Hot Aisle Or Cold Aisle For Containment?

1sockchuck writes "Separating the hot and cold air in a data center is one of the keys to improving energy efficiency. But containment systems don't have to be fancy or expensive, as Google showed in a presentation Thursday, which discussed the use of clear vinyl curtains in isolating hot and cold aisles. Containment systems have been in use at least since 2004, but there's an ongoing debate about whether it is best to contain the hot aisle or cold aisle. Leading vendors are split as well, as APC advances hot aisle containment while Emerson/Liebert champions a cold aisle approach. What say Slashdot readers? Do you use containment in your data center? If so, do you contain the hot aisle or cold aisle?"

Comments

Supermarkets

[shogun]

I thought this article was about supermarkets, where it might be a good idea anyway too..

Re:Supermarkets

[jtownatpunk.net]

I'm disappointed that I don't see a single Tesla vs. Edison reference. :(

Amana

[ushering05401]

I leave this on: http://home-solutions.hsn.com/amana-12-000-btu-portable-air-conditioner-and-dehumidifier-with-remote_pf-450623_xp.aspx?club_id=450623&sz=888&sf=HW0130&rdr=1&cm_mmc=Shopping%20Engine-_-Froogle-_-Home%20Solutions-_-5502594&cawelaid=349282299 ... and make sure the closet door stays closed.

Cold

[Waffle Iron]

What say Slashdot readers? Do you use containment in your data center? If so, do you contain the hot aisle or cold aisle?

I think that I speak for most readers here when I say that it's pretty much all cold aisle down here in my mom's dank basement. Not much containment either, other than some pegboard partitions.

Re:Cold

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, it's definitely cold down there. But your mom was hot! The lack of decent containment did spoil the fun somewhat!

Datacenter containment

[thewiz]

We only resort to using containment when the servers have been very, very naughty. We've found that chains, steel cable and duct tape are the best ways to keep servers in their racks.

Re:Datacenter containment

[tepples]

We've found that chains, steel cable and duct tape are the best ways to keep servers in their racks.

Don't steel cable. It's illegel.

McDonalds already holds the patent...

[ctmurray]

Patent keeping the not side hot and the cold side cold.

Re:FIRST

[Anonymous Coward]

Why is this modded offtopic? OP was clearly stating expressing his support for hot aisles.

Re:Hot or Cold?

[networkBoy]

so far everyone's got it wrong.
since you don't want unauthorized people in the DC you seal it up (with only exhaust ports and a door). Pump LN2 into evaps in the room. Authorized techs are issued Scott Air Packs. Unauthorized people expire before they can do damage, and as a bonus the room has built in fire suppression ;-)

-nB

Heat moves toward cold...

[Anonymous Coward]

so contain the heat so that it doesn't encroach on the cold.
My limited understanding of thermal dynamics is that the more active molecules
in a heated environment tend to move toward cold which is a lower energy state,
thus entropy plays an ever present role. Contain the heat, prevent the transmission
of infrared and use any other barrier you can to prevent heat from warming the
cooler side.

Re:Can you try both methods?

[ZorinLynx]

>10MW of electricity going into your servers and quite a lot of that energy coming back out as heat ;)

All of it. The laws of thermodynamics are clear.

Sorry, I can't help being a smartass sometimes. ;)

Re:Can you try both methods?

[loshwomp]

Sweden and Finland in high demand for datacenters (end technicians to staff them).

Why would you want to staff your datacenters with proctologists?

Re:Hot or Cold?

[jo_ham]

More threads!

More threads means more entropy!

Get a big enough T x deltaS and the server will cool itself!