Data centers are facilities that house computer systems and associated infrastructure needed to support IT operations, providing reliable and secure environments for hosting applications through redundant power and network connections. They consist of server racks, cooling, cabling, security and management systems. Data centers provide advantages for businesses such as reduced costs, improved connectivity, easy disaster recovery and network security.

1. Data centers, also called a server farm, is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems. It generally includes redundant or backup power supplies, redundant data communications connections, environmental controls (e.g., air conditioning, fire suppression) and security devices<br />Requirements for modern data centers<br />IT operations are a crucial aspect of most organizational operations. One of the main concerns is business continuity; companies rely on their information systems to run their operations. If a system becomes unavailable, company operations may be impaired or stopped completely. It is necessary to provide a reliable infrastructure for IT operations, in order to minimize any chance of disruption. Information security is also a concern, and for this reason a data center has to offer a secure environment which minimizes the chances of a security breach. A data center must therefore keep high standards for assuring the integrity and functionality of its hosted computer environment. This is accomplished through redundancy of both fiber optic cables and power, which includes emergency backup power generation.<br />For small and medium businesses, an in-house server hosting facility is an expensive proposition in many ways:<br />High initial investment in space and equipment<br />High day-to-day management costs<br />Hiring and retaining personnel to maintain the data center<br />High cost of upgrading technology and acquiring newer services<br />Physical layout and components of Data Centers<br />A data center can occupy one room of a building, one or more floors, or an entire building. Most of the equipment is often in the form of servers mounted in 19 inch rack cabinets, which are usually placed in single rows forming corridors between them. This allows people access to the front and rear of each cabinet. Servers differ greatly in size from 1U servers to large freestanding storage silos which occupy many tiles on the floor. Some equipment such as mainframe computers and storage devices are often as big as the racks themselves, and are placed alongside them. Very large data centers may use shipping containers packed with 1,000 or more servers each; when repairs or upgrades are needed, whole containers are replaced (rather than repairing individual servers)<br />Local building codes may govern the minimum ceiling heights<br />Other components of Data centers are:-<br />Power—Elements of the power infrastructure include the electrical service entrance of the building, main distribution, generator(s), uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems and batteries, surge protection, transformers, distribution panels, and circuit breakers.

2. Cooling—Systems that remove heat from the data center include computer room air conditioners (CRACs) and their associated subsystems—chillers, cooling towers, condensers, ductwork, pump packages, piping—and rack- or row-level cooling or air distribution devices.

3. Cabling—Data cables use different materials and connectors to optimize performance and flexibility, while the management of the systems maintains this optimization for the long haul. Power cables are also addressed in this paper.

4. Racks and physical structure—The most critical of these elements are the rack structures housing IT equipment, physical room elements such as dropped ceiling and raised floors, and pathways to manage cabling considerations.