Your shopping cart is empty!
Your data center is the heart of your digital organization. Any downtime or failure can bring your entire business operation to a halt. The cost of network failures is significant and continues to increase over time. To minimize unplanned business interruptions, organizations must take all necessary measures. Data center redundancy is a crucial factor in achieving this goal.
What Is Data Center Redundancy?
Data center redundancy refers to the ability of a data center architecture to replicate critical components to ensure normal operation in the event of downtime, hardware failures, or disasters. According to a study by the Uptime Institute on normal operating times in 2022, 43% of major data center outages were caused by power-related issues, making uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and generators the most common redundancy targets. Cooling systems are another common component that needs backup as their failure can lead to serious issues.
How To Measure Data Center Redundancy?
When it comes to data center redundancy, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The level of redundancy in a data center is often measured by the variable "N". Let's explore the different redundancy configurations.
Redundancy levels revolve around the concept of N, which represents the quantity of infrastructure needed to run all critical systems at full load. For example, if a data center requires five UPS units to operate, then N would represent five units. N is also applicable to other components such as cooling systems, network systems, storage systems, and more.
It's important to note that N itself represents no redundancy. It is a single-line approach without built-in backup power. If there is a utility outage or a critical system failure, your data center will experience downtime.
Now that you understand what N represents, it may be easier to comprehend what N+1 redundancy might mean. N+1 means an additional spare component is added to the system to provide backup in case of failure. Referring to the previous example, if you need five UPS units to operate, an N+1 plan would give you six. This way, if one UPS unit fails, you have an extra unit that can start up to compensate for the shortfall.
Similarly, a N+2 architecture provides two redundant components for a given N value.
A 2N system, sometimes referred to as N+N, does not provide backup for each individual component. Instead, it represents a completely independent mirrored system that can take over operational demands if the primary system goes offline. So, if you have five UPS units, 2N redundancy would give you a total of ten. In addition to UPS devices, you would also have two independent power distribution systems so that you can seamlessly switch in case of any issues.
Some architectures go even further, offering 2N+1, equivalent to a complete backup plus an additional component.
What Do Data Center Tiers Have To Do With Redundancy?
Data center tiers, as defined by the Uptime Institute, provide a standardized method to evaluate the infrastructure's performance, reliability, and redundancy. The tier system ranges from Tier I (basic) to Tier IV (fault-tolerant).
It's more about data center reliability and availability than it is about a specific N rating. For example, a Tier 1 data center has a throughput of 99.671% per year, while a Tier 4 data center has a throughput of 99.995% per year. If a certain level of data center redundancy can help provide reliability assurance for any given layer, then it is relational.
Data center redundancy is a critical aspect of ensuring the uninterrupted operation of modern digital infrastructure. By understanding and implementing varying levels of redundancy, businesses can tailor their data center strategies to meet specific uptime and reliability requirements. The relationship between redundancy levels and data center tiers provides a standardized framework for assessing and comparing the reliability of different data center facilities. As technology continues to advance, data center redundancy will remain a cornerstone in building resilient and dependable digital ecosystems.