Overview

Create a comprehensive data centre design that supports the critical needs of the business, examining in-depth the key constraints of data centre functionality to deliver a balanced, efficient, and sustainable solution.

The Certified Data Centre Design Professional (CDCDP®) program is proven to be an essential certification for individuals wishing to demonstrate their technical knowledge of data centre architecture and component operating conditions.

This five-day program has a comprehensive agenda that explores and addresses the key elements associated with designing a data centre. It teaches best practice principles for the design, construction and operation of computer rooms and data centre operational support facilities. The program also addresses the importance of accurate interpretation of detailed customer requirements at the planning stage to ensure that the business needs remain focal to all decision making.

Learners will also explore the key elements of physical infrastructure, electrical distribution systems, air-conditioning, data cabling and building support systems. The program concludes with a comprehensive case study exercise that guides learners through the design steps from initiation to commission, covering the business decisions, design scope and implementation phases that need to be addressed throughout all aspects of the process.

A certified CDCDP® also considers the requirements for compliance, having a full understanding of national and international regulations, codes and standards. During the program, learners will be provided a valuable opportunity to access the latest industry standards.

Following this program, you are encouraged to continue your professional development by advancing your knowledge and skills to gain further official certifications and qualifications by progressing through The Global Digital Infrastructure Education Framework which maps education programs to career advancement throughout the network infrastructure and data centre sectors.

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Prerequisites

Experience of working within a data centre environment is essential; preferably with two years experience in a technical IT, operational or facilities role. If you would like to discuss your experience or suitability for this program please contact us.

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Delegates will learn how to

CDCDP® certified individuals will possess unrivalled knowledge, expertise and capability to deliver a comprehensive data centre design to meet on-going operational and business needs.

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Outline

  • What is a Data Centre?

    The data centre stack

    Types of data centre

    The Design Planning Process

    Main design considerations

    Developing a project plan

    Scoping the Requirement

    Identifying key stakeholders

    Market and political drivers

    National and international standards

    Availability and resilience classifications

    Introduction to Availability Models (Uptime Tier, TIA 942-B Rating, BICSI Classes & Syska Hennessy Critical Levels)

    Recommendations for location, size, heights, floor loading, lighting and décor

    Whitespace Floor

    National and international standards

    Structural and load requirements

    Recommended floor heights

    Airflow and sealing

    Ramps and access

    Seismic protection

    Slab floor construction considerations

    Cabinets

    Requirements of a cabinet

    Security, safety and stabilisation

    Clearance, accessibility and ventilation

    Cable management

    Seismic stability considerations

    Design specifications

    Power

    Regulations and codes

    The meaning of N, N+1 2(N+1), etc

    Power delivery and distribution losses

    Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) options

    Generator considerations

    Power distribution units

    Power distribution to, and in a rack

    Remote Power Panels (RPPs)

    Emergency Power Off (EPO)

    Estimating power requirements

    Cooling

    National and international standards

    Basics of air conditioning principles

    CRAHs and CRACs

    ASHRAE Operational parameters

    Under floor plenum approach

    Hot aisle/cold aisle layout principle

    Hot and cold aisle containment

    Psychrometric charts

    Min and max throw distances for under floor air

    Bypass and recirculation

    Airflow management

    Chilled water racks, CO2, free air cooling

    Earthing & Bonding

    Applicable standards

    The terminology of earthing, grounding & bonding

    Equipotential bonding

    Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)

    Functional earths

    The Signal Reference Grid (SRG)

    Cable Containment, Management & Protection

    Applicable standards

    Separation of power and data cables

    Administration and labelling

    Types of conduit, trunking, tray, etc, available

    Earthing and bonding

    Containment fill ratio

    Underfloor v overhead containment

    Cable management, in and to a rack

    Fire stopping

    Delivering the IT Strategy

    Data centre equipment

    Functions and protocols, current and future

    Data centre connections

    Cabling requirements

    Cabling standards

    Cabling options

    The impact of 40G and 100G

    The impact of virtualisation

    Copper and Optical Fibre Cabling Connectivity

    Cabling standards

    Cable standards, 10GBASE-T, CAT6A & Cat 7A & Cat 8

    Screened vs unscreened cables

    High density patching

    Alien crosstalk

    Copper test requirements

    Design for growth management

    Channel connections

    Connection topologies

    Optical connectors, past and present

    Optical fibre management

    Types of optical cable

    Pre-terminated cabling

    Advantages/disadvantages of pre-terminating cables

    Optical component loss and link power budgets

    Application link loss

    Optical testing requirements

    Pre-terminated cabling

    Safety and Manageability

    Local codes and regulations

    Fire safety plan

    ASD and detection systems

    Fire suppression systems

    Fire safety cable requirements

    Security and access control

    Commission and handover

    Benefits of commissioning

    Commission process and test sequence

    Handover process and training

    Lessons learned

    Power Review

    Power consumption trends

    Energy availability, security and cost

    Energy challenges facing the data centre

    Power Regulations

    Which regulations affect data centres?

    Environmental regulations and pressures

    Energy and environmental programs

    Power Basics

    Ohm’s law, Joule’s law, the Kirchhoff laws

    Electrical parameters

    AC and DC

    Single phase and three phase

    Residual currents

    Harmonics

    Power to the Data Centre

    Where does the electricity come from?

    Electrical supply options

    Transformers

    Surge suppression devices

    Costs of electrical power

    Types of tariff available

    Alternate power supply options

    Distribution in the Data Centre

    Electrical circuit requirements

    Switching devices

    Power factor correction units

    Automatic and static transfer switches

    Main, feeder, sub-main circuits

    Power distribution units

    Remote power panels

    Final circuits

    Cable and fuse sizing

    Power distribution and associated losses

    TN-S systems

    Energy efficiency

    Standby Power

    UPS components, batteries and redundant systems

    UPS options and considerations

    Static and maintenance bypasses

    Standby generators

    Cooling Review

    Data Centre limiting factors

    Sources of cooling inefficiencies

    Cooling trends

    Regulatory Climate

    Which regulations affect data centres?

    Environmental pressures

    Cooling efficiency

    Design considerations & planning redundancy

    Overview of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

    Periodic review process

    Environmental Parameters

    Standards, NEBS, ETSI, ASHRAE

    Operating environment ranges

    Rate of change

    ASHRAE psychrometric charts

    Humidification systems

    The need for sensors

    Measuring and monitoring

    Collecting the Heat

    Cooling system overview

    CRACs and CRAHs

    Maximising existing investment

    Rack v row options

    Dynamics and problems of air flow

    Liquid cooling

    Comparison of high-density cooling

    Available cooling options

    Heat Rejection Or Reuse

    Heat transfer considerations

    DX systems

    Chilled water CRAHs

    Chiller options

    Adiabatic cooling

    CWS and CHWS plant

    Design considerations

    Free cooling and free – air cooling

    Commissioning maintenance

    Planned preventative maintenance

    Energy Use Systems

    Energy efficiency issues

    Layers of inefficiency

    Power system provision

    Cooling system provision

    Understanding areas of improvements

    IT Infrastructure

    Extending the operating envelope

    Environment zones

    Accurate IT calculations

    Energy use in the IT equipment

    Software and storage considerations

    Transformation options

    Energy efficient IT equipment

    Power Systems

    Energy use in the data centre

    DC power train

    Matching the support to the IT load

    Transformer efficiencies

    UPS & motor efficiencies

    DCiE for modular provisioning

    Maximising the power factor

    Measuring and monitoring

    Infrared inspections

    Planned electrical safety inspections

    Implementing data centre electrical efficiency

    Cooling Efficiency

    Cooling, a cascade system

    Affinity laws and cooling equation

    CRAC and CRAH efficiencies

    Optimising air-side systems & water-side systems

    DCiE for cooling options

    Diagnostic and site specific monitoring

    Design considerations

    Data Centre Metrics

    Where and what can we measure?

    The metric stack

    Metric characteristics

    Current industry metrics (PUE, CUE, WUE, ERE, RCI & RTI)

    Chained value metrics (CADE)

    Proxy metrics (FVER, DPPE, DCeP)

    Efficiency Models & Best Practices

    Energy calculations

    Levels of modelling

    Modelling tools

    Sources of guidance

    Effective v Efficient

    The DC language barrier

    the multi-functional team

    Design for efficiency, operability & flexibility

    Industry recognised best practices

    Design Management

    Characteristics of project management

    Key project processes

    Identifying and engaging with key stakeholders

    Setting goals

    Prioritisation of activities

    Cornerstones of project management

    Managing the Design Process

    What is to be delivered?

    What constraints are there?

    Managing dependencies

    Managing the tribes

    Managing conflict

    Identifying risk

    Risk and issue management

    Change management

    Reporting and communication

    Managing the Design Implementation Process

    Project charter and specification

    Risk assessment and management

    Scope management

    Float and critical path

    Human resource management

    Project integration and work breakdown structure

    Time and cost management

    Handover and progressive acceptance

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Why choose QA

Special Notices

It is essential that you bring a device with wireless capability, and unrestricted access to the internet as the program is delivered via an online learning management system. The log in process will be explained at the start of your program. The recommended web browser is Internet Explorer 11 but the system supports all web browsers. The program content also requires a PDF reader, adobe flash player and Microsoft word and excel.

There may be up to 20 hours of pre-reading to be completed before attending this course

Dates & Locations

Need to know

Frequently asked questions

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QA online courses, also commonly known as distance learning courses or elearning courses, take the form of interactive software designed for individual learning, but you will also have access to full support from our subject-matter experts for the duration of your course. When you book a QA online learning course you will receive immediate access to it through our e-learning platform and you can start to learn straight away, from any compatible device. Access to the online learning platform is valid for one year from the booking date.

All courses are built around case studies and presented in an engaging format, which includes storytelling elements, video, audio and humour. Every case study is supported by sample documents and a collection of Knowledge Nuggets that provide more in-depth detail on the wider processes.

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Certificates of Achievement are issued at the end the course, either as a hard copy or via email. Read more here.

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