

Answer 11

Release of static electricity when 2 objects touch -> can damage electronic components
Electrical storms can increase ESD risk

Question 12

What is electromagnetic interference (EMI) and Radio frequency interference (RFI)?

Answer 12

Equipment and copper cable are sensitive to EMI and RFI

This can be mitigated by limiting exposure to magnets, fluorescent lights, electric motors, space heaters and wireless access points. Copper cable should be shielded