InterConnect is an internet service provider for the commercial market. The company offers modern internet services from a completely independent data centre. InterConnect’s services include domain registration, email delivery, accommodating websites, web hosting, broadband ADSL, Email Anywhere with Hosted Exchange and accommodating complete servers in their own data centre.

The Challenge

Customers can rent space with InterConnect for placing servers for internet services. The demand is increasing, the company is growing and InterConnect is suffering from a lack of space. There is a need for more and more powerful servers. This is not possible in the available space without problems caused by heat and the cooling needed. Moreover it is imperative that the security between the servers and the various customers is safeguarded.
Mulder-Hardenberg has taken on the challenge of developing an optimal solution to this problem.

The Solution

Mulder-Hardenberg has supplied seventy-two 19” 42HE high cabinets.  Cabinets equipped with extra compartments have been used for the colocation customers so that the servers are separated from each other because the cabinets are physically divided. This is imperative for the security between the customers using the colocation.

The M-H technicians have achieved the necessary cooling with the so-called ‘cold corridor’ set-up. With this technique, efficient use is made of the cool air between the rows of cabinets, which have doors with a degree of perforation greater than 83% which cool the servers optimally.

Moreover the improved, separated removal of heated air ensures that cold and hot air cannot mix which guarantees the intake of cool air.

The Implementation

An optimal cold corridor set-up has been achieved by closing off the space between the rows of cabinets on all sides. This prevents the removal of cold air by any means other than via the server cabinets and the servers present. The roof of the space in between consists of transparent polycarbonate panels which allow the necessary light through. These panels close off the area between the rows of cabinets in the cold corridor at the top.

M-H has installed sliding doors with magnetic locks to the entrance to the cold corridor. The magnetic lock on the door can be opened with a card reader, swipe card or code lock. A signal gives the open/closed status which is registered centrally, so that it can actually been seen whether the door is open or closed.

The result

InterConnect is very satisfied. Not just with the result, but also with the competitive price for which Mulder-Hardenberg managed to do the work. Along with the space efficiency achieved the work also saved 30% to 40% energy.