Underground Networking Tunnel for Parallel Data Center Deployment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for establishing data centers are resource-intensive and time-consuming, requiring months to design, build, and commission, leading to delays in making computing or storage resources available to customers due to sequential construction and networking processes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an underground networking tunnel that allows for the installation and commissioning of networking equipment before the data center building is completed, creating a local backbone network that can be integrated into a larger provider network, enabling parallel work paths and reducing the time to customer availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional sequential construction and networking processes are used, then network configuration and commissioning can be performed after data center construction, but the time to customer availability is significantly delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by installing and commissioning networking equipment in underground tunnels before the data center building is constructed. Network infrastructure such as routers, switches, and fiber optic cables are deployed in advance in the tunnel structures, allowing network commissioning to occur parallel to or before the main building construction, thereby eliminating the sequential delay and reducing time to customer availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the underground dimension by constructing tunnel structures beneath the future data center location. This three-dimensional approach allows network infrastructure to be installed in a separate spatial layer (underground) while the data center building is constructed above ground, enabling parallel workflows and eliminating the time loss associated with sequential above-ground installation and commissioning.
2Productivity
If network equipment is installed and commissioned after data center construction, then construction processes can be completed sequentially, but substantial time and skilled labor are required for network configuration
Solution Approach 1:
Network equipment including routers, switches, and fiber optic infrastructure is installed and commissioned in the underground tunnels before the data center building is completed. This preliminary deployment of network infrastructure allows the network to be ready for immediate use upon customer arrival, significantly increasing deployment speed and eliminating the time loss associated with post-construction network configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous and overlapping work by conducting network installation and commissioning activities simultaneously with data center construction. The useful action of network deployment continues uninterrupted throughout the construction period rather than occurring as a separate post-construction phase, thereby maintaining productivity and eliminating time loss.
3Reliability
If data center construction is completed before network configuration, then the facility structure is ready, but network commissioning delays making computing or storage resources available to customers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by deploying network infrastructure in underground tunnels before the data center building is constructed and commissioned. Network equipment is installed and configured in advance, ensuring that when the building is completed, the network is already ready to immediately provide computing and storage resources to customers, thereby eliminating delays and ensuring timely availability.
Solution Approach 2:
By moving network infrastructure to an underground dimensional layer, the patent allows network commissioning to occur independently of the above-ground building construction timeline. This spatial separation enables the network to be ready before or during building completion, ensuring reliable and timely availability of customer resources without delay.
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional above-ground network installation methods are used, then network equipment can be installed in the data center, but space is consumed by network infrastructure and installation is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates network infrastructure installation to an underground dimensional layer, separating it from the above-ground data center space. This allows network equipment to be installed in dedicated tunnel structures beneath the facility, making installation easier by providing dedicated space and eliminating the time-consuming process of installing network infrastructure within the constrained above-ground building footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
Network infrastructure is installed and commissioned in advance in the underground tunnels before the data center building is constructed. This preliminary action simplifies the overall installation process by preparing the network foundation in advance, eliminating the need for time-consuming in-building network installation and reducing the overall project timeline.
Data Source
AI summary
An underground networking tunnel may be installed at a data center construction site prior to completion of a data center being constructed at the data center construction site. Networking equipment in the underground networking tunnel may be configured and commissioned concurrently with construction of the data center. Also data center power and cooling systems may service the underground networking subsequent to construction of a data center above the underground networking tunnel.