Mobile Data Cabinets Consolidating Power and Communications
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data centers face challenges in relocating data processing devices without incurring significant costs and downtime due to the need for individually disconnecting and reconnecting extensive bundles of electrical and optical communication cables, as well as reconfiguring electrical power and cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of mobile data cabinets with a shared central interface, high-bandwidth main communication cables, and multi-use connectors that eliminate the need for specialized terminations, allowing for easy relocation by consolidating data communications, power distribution, and adjusting cooling capacity as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If data processing devices are individually connected to central gatekeepers by extensive bundles of electrical and optical cables, then reliable data communication is achieved, but relocation of devices becomes complex and time-consuming due to the need to individually disconnect and reconnect each cable
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the data communication infrastructure by introducing mobile data cabinets that can be independently relocated. Each cabinet contains data processing devices that are pre-connected internally, and the entire cabinet connects to the central gatekeeper through a single optical cable interface, dividing the complex cable management into manageable modular units
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile data cabinet acts as an intermediary between the central gatekeeper and the data processing devices. The cabinet includes an optical interface that connects to the central gatekeeper via optical cable, and internally routes connections to individual data processing devices, simplifying the external connection interface while maintaining internal connectivity
2Reliability
If specialized optical cable terminations are used to ensure high data transmission rates, then communication quality is improved, but the cost and time required for installation and relocation increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The optical cables are pre-terminated at fixed locations within the data center before mobile data cabinets are deployed. When a cabinet needs to be relocated, the pre-terminated cable ends remain in place, and the cabinet is simply reconnected to a different pre-terminated cable at the new location, eliminating the need for on-site termination work
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses disposable or easily replaceable optical cable connections at the cabinet interface. Rather than investing in permanent, hard-to-change terminations, the design allows for simple connection and disconnection of optical cables, treating the connection infrastructure as easily reconfigurable
3Reliability
If data processing devices are fixed in position to maintain stable cable connections, then connection reliability is improved, but the adaptability and flexibility of the data center layout deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamic mobility to previously static data processing devices through mobile data cabinets on wheels. The cabinets can be moved to different locations within the data center while maintaining stable optical connections, transforming the fixed infrastructure into a flexible, reconfigurable system
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile data cabinet design creates a universal platform that can serve multiple functions and locations. The same cabinet configuration can be deployed anywhere in the data center by connecting to available optical cable infrastructure, making the system adaptable to various layout requirements without requiring custom installations
4Adaptability or versatility
If extensive cable bundles are routed through the data center to connect each device, then comprehensive connectivity is achieved, but the physical space occupied and the complexity of cable management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple individual cable connections into a single optical cable interface per mobile data cabinet. By consolidating the connectivity of multiple data processing devices within a cabinet through one optical connection point, the physical cable infrastructure is dramatically reduced while maintaining full connectivity coverage
Data Source
AI summary
Data processing devices in a data center are more easily relocated by consolidating the data and power connections to the data processing devices within a mobile data cabinet. The mobile data cabinet includes an access switch to consolidate communications and connections among computing devices in the mobile cabinet and to consolidate communications to a central communication service through a main communication cable. A single data communication connection through the main communication cable and a single electrical power connection through a power delivery cable to the mobile cabinet reduces and simplifies number and difficulty of the disconnections and connections that must be made to move the mobile cabinet.