Insight

What Is kVA?

kVA or kilovolt-amps is a measure of apparent power. A kVA unit is 1,000 volt-amps. It shows the total amount of power that a system uses. When a system is 100% efficient, kVA will be equal to kW.

However, most electrical systems are not 100% efficient. So, only a portion of the apparent power is converted into working output.

What Is kW?

kW or kilowatts measure the true amount of the power that is converted into working output. That’s why kW is known as actual or working power.

The Power Factor

The power factor (PF) measures the electrical efficiency of the system. If you know the efficiency of the electrical system, you can convert it between kilovolt-amps and kilowatts. The electrical efficiency of a system is expressed as a PF between 0 and 1.

A PF closer to 1 indicates that the kVA is efficiently being converted into working kW. A 100% efficient electrical system has a PF of 1.

kVA vs. kW

Kilovolt-amps show the total amount of power a colocation or any other service provider uses. Kilowatts show the actual power that is converted into output.

The power factor is the biggest difference between them. It’s used to determine the amount of apparent power converted to actual power. Its value depends on the load type that the electrical unit is drawing from the system.

kVA Power Example

You have a 600 kVA UPS unit. The PF is 0.8. The real power of the unit is 480 kW.

Helpful Conversion Factors

• VA = Voltage x ...

What Is a Cross Connect and What Does It Do?

Cross connects are a network connectivity type that links two separate hardware assests in a data center. The two hardware assets or servers are linked via physical cross connect cables. These cables establish a private network connection between the two.

Also, two servers that are linked using this network connectivity type do not need to use the Internet to be connected.

They can be maintained either by one or across many data centers. Firms use them for many things. One of them is to connect to global networks. This allows them to conduct their business more quickly.

Also, colocation* customers can ask their provider for cross connects. This way, they will set up more reliable, high-performance links with each other in the same data center.

To set up this type of connection between two colocation customers, the provider uses a patch cable. This patch cable links the patch panels of the two servers in the Meet-Me Room or MMR.

The Difference Between a Cross Connect and an Interconnect

Cross connects are often confused with interconnects. They are another connectivity option. To tell them apart more easily, let’s see what the main difference between the two is.

Interconnect

An interconnect is a connectivity type that uses copper trunk cabling. This cabling is used to link active equipment with other data center hardware assets. An interconnect links the patch panel in a server cabinet to the...

Colocation Data Center Benefits

1. Enhanced Reliability with N+1 Redundancy:

One of the primary reasons why businesses opt for colocation data centers is the unparalleled level of reliability they offer. The concept of N+1 redundancy lies at the heart of these facilities. N+1 redundancy means that there is always at least one additional backup component available to ensure uninterrupted operations. Whether it’s redundant power supplies, cooling systems, or network connections, colocation data centers are built with redundant infrastructure to mitigate any single points of failure. In simplest terms, if a business needed two generators to operate an entire facility, to ensure N+1 redundancy, it would have three generators in the event one malfunctioned.  This design principle significantly reduces the risk of downtime and guarantees optimal performance for mission-critical applications.

2. Dedicated Server Room for Optimal Security:

Keeping sensitive data secure is a top priority for organizations of all sizes. A colocation data center provides a dedicated server room that offers robust physical security measures. These facilities feature advanced access controls, surveillance systems, and multiple layers of security protocols to protect servers and data from unauthorized access. By housing your servers in a colocation data center, you can leverage their expertise in maintaining a secure environment, ensuring your critical assets are safeguarded against ...

What Is Scalability and How Does It Work?

Scalability shows if a system or computer functions properly when faced with changes in size and volume. Let’s explain it further with an example.

Say you have a website. Your website has been growing exponentially, but you’ve been able to handle the increased demand with no need for additional resources up until now. However, the growth has reached a point where it needs to be supported with more RAM, bandwidth, storage, etc.

Suppose you’re able to get more of those resources without any hassle or disruptions in service quality. In that case, your web hosting or server is considered to be highly scalable, as it can meet increased demand quickly and easily.

Thus, scalability shows a system’s ability to handle more – more traffic, more demand, more growth, etc.
However, there is another side to scalability. Namely, it also refers to scaling down – needing fewer resources than you already have.

For example, if you have a seasonal website and you enter your off-season, you won’t need as many resources as you would when the business is at its prime. So, you can get rid of some resources by scaling down.

Scaling up and down are integral parts of the definition of scalability, since scalability, at its core, involves systems’ ability to adapt to change. And there are two options you can use to implement scaling, which we will explain next.

Dell’s survey on enterprise benefits from repatriation provides valuable insights that we will examine in detail. We’ll also look at success stories showcasing real-world examples of companies gaining substantial benefits through migration back to on-premises or hybrid solutions.
Furthermore, we will emphasize the importance of a consistent cloud experience across platforms using unified management tools to achieve operational efficiency. Lastly, our discussion will focus on customized solutions based on business needs by assessing the suitability of applications for repatriation and weighing tradeoffs in decision-making processes.

By understanding these factors surrounding cloud repatriation benefits, you can make informed decisions about your organization’s optimal infrastructure strategy moving forward.

Understanding Cloud Repatriation

Cloud repatriation is the process of moving applications and workloads from a public cloud provider back to on-premises infrastructure, private clouds, colocation facilities, or another public cloud to optimize IT infrastructure.

Reasons for considering cloud repatriation

• Cost optimization: Public clouds can be more expensive than anticipated due to hidden costs such as data transfer fees (aka data egress fees) and inefficient resource utilization.  Public cloud expenses can be difficult to understand and manage the larger the organization and more users access the resources.
• Data...