HP Performance-Optimized Data Center (POD)
The HP POD can be deployed within weeks instead of requiring months or even years to design, construct and install a traditional data center and IT. The HP POD can ship empty or fully integrated with tested IT from an HP factory in as little as six weeks, slashing the time for data center build-out. Available in both 20-foot (6-meter) and 40-foot (12-meter) designs, the HP POD uses industry-standard 19-inch (48-centimeter) racks, providing a vendor-neutral platform.
Aging data centers often run out of power and cooling capacity, especially with the power density and thermal output of today’s smaller IT hardware. Faced with the need to expand data centers, companies are forced to build new space, with high costs and long lead times. Alternatively, HP PODs add space as it is needed, with short lead times. The 40-foot HP POD delivers the equivalent of 5,000 or more square feet (460 square meters) of traditional data center space.
In addition to lower acquisition costs, the HP POD is typically 20% to 40% more energy efficient than a typical data center, reducing energy cost and greenhouse gas emissions. It offers configurations optimized for availability and high IT density, enabling users to quickly upgrade or extend the capacity of their physical infrastructure. The weatherized design allows for installation either outside or inside a shelter.
Excellent energy efficiency is due to factors such as the following:
- Close-coupled cooling eliminates wasted cooling energy through complete hot air isolation and short, concise airflow paths. As a result, HP POD can achieve average rack densities of 27 kW or more per rack at an unmatched efficiency.
- Ability to actively control air pressure and temperature to maintain a warmer IT cold-aisle and reduce the chilled water temperature load.
- High-efficiency power distribution and the elimination of waste means power goes directly to the IT with extremely low overhead.
Together, these and other innovations result in a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) ratio of 1.25, compared with typical values of 1.7–2.0.
HP PODs may also provide a more energy-efficient solution to disaster recovery needs. With increasing energy and real estate costs, additional capacity for disaster recovery can be expensive. HP PODs can help by being easy to place in lower-energy-cost areas, reducing the expense of disaster recovery plans.
