精简UPS-优化当前配置方式
Downsizingyour UPS – challenging the status quo of right sizing
Ian Gregg, EfficiencyIT
Ian Gregg is senior data centerconsultant, EfficiencyIT
本文由DCD中国授权翻译并发布至DeepKnowledge微信公众平台。
如今对于数据中心运营商来说，精简传统UPS的配置可以获得一个更好的ROI（投资回报率）和更低的能源投入，并且可以提高系统的灵活性。但为什么它没有成为人人都在谈论的热点话题呢？
For today’s data center operators,downsizing legacy UPSs can offer a better return on investment (ROI), lowerenergy costs and increased resiliency, so why isn’t anyone talking about it?
也许“精简”对IT行业的人来说是一个令人讨厌的词，但是时候打破思想禁锢，并且提出质疑：“真的是越大越好吗？”。不间断电源（UPS）为我们提供了一个完美的解决案例，UPS是数据中心在停电后的最后一道防线，确保业务连续的同时避免数据中心遭受系统宕机带来的昂贵损失及声誉损伤。
While downsizingmay be considered a dirty word for many in the IT sector, it’s time to breakthe taboo and finally ask ‘is bigger really better?’ Uninterruptible powersupplies (UPS) provide us with a perfect scenario - often being the datacenter’s last line of defence during a power cut, responsible for ensuring bothservice continuity and protecting it from expensive, reputation wreckingdowntime.
过去，IT部门通常采用非常繁杂的UPS容量配置才能安心，并确保系统有着较大的容错空间。但时代已经改变，所有人都在呼吁更高的系统灵活性和可持续性，必须有人站出来打破专家、业主和运营商的这种传统思维。
Historically ITteams have over-complicated UPS capacities in an attempt to deliver both peaceof mind and a comfortable margin for error… but times have changed, so now withall eyes focussing on calls for greater resiliency and sustainability, someone hasto challenge the thought process of consultants, owners and operators.
例如，在传统的UPS基础上升级电池被认为是一种快速解决方案，然而一些关键性和定期的维护以及检修服务常常被忽略。难道现在不应该改变这种基础认知并做一些前瞻性的思考吗？如果不存在普遍的技能短缺，那全部从业人员不是都需要做出一些改变吗？
Battery upgradeson legacy UPSs, for example, are seen as a quick fix, while critical, orregular maintenance and service checks can often be overlooked. Isn’t it timefor a change of rationale, some forward thinking, or if it weren’t for theendemic skills shortage, a change of personnel?
最近，Uptime2020年数据中心行业的调查报告称，数据中心停电事件正在频繁发生，并且危害性越来越强，为其付出代价越来越高。此外还指出，75%的受访者表示，通过更好的管理手段、处理流程或系统配置，宕机事件是可以避免的。所以，一些先进的技术（即便是小规模应用）不正是时候加入到这个行业中来吗？
Recently, the2020 Uptime Institute DataCenter Survey reported that data center outages are occurring with disturbingfrequency and becoming both more damaging and expensive. Furthermore, of theorganizations surveyed, 75 percent stated that downtime was preventable withbetter management, processes or configuration, so isn’t it time that bettertechnologies, even if they’re smaller, become part of that conversation?
今天，科技的飞速进步正在解锁一些新的机遇，让我们有机会思考更小并且更智能化的设备，并且对现在可接受VS可达到的现状进行挑战。
Today dramaticadvances in technology are unlocking new opportunities to think smaller andsmarter, and to challenge the status quo of what’s acceptable versus what’sachievable.
同样，对于IT部门的负责人来说也面临更大的压力，他们需要快速适应急剧变化的IT环境、瞬息万变的经济前景、更大的数字化转型驱动。那如何能让咨询顾问，工程师，设计专家的关注点聚焦到更长的设备生命周期和更好的投资回报率上而不是简单的提交采购上呢？
So, with greaterpressure on IT leaders to rapidly adapt to a dynamically changing IT landscape,a fast-changing economic outlook and a greater appetite for digitaltransformation, how can consultants, engineers and design experts begin tochange the focus towards longer lifecycle and a better ROI, versus ticking thebox for procurement?
事实上，无论是由于云计算、托管业务或新冠疫情才决定部署的关键基础设施，从电力、制冷、关键性的IT系统一直到主机和应用层都需要关注更高的产出。合理的UPS配置是重要的开始，但有更好的方式可以调整和精简电力系统，同时也可以确保系统的灵活性。
The fact is thatwhether it’s cloud, colocation or Covid-19 driving the decision to deploy newcritical infrastructure, it should always be focused on better outcomes – fromthe power, cooling and mission-critical IT systems all the way to the hostingand application layers. Right-sizing UPSs is a great place to start, but thereare far better ways to rescale and downsize the power system, while ensuringresiliency.
如果执行得当，精简UPS配置这个行动会展现出IT领导团队能做出明智、划算和高效的决定，也体现出他们知道如何提高部门的敏捷性以及如何把握新出现的机遇。
When carried outcorrectly, downsizing the UPS shows how IT leadership teams can make decisionsthat are smart, cost-effective and efficient. It also shows they know how tounlock agility in their department and seize fresh opportunities as they arise.
然而多年来，为了获得更多的系统灵活性、人员的安心以及合适容错空间，IT部门已经过度规划了他们的UPS系统。结果就像我们最近看到的一样，当大量设备断电时（天啊！它竟然发生了！）平静的内心一下就破碎了。通常这都是由于缺少尽职调查才发生的，而不是由于设计或者N 1配置的问题。
Yet for manyyears IT departments have over-specified their UPS to gain additionalresiliency, peace of mind and a comfortable margin for error. However, as we’veseen recently, when an outage happens in a large facility (and boy does ithappen!) that peace of mind can be shattered. And often this can be from a lackof due diligence, rather than the design or an N 1 configuration.
之前，扩大UPS规模及配置额外容量的理由通常基于两方面。首先是为了满足未来增长需要。例如，如果一个数据中心负载为50KW，但运营商预测业务量会在三年内翻倍，那么为了适应需求扩张，一台100KW容量的UPS也许是最好的选择。
Thejustification for upsizing or building in additional capacity previously workedon two levels; the first enables future growth. For example, if a data centerdraws 50kW, but the operator predicts it will double in three years, a 100kWUPS might seem the best choice to accommodate expansion.
然而这就意味着在数年内，系统可能潜在地浪费了其50%的容量。而系统固有的电力损耗和维护费用将会进一步增加。目前，较好的方案是推荐使用100KW的模块化UPS配备50KW的电源模块，业主可以根据自己的需求逐渐升级系统，这样也是最经济和最高效的方式。
However, thismeans the system could potentially be wasting 50 percent of its capacity foryears – a situation further compounded by its inherent ability to leakelectricity and waste money. Here, a better solution would be to recommend a100kW modular UPS, configured with 50kW power modules, so that the customer canscale up incrementally in the most cost-effective and efficient way possible,when they need it.
然而，这会引起另一个与采购相关的难题。模块化UPS通常需要更高的前期投入。但它通过提供更高的能效及可扩展性来收回这部分成本，因此企业可能更愿意接受周期更长的OpEx（运营支出）比直接的CapEx（资本性支出）更低的论调。
However, thatcauses another conundrum where procurement is concerned. Modular UPS systemsoften require a larger upfront investment. However, because they recapture thecost by offering greater energy efficiency and scalability, a business may bemore open to an argument for lower long-term operating expenses (OpEx) versusthe immediate capital expenditure (CapEx).
为了确保灾难来袭时有足够的系统容量，IT部门习惯过早地扩增UPS。如果容错空间是合理的话那样做是可以的。但参与到采购过程的利益相关者通常会过度规划，以至于系统太大相对正常需求来说太大了。这么做的目的仅仅是为了“安全起见”。
Traditionally ITdepartments have, somewhat prematurely, expanded their UPS to ensure they haveenough capacity for when disaster strikes - which would be fine if the marginof comfort was reasonable. However, successive stakeholders involved in theprocurement process can often over specify, so the final system ends up being toobig for the job - adding extra capacity ‘just to be on the safe side’.
我们认为IT负责人应该积极地需求利用新技术的机会来精简UPS系统规模，而不是扩大甚至调整UPS容量。
We believe thatrather than over-size, or even right-sizing UPS capacity, IT leaders should beactively looking for opportunities to harness the latest technology anddownsize their UPS.
精简配置并不像以前是一项风险之举，并且UPS相关技术已经发展到让用户可以非常放心地使用小容量系统，并且能在减少成本、降低系统复杂度、减少占地面积的基础上安全运行。
Downsizing isnot the risky exercise it may once have been and UPS technologies have evolvedto mean that users can confidently utilize a smallersystem, safe in theknowledge that they’re reducing costs, stripping out complexity and reducingphysical footprint, without increasing risk.
例如，一个IT部门想要为一台使用5年的UPS购买后备电池，那他们应当仔细权衡一下替换成新型UPS的优势。这种方式将带来增强系统安全性、降低支出、提高系统能效、提高系统利用率及可靠性等收益。仅节能率一项就可高达10%-15%，更不用说诸如提高性能等优势。
For example, anIT department looking to buy replacement batteries for a five-year-old UPS,should carefully weigh up the benefits of switching to a modern, downsized UPS.This approach would offer enhanced safeguards, lower cost of ownership,enhanced energy efficiency, more effective use of capacity and greaterreliability. Here the energy savings alone could be as much as 10 to 15 percent, not to mention other benefits such as improved performance.
我们同样认为UPS应该变得更智能、更容易管理，而不是单纯的追求更大的功率。一些最新型号的UPS使用人工智能和数据分析来预测电池失效的时间，提供增加系统健康运行和使用寿命的建议，既节省了费用支出又避免了系统宕机。
We also believethat UPS should be smarter and better managed, rather than simply being more powerful.Some of the most up-to-date models now use artificial intelligence (AI) anddata analytics to predict when their batteries will fail, providingrecommendations to improve the health and lifespan, saving both money andavoiding downtime.
远程监控同样至关重要。在一段时间，一些UPS可能闲置数周或数月，但一旦发生电源故障，就需要在几毫秒内启动以避免业务中断。这就意味着需要实时监控关键基础设备的能力来确保系统在需要时响应及时及动作正确。
Remotemonitoring is also crucial. A UPS may lay unused for weeks or months at a time,but when there is a power failure, they need to activate within milliseconds toavoid disruption. This means that the ability to monitor your criticalinfrastructure in real time ensures they’re fighting fit and will performexactly when they’re needed.
新型的UPS证明规模越大不一定越好，而对于数据中心运营商而言，更小型、智能和高效UPS可以提供一个更加优化和额外附加值的解决方案。如今没有机构再能证明资金投入过渡和关键电源系统复杂化在经济和环境层面上是合理的。从供电层面来看，已经不再需要用传统方法配置UPS容量了。
The latest UPSsprove that bigger is not necessarily better and that smaller, smarter and moreefficient solutions provide a far more optimal and value-add solution for datacenter operators. Today it’s clear that organizations can no longer justifyover-spending and complicating their critical power systems on a financial orenvironmental level. From a power perspective there is no longer a need to sizeUPS capacity in the traditional way.
翻译：苏鹏伟 校对：刘强 编辑：Amy
原文出处：DCD【Downsizing your UPS – challenging the status quo of right sizing】