subject: Data Center Chicago: Data Center Standards [print this page] Are you considering acquiring the services of a data center in Chicago? Are you looking for information about data center standards? This article will discuss the services of a data center in Chicago as well provide information about the requirements for a data centers infrastructure. It will specifically focus on the difference between a Tier 1 data center, a Tier 2 data center a Tier 3 data center and a Tier 4 data center.
A data center facility in Chicago is a building used to house computer systems as well as associated components, such as data storage, servers, and telecommunications systems. It commonly provides backup or redundant power supplies, environmental controls (e.g. fire suppression), security devices and redundant data communications connections.
The TIA-942 Data Center Standards Overview describes the requirements of a data center in Chicago's infrastructure. The simplest of which is a Tier 1 data center, which is a server room, that follows basic guidelines for the installation and storage of computer systems.
The most stringent or highly scrutinized is a Tier 4 data center in Chicago, which is designed to host and maintain mission critical business applications, with fully compartmentalized security zones and redundant subsystems. These data centers also feature environmentally controlled areas as well as compartmentalized security zones controlled by biometric access methods.
The four Tiers of data centers are defined and copyrighted by the Uptime Institute, a New Mexico-based think tank specializing in professional services. The Tiers describe the availability of data from the hardware at a data center in Chicago. The higher the level, the greater accessibility offered by the data center in Chicago.
The levels are as follows:
- Tier 1 Requirements: Single non-redundant distribution path serving the IT equipment, non-redundant capacity components and basic site infrastructure guaranteeing 99.671 percent availability.
- Tier 2 Requirements: Fulfills all Tier 1 requirements and features a redundant site infrastructure capacity components guaranteeing 99.741 percent availability.
- Tier 3 Requirements: Fulfills all Tier 1 and 2 requirements, multiple independent distribution paths serving the IT equipment, all IT equipment must be dual-powered and fully compatible with the topology of a site's architecture and concurrently maintainable site infrastructure guaranteeing 99.982 percent availability.
- Tier 4 Requirements: Fulfills all Tier 1, 2 and 3 requirements, All cooling equipment is independently dual-powered, including chillers and Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems and fault tolerant site infrastructure with electrical power storage and distribution facilities guaranteeing 99.995 percent availability.
These are just a few of the key features offered at a data center in Chicago. It is important to do solid research before choosing a data center service provider to meet your business needs. Hopefully, this article has provided you with key information about what to expect from a data center service provider.
Obviously small businesses who do not require a lot from their data center in Chicago should consider a Tier 1 data center. However, business with greater data center needs should examine a Tier 3 or 4 data center to fully meet their needs.
