| On the one hand, there's the management issue | | | | grouped into data processing clusters, each |
| of controlling several smaller units attached | | | | with dedicated UPS protection, giving several |
| to vital equipment or each separate network. | | | | smaller power plants spread across the whole |
| On the other, the cost and reliability | | | | operation. Distributed UPS often require |
| implications of having to install a dedicated | | | | lower capital outlay and installation costs. |
| ring main system for power management; if the | | | | Some suppliers claim higher overall operating |
| central UPS fails, so does the whole system! | | | | efficiencies because the number of |
| | | | conversions from mains AC to DC is reduced - |
| When planning business continuity, a | | | | leading to energy savings. |
| centralised UPS is normally more powerful, | | | | |
| functional, sophisticated and automated than | | | | The primary advantage of centralized UPS |
| a solution based on a distributed | | | | |
| architecture. What's more, it's usually | | | | Smaller UPS generate less heat than larger |
| housed away from the main data centre. | | | | ones, leading to greater efficiency. |
| Distributed UPS, however, is simpler and less | | | | Distributed systems also reduce the total |
| costly to install; vital equipment can be | | | | number of power conversion steps; |
| protected independently, and thus it is | | | | consequently, electronic components and |
| shielded from a central power outage. | | | | circuit complexity are both reduced. |
| | | | Distributed solutions, however, generally |
| Deciding on a UPS solution? | | | | have more components, which could increase |
| | | | the likelihood of breakdown. As each data |
| When planning power and business continuity, | | | | centre processing cluster has its own |
| one of the main issues is to protect against | | | | uninterruptible power supply, confusion about |
| 'single-points-of-failure'. In practice, both | | | | which equipment is protected against power |
| centralized and distributed UPS solutions | | | | outage by which UPS is eliminated. Likewise, |
| work well - providing the system is designed | | | | maintenance and battery changes are localised |
| with appropriate redundancy and a built-in | | | | to individual clusters thus reducing downtime |
| maintenance by-pass (allowing UPS maintenance | | | | elsewhere in the business. |
| without loss of power to the load). | | | | |
| | | | The primary advantage of centralised UPS over |
| A centralised uninterruptible power supply | | | | smaller, distributed UPS lies within |
| usually forms part of the facility, as it has | | | | batteries. Smaller UPS contain sealed |
| to be housed securely away from the main | | | | lead-acid batteries - with a typical design |
| business. In the past, these systems were | | | | life of five years or less. The cost |
| only meant to protect against short-term | | | | implications of this depend on the number of |
| power outage but this is now changing. With | | | | UPS clusters. Larger batteries, used in |
| modern UPS regarded as a lifeline service, | | | | centralised UPS, have longer design lives. |
| battery back-up, failover, redundancy and | | | | |
| maintenance by-pass are all now an integral | | | | Another business continuity benefit of |
| part of their design. Centralised solutions | | | | centralised UPS is that, being housed away |
| use a single UPS to feed a custom built ring | | | | from 'busy' areas of the building, it is less |
| main, which supports numerous items of | | | | easily disrupted, accidentally damaged or |
| critical load or dedicated networks. | | | | maliciously interfered with. |
| | | | |
| The alternative is a distributed | | | | Always invest in expert UPS consultancy |
| decentralised system, with each piece of data | | | | |
| centre equipment powered by a smaller | | | | In conclusion, distributed UPS, though easier |
| individual UPS. | | | | and less costly to expand, can cost more |
| | | | per-kilowatt than a centralised system. |
| Load utilisation and your uninterruptible | | | | Centralised systems, however, are more |
| power supply | | | | expensive initially to build and must be |
| | | | carefully designed to meet future business |
| In terms of load utilisation and battery | | | | continuity needs. Large-scale |
| capacity, a centralised uninterruptible power | | | | Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) deployments of IP |
| supply can be more versatile and cost | | | | phones, wireless access points, internet |
| efficient. However, the installation of a | | | | security cameras and other peripherals may |
| dedicated ring main can be expensive - | | | | favour a centralised uninterruptible power |
| especially if the loads are spread around a | | | | supply solution through lower whole-life |
| building. While distributed solutions may not | | | | costs. |
| optimise load capacity and extended run time, | | | | |
| the effects of UPS failure may be reduced | | | | When planning power and business continuity, |
| when compared to the business continuity | | | | the wisest option is to treat each network on |
| implications of a poorly-designed, failed | | | | a case-by-case basis and always invest in |
| centralised UPS. | | | | expert UPS and business continuity |
| | | | consultancy. |
| Distributed UPS means that the business is | | | | |