• About Us
  • Partnership Opportunities
  • Privacy Policy

Data Center Frontier

Charting the future of data centers and cloud computing.

  • Cloud
    • Hyperscale
  • Colo
    • Site Selection
    • Interconnection
  • Energy
    • Sustainability
  • Cooling
  • Technology
    • Internet of Things
    • AI & Machine Learning
    • Edge Computing
    • Virtual Reality
    • Autonomous Cars
    • 5G Wireless
    • Satellites
  • Design
    • Servers
    • Storage
    • Network
  • Voices
  • Podcast
  • White Papers
  • Resources
    • COVID-19
    • Events
    • Newsletter
    • Companies
    • Data Center 101
  • Jobs
You are here: Home / Executive Roundtable / What’s Next for AI in Data Center Automation?

What’s Next for AI in Data Center Automation?

By Rich Miller - March 20, 2019 Leave a Comment

What’s Next for AI in Data Center Automation?

A look inside a custom machine learning server developed by Facebook, showing the CPUs and motherboard. The unit also uses GPUs. (Photo: Rich Miller)

LinkedinTwitterFacebookSubscribe
Mail

Today we continue our Data Center Executive Roundtable, a quarterly feature showcasing the insights of thought leaders on the state of the data center industry, and where it is headed. In today’s discussion, our panel of experienced data center executives – Chris Sharp of Digital Realty, Tim Mirick of Sabey Data Centers and John Hewitt of Vertiv – discuss how artificial intelligence and automation are impacting data center management.

The conversation is moderated by Rich Miller, the founder and editor of Data Center Frontier.

Data Center Frontier:  There’s a growing focus on automating data center operations, a trend driven by staffing challenges and the need for remote management of “lights out” edge data centers. Do you expect to see more automation? What are the most promising approaches in this area?

Chris Sharp, CTO, Digital Realty

Chris Sharp: Absolutely we expect to see more automation. However, for us it’s less about achieving the “lights out” data center and more about allowing our operators time to concentrate on the high impact and high frequency tasks that inevitably require human intervention. There are two main areas of focus that we see the industry trying to address through automation.

The first is energy efficiency. AI and machine learning algorithms enable supervised control over mechanical cooling, gradually making changes to allow for the most effective usage of power. This automation has matured over the past decade to a point where the market has plenty of options to choose from. We’ve already seen Google roll out this type of solution to great effect, albeit in a more controlled, single-tenant environment. Effectiveness of this type of solution is largely determined by the availability of a tunable infrastructure, but even a 5 percent gain in efficiency can have a huge impact to the profitability of a data center.

The second area is predictive maintenance. This is where we see the largest room for improvement. Most companies offering this type of solution (in the data center industry) are actually offering heavily supervised machine learning algorithms, and are often only available for a product they manufacture. Real benefits in this space will come when a firm obtains a critical mass of data that aligns equipment types, power usage, performance, incident and maintenance data. This is where we will see the ability to take more of a hands-off approach, only replacing or repairing components when they actually need it.

As for achieving a “lights out” data center, we don’t see this as an ultimate goal for us. Not only do our customers require a level of data center management by on-site personnel, but you will never be able to predict when every component will need maintenance or fail. The key will be finding the right mix in allowing these new applications to assist humans in creating a better product. Our data center designs are engineered to meet current customer demand, and optimized for the efficiencies and logical touch points to meet the future requirements.

JOHN HEWITT, Vertiv

JOHN HEWITT, Vertiv

John Hewitt: Over the last 12 months we’ve seen a surge in operators deploying remote monitoring and management solutions to support lights out edge data centers. We expect this trend to continue as the number of edge deployments grows.

Remote management and monitoring has always been a smart business decision. Now, it is becoming a necessity due to both labor challenges and the complexity of managing increasingly distributed IT networks using manual processes. New cloud connected service models also are emerging to enable fast, cost-effective services for distributed IT to further enhance the ability of organizations to maintain lights-out facilities while ensuring high availability.

TIM MIRICK, Sabey Data Centers

TIM MIRICK, Sabey Data Centers

Tim Mirick: If we define “automation” as “virtualization of the 3rd party data center experience,” then absolutely, yes. Data center capacity is most convenient and cost-effective when the data center reports out through the customers’ operational dashboard using the exact metrics with which customers are most familiar.

The most promising approach: seamless compatibility of data center management and customers’ premises management systems based on a clear tenant scope of work. Customer convenience is always important—a data center is most convenient if you don’t have to go there.

NEXT: How should the data center industry assess and manage the risk from climate change?

Keep pace with the fact-moving world of data centers and cloud computing by following us on Twitter and Facebook, connecting with me on LinkedIn, and signing up for our weekly newspaper using the form below:

LinkedinTwitterFacebookSubscribe
Mail

Tagged With: Data Center Management, Digital Realty, Sabey Data Centers, Vertiv

Newsletters

Stay informed: Get our weekly updates!

Are you a new reader? Follow Data Center Frontier on Twitter or Facebook.

About Rich Miller

I write about the places where the Internet lives, telling the story of data centers and the people who build them. I founded Data Center Knowledge, the data center industry's leading news site. Now I'm exploring the future of cloud computing at Data Center Frontier.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Voices of the Industry

How to Simplify Distributed IT Management? Focus on the Tools to Improve Flexibility and Efficiency

How to Simplify Distributed IT Management? Focus on the Tools to Improve Flexibility and Efficiency Russell Senesac, Director of Data Center Strategy at Schneider Electric, explores how to address distributed IT management and the tools available today.

DCF Spotlight

The COVID-19 Crisis and the Data Center Industry

The COVID-19 pandemic presents strategic challenges for the data center and cloud computing sectors. Data Center Frontier provides a one-stop resource for the latest news and analysis for decision-makers navigating this complex new landscape.

An aerial view of major facilities in Data Center Alley in Ashburn, Virginia. (Image: Loudoun County)

Northern Virginia Data Center Market: The Focal Point for Cloud Growth

The Northern Virginia data center market is seeing a surge in supply and an even bigger surge in demand. Data Center Frontier explores trends, stats and future expectations for the No. 1 data center market in the country.

See More Spotlight Features

White Papers

PDUs

Remote Management of Data Center Cabinets: The Importance of Remote Power Control in Multitenant/Colocation & More

With the shift of enterprise-owned Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment into multi-tenant data center (MTDC)/colocation sites and the anticipated growth of remote/edge sites,  basic control of power for remotely located ICT equipment is becoming an important consideration in overall power management strategy. Download a new white paper from Chatsworth Products that explores the most beneficial applications for intelligent rack PDUs with remote power control, defines the key capabilities to require on intelligent rack PDUs with remote power control, and lists additional monitoring and security capabilities that should be considered when selecting intelligent rack PDUs for use in laboratories, in remote/edge sites or when colocating enterprise-owned equipment into MTDCs.

Get this PDF emailed to you.

We always respect your privacy and we never sell or rent our list to third parties. By downloading this White Paper you are agreeing to our terms of service. You can opt out at any time.

Newsletters

Get the Latest News from Data Center Frontier

Job Listings

RSS Job Openings | Peter Kazella and Associates, Inc

  • Senior Mechanical Engineer - Baltimore, MD
  • UPS Field Service Technician - Danbury, CT
  • Navy Nuke - Park Ridge, NJ
  • Account Executive - Data Center Solutions - Portland, OR
  • Account Executive - Data Center Solutions - Piscataway, NJ

See More Jobs

Data Center 101

Data Center 101: Mastering the Basics of the Data Center Industry

Data Center 101: Mastering the Basics of the Data Center Industry

Data Center Frontier, in partnership with Open Spectrum, brings our readers a series that provides an introductory guidebook to the ins and outs of the data center and colocation industry. Think power systems, cooling, solutions, data center contracts and more. The Data Center 101 Special Report series is directed to those new to the industry, or those of our readers who need to brush up on the basics.

  • Data Center Power
  • Data Center Cooling
  • Strategies for Data Center Location
  • Data Center Pricing Negotiating
  • Cloud Computing

See More Data center 101 Topics

About Us

Charting the future of data centers and cloud computing. We write about what’s next for the Internet, and the innovations that will take us there. We tell the story of the digital economy through the data center facilities that power cloud computing and the people who build them. Read more ...
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

About Our Founder

Data Center Frontier is edited by Rich Miller, the data center industry’s most experienced journalist. For more than 15 years, Rich has profiled the key role played by data centers in the Internet revolution. Meet the DCF team.

TOPICS

  • 5G Wireless
  • Cloud
  • Colo
  • Connected Cars
  • Cooling
  • Cornerstone
  • Coronavirus
  • Design
  • Edge Computing
  • Energy
  • Executive Roundtable
  • Featured
  • Finance
  • Hyperscale
  • Interconnection
  • Internet of Things
  • Machine Learning
  • Network
  • Podcast
  • Servers
  • Site Selection
  • Social Business
  • Special Reports
  • Storage
  • Sustainability
  • Videos
  • Virtual Reality
  • Voices of the Industry
  • White Paper

Copyright Data Center Frontier LLC © 2021