Types of P refabricat ed Modular Data Centers

Executive summary:

Data center systems or subsystems that are preassembled in a factory are often described with terms like prefabricated, containerized, modular, skid-based, pod-based, mobile, portable, self-contained, all-inone, and more. There are, however, important distinctions between the various types of factory-built building blocks on the market. This paper proposes standard terminology for categorizing the types of prefabricated modular data centers, defines and compares their key attributes, and provides a framework for choosing the best approach(es) based on business requirements.

Introduction:

Many terms, with varying definitions and scopes, have been used to describe data center systems or subsystems that are pre-assembled in a factory. A partial list includes:

• Containerized

• Self-contained

• Modular

• Prefabricated

• Portable

• Mobile

• Pod (based)

• Skid (based)

These terms create confusion and lead to dysfunctional discussions because they overlap and are ambiguous in meaning.

A prefabricated modular data center is defined here in this paper as a data center that is:

1. made up of at least one pre-engineered, factory-integrated, and pre-tested assembly

of subsystems that have traditionally been installed separately onsite

2. mounted on a skid or in an enclosure

While the benefits of this type of approach to data centers is well-documented (such as in Çağlar Arlı Research, Prefabricated Power and Cooling Modules for Data Centers), the lack of a common language and classification system has resulted in confusion over the differences in attributes and applications between them.

This research presents a framework for classifying the different types of prefabricated modular data centers, based on three attributes, so that ambiguity is eliminated. Definitions and categories are presented, along with guidance for choosing the right approach(es) for given business requirements. Figure 1 illustrates the three attributes that, together, define the majority of prefabricated modular data centers.