Future Facilities has announced the release of an enhanced version of its best-in-class engineering simulation toolkit for data centres. 6SigmaDCX 10 introduces supercharged cloud solving, external environment modelling and a sophisticated, intuitive interface.
DCX10’s cloud compatibility, in conjunction with a supercharged version of Future Facilities’ award-winning solver engine will allow for up to 6x speed on previous solving times. This will allow engineers to accurately predict the impact of change to the data centre environment at a pace in-keeping with the demands of the modern business and without sacrificing important modelling details. The functionality is complemented by a partnership with cloud providers Rescale, freeing engineers from the burden of expensive hardware solutions in favour of scalable, unlimited compute power.
The increased solving time provided by 6SigmaDCX 10 is designed to respond to the growing needs of data centre builders and facility managers, who have experienced growing pressure to respond faster to the demands placed on IT by the wider business. Accurately predicting the impact of changes upon a complex IT environment is a necessity in order to balance risk against possible performance and efficiency.
For conceptual design, simple models have a quick turnaround. However, for mission critical operational sites, models require significantly more detail to ensure they are reflective of reality. Traditionally, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been criticised for taking too long to be used as an operational tool. This has forced owner/operators to compromise on accuracy by using simpler solutions. The launch of DCX 10 represents a step change in the way CFD is conducted, offering users the best of both worlds - the most accurate results in the shortest time possible.
Facilitating an industry-wide drive for efficiency, the release also hands engineers control over the entire data centre ecosystem, incorporating external monitoring tools for modelling plant infrastructure and the outside environment, in conjunction with the white space itself. A quick and intuitive setup provides visibility over the impact of new building and cooling tower objects, along with environmental features such as rough terrain, strong winds, high solar gains and humidity.
Mark Fenton, Product Manager at Future Facilities, said, “Data centre operators are under more pressure than ever to strike the perfect balance between operational efficiency, availability and capacity. As the shift towards a hyperscale data centre model continues, many enterprises and colocation providers are faced with a dilemma between investing millions in new facilities, or making do with legacy systems.
“DXC10 allows owner/operators to choose a middle way, ensuring that their existing infrastructure is as up to date as possible, and effectively retrofitting a hyperscale data centre.”