Innovations in SDN

In June 2010 a new stage of SDN development started (Stack Data Network – a network of data centers). Stack.CUBE, designed by Stack Labs (developer of projects related to construction, operation and maintenance of Stack Data Network data centers), is a complex solution with unique structure, functional parameters and operating principles.

Stack.CUBE solution is the main driver of the new stage

Stack.CUBE is a customizable integrated solution incorporating the most promising trends of global market (including cloud computing, “green” solutions), analysis of the best international practices in the data center market and company many years`experience in operation and maintenance of data centers of various fault-tolerant levels. Based on these factors, Stack.CUBE combines such significant parameters of data center efficiency and quality as:

• quick and easy installation,
• high energy efficiency (possibility to achieve record PUE from 1,02 to 1,20 with average annual PUE=1,25),
• required fault-tolerance level of engineering infrastructure (TIER on demand), 
• ability to meet business requirements in "just in time" mode
• scalability of capacities,
• compliance with physical and information security requirements,
• easy equipment maintenance at the stage of operation

Stack.CUBE is a set of standard basic cells which enable to put into operation full-scale technological sites strictly in accordance with given parameters within just a few weeks. Such as:

• number and power consumption of racks – including server premises fully packed with blade-systems;
• guaranteed availability level of IT-services depending on customer needs – 99,75%, as well as 99,99% can be provided in one data center;
• redundancy level of infrastructure components is up to 2(N+1)

Stack.CUBE is easily customized to any type of equipment deployed in server racks: these can be systems of various dimensions based on various cold air supply principles and power consumption. This feature of Stack.CUBE is in accordance with cloud philosophy concept so Stack.CUBE can be considered an ideal environment for “conceiving” and “life” of cloud computing

Implementation of Stack.CUBE technology enables to avoid costs related to maintenance of excess premises, as well as quickly expand SDN capacities to meet customer requests while at the same time maintaining attractive pricing policy

Key features of Stack.CUBE modular data centers

Power supply:

• active and passive power supply components are made redundant in power supply systems of the data center and critical equipment, thus, enabling concurrent maintenance;
• full capacity of data center power consumption is made redundant by autonomous power generators;
• special systems leveling parameters of power supply network and uninterruptible power supply supported by autonomous power generators are implemented in data center power supply;
• voltage of power supply of data center consumers is 230 V one phase, 400 V three phase;
• general power supply system has a component-by-component implementation enabling to avoid introduction and support of excess resources; components of the system can be commissioned as and when necessary without upgrade of the whole system and on the basis of concurrent maintenance

Cooling:

• air-cooling is the principal cooling method in the data center;
• the design of cooling supply system allows for application of additional air cooling or direct-expansion with liquid coolant;
• installation of direct-expansion systems (terminals, liquid coolant) is performed without any construction works on a concurrently maintainable basis;
• components of cold supply systems are made redundant allowing for technical maintenance of any component without affecting required cooling capacity;
• power supply system of cooling system components is made redundant

Practical implementation of Stack.CUBE solution

Test model (20 designed racks) which demonstrated compliance of Stack.CUBE with all declared parameters was the first practical implementation of this solution. In June 2010 this model was put into test mode at the maximum load (it was simulated that the racks were 100% full of blade-systems) and on the hottest days, at the air temperature of 38°С, PUE was at the level of 1,24 – 1,27. Test results confirmed estimated design parameters which are necessary for the construction of data center with total capacity of 1000 racks. Autumn 2010 is the completion date of the first stage of this project (300 designed racks)