Exin Certified Data Centre Professional Exam Questions

The UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is a device that provides backup power to the ICT equipment in case of a power outage or a power quality issue. The UPS should be dedicated to the ICT equipment only, and not to other loads, such as lighting, cooling, or security systems. This is because connecting fluorescent lights to the same UPS as the ICT equipment can cause several problems, such as:

* Reducing the battery runtime of the UPS, which may not be enough to support the ICT equipment until the backup generator kicks in or the utility power is restored.

* Increasing the harmonic distortion of the UPS output, which can affect the performance and reliability of the ICT equipment and the UPS itself.

* Creating electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI), which can disrupt the communication and data transmission of the ICT equipment.

* Triggering false alarms or tripping the circuit breakers of the UPS, which can cause downtime or data loss.

Therefore, fluorescent lights should not be connected to the same UPS that supports the ICT equipment. Instead, they should be connected to a separate power source, such as the utility power, the backup generator, or a different UPS.

1: CDCP Preparation Guide, page 17, section 2.3.1 2: Data Center Lighting Design Considerations3, page 1, section 3 4: Data Center Lighting Solutions5, page 1, section 1 6: Going beyond energy savings in data centers with LEDs7, page 1, section 2

According to the CDCP Preparation Guide1, magnetic fields of the type 'H' or 'B' are created when an electric current flows through a conductor, such as a wire or a coil. The magnetic field strength 'H' is proportional to the current 'I' and the number of turns 'N' of the coil, and inversely proportional to the length 'l' of the coil. The magnetic flux density 'B' is proportional to the magnetic field strength 'H' and the permeability '' of the medium in which the magnetic field exists. The greater the current, the stronger the magnetic field and the magnetic flux density. The relationship between 'H', 'B', 'I', 'N', 'l', and '' can be expressed by the following equations:

H = N I / l

B = H

1: CDCP Preparation Guide, page 23, section 2.4.2.1 2: Difference between B and H in magnetic fields?3, page 1, section 1 4: Magnetic field | Definition & Facts5, page 1, section 1

Sprinkler heads used in computer rooms activate at 57 C (135 F), which is the standard temperature rating for ordinary sprinklers. This is the temperature at which the heat-sensitive element of the sprinkler head, such as a glass bulb or a fusible link, breaks or melts, allowing water to flow from the sprinkler. Sprinkler heads are designed to activate only when exposed to a fire, not to ambient temperature fluctuations. Therefore, sprinkler heads should be installed at a sufficient distance from the heat sources, such as servers, racks, or ducts, to avoid accidental activation. Sprinkler heads should also be selected and installed in accordance with the relevant standards and codes, such as NFPA 13 and NFPA 75.

1: CDCP Preparation Guide, page 24, section 2.4.3 2: Sprinkler Systems in Data Centers3, page 1, section 1 4: Data Center Fire Protection5, page 1, section 2 6: Data Center Sprinkler System Design7, page 1, section 1

The requirement of Concurrently Maintainability becomes relevant starting from Rated-3, according to the Uptime Institute Tier Classification System1. Concurrently Maintainability means that any component or system in the data centre can be maintained or replaced without affecting the availability of the IT equipment. This requires having redundant capacity components and multiple independent distribution paths serving the IT equipment. Rated-3 data centres are designed to achieve Concurrently Maintainability and have a minimum uptime of 99.982%. Rated-4 data centres also have Concurrently Maintainability, but they also have Fault Tolerance, which means that they can withstand any single unplanned event without affecting the availability of the IT equipment. Rated-4 data centres have a minimum uptime of 99.995%. Rated-1 and Rated-2 data centres do not have Concurrently Maintainability, as they have only one distribution path serving the IT equipment and no redundant capacity components. Rated-1 data centres have a minimum uptime of 99.671% and Rated-2 data centres have a minimum uptime of 99.741%.

1: Uptime Institute Tier Classification System2, page 1, section 1 2: Data Center Tiers Classification Explained: (Tier 1, 2, 3, 4)3, page 1, section 1 3: Data Center Tier Standards4, page 1, section 1

The casters and feet under the rack are used to support the weight of the rack and its equipment, and to allow the rack to be moved if needed. However, the casters and feet should also be designed to avoid putting too much pressure on the floor tile, especially if the data centre uses a raised floor system. A too heavy point load on the floor tile can cause the tile to crack, deform, or collapse, which can damage the rack, the equipment, and the underlying infrastructure. To prevent this, the casters and feet should be larger, so that they can distribute the weight over a larger area and reduce the point load. The casters and feet should also be compatible with the floor type and the load rating of the floor tile.

1: CDCP Preparation Guide, page 22, section 2.4.1.1 2: Raised Floor Design Considerations for Data Center3, page 1, section 1 4: [SOLVED] server rack on casters or feet5, page 1, section 1