The size and layout of data centres vary with the size of the companies using them. However, it’s true that a big portion of data centre facilities is occupied by hardware, cables, wiring, and other gadgets that might make the entire notion of a data centre very confusing. 

Luckily, it’s always possible to rely on professionals to manage and monitor data centres properly. And even if you don’t know the more complex details, the basic architecture of a data centre is rather simple to grasp and understand.

An Elaborate Cable Setup

It’s the efficiency of the physical infrastructure that makes the proper functioning and smooth operations of data centres possible. Cabling is a huge part of said infrastructure. Thinking that messy and tangled cables are just part of the data centre layout can cause many issues with the actual processes. Aside from clutter, poor cable design also affects the performance as the restricted airflow within the tangles can lead to overheating.

Structured cabling, typically set beneath the floor or overhead is the first step in creating an efficient data centre system. It can be very tempting to ignore the structured cabling method at first as it costs less, but trying to save money in this step can only lead to costly repairs and maintenance later on; not to mention the risk of costly downtime.

A Wide Range of Connectivity Options

Another crucial aspect of data centres has everything to do with Internet connectivity. Just like any other user, a data centre also has the ability to connect to the Web, but it uses several different providers and connections in order to ensure better customer service in terms of content delivery.

Thanks to the multiple connectivity options, data centres allow the company to stay online at all times without risking the delay in information and customer service. This practice is also great protection against DDoS threats.

Routers and Switches

In order for the cabling network to function properly, routers and switches are more than necessary when it comes to improving the flow and traffic of data. As the name suggests, they determine the fastest possible route for the data to travel through. The whole purpose is to manage larger flows of traffic without risking the complete breakdown of the processes involved in dealing with said traffic.

The first point of entry is the data centre’s edge routers which further direct the data to core routers responsible for processing the data in question. Also referred to as switches, these particular aspects of data centre architecture present the facility’s aggregation level. For instance, these switches are responsible for directing traffic and data even when the servers they need to travel between lack physical connectivity.

Servers Are the Powering Force

Data centres utilize servers for storage and processing valuable data, and as such, these servers can also be viewed as the engine of the entire data centre architecture. The entire networking concept of the data centre is created to accommodate and facilitate the performance of servers.

The more elaborate the needs for power computing and data processing of a company, the higher the requirements get for maintaining the servers. This is why data centre facilities are considered high-risk environments where data centre safety solutions need to be employed to ensure an ideal electrical setting with minimal risk of mishaps.

Direct Connectivity to the Rescue

Businesses can’t afford slow data access or downtime if they want to stay relevant on the market in this day and age. This is why a direct connection to the Internet provider’s line is another crucial aspect of data centres. It just happens that sometimes, the internal connectivity is not strong enough to support all the traffic and data flow, which is why cross-connections directly to the provider’s servers can become a determining factor in meeting the customers’ needs.

Aside from the direct cabling between the servers, it’s also possible to utilize direct outbound connections via cloud servers. Cloud computing allows users to bypass the public Internet line completely, thus allowing for speedy solutions and instant content delivery.

There are several different types of data centres and each company has a data centre unique to their own business needs. However, the basic essentials, layout, and architecture of a data centre are always the same. Proceeding to further optimize and tweak these networks and systems to suit both the business’ and customers’ needs is crucial when trying to set yourself apart from the competition within the industry.