Cadence launches 6SigmaDCX Release 17

Cadence's physics-based simulation software, 6SigmaDCX Release 17 is designed specifically for the data center industry, creating data center digital twin models for both design and operations. With this new, updated release, 6SigmaDCX provides users with greater visibility into key performance metrics and prioritizes interface improvements.  

Sustainability updates 

The latest release goes further to support sustainable operations than any previous version. Insights tables now include simulation results, live monitoring data, power usage effectiveness (PUE), and carbon usage, with carbon footprint data available too. The software’s simulation capabilities can also use these metrics to predict the ways changes could affect or improve data center performance.  

As such, Release 17 helps engineers incorporate sustainability into their data center design and operations. The new release makes it possible to predict your data hall’s carbon footprint and monitor your IT equipment’s carbon footprint, with considerations for both the operational and embodied carbon.  

Capacity planning advancements 

Cadence has also extended power and network connectivity information in the web-tool to further support the capacity planning process. Users can select PDU objects in 6SigmaAccess and edit their properties in the property sheet. And single-phase, 2-pole, and 3-phase breakers are now available for connection downstream to power strips within the cabinets.  

Expanded modeling capabilities and performance improvements 

In addition, Release 17 builds on Release 16’s already extensive library of intelligent modeling objects, with several functionality updates. For example, the new release now has options for characterizing floor-standing IT equipment. Users also now benefit from customization developments that allow for additional modeling detail to be added to DX units, fan powers, and DX cooling failure scenario options. 

Cadence has simplified various flow network features to make the software more user-friendly. Now, a single flow network ACU can be modeled purely logically, without being connected to a 3D model. This allows a single logical ACU object to represent multiple ACUs in parallel, enabling rapid modeling of single or multiple data center loads. We have also color-coded pipes and ducts based on multiple result variables. 

Using updated pressure drop curves in the 1D flow network the solving speed is up to 25 times faster than previous releases. Additionally, users can now co-simulate connected 1D and 3D models up to 20 times faster than previous releases.  

The latest release features a vastly upgraded Enhanced View. Loading times are accelerated, and general performance has been improved by reducing the number of redraws and improving the process of saving textures, now redraw loading times are up to twice as fast in Release 17 compared to Release 16 for the larger models. The improvements also include several features that simplify the user experience, from the addition of customizable legend bins to an upgraded picker tool.  

What’s more, operational users now have the option to properly review the performance of the digital twin model with access to simulation results on key data center objects within the web-based tool. In addition, the release provides a quick way of navigating the full data center model from within the insights table, so they can locate objects inside the full digital twin model without leaving the insights workflow.  

Improved cage and zone summaries 

The company has also improved Release 17’s simulation and reporting functions. Cage and zone summaries have been significantly expanded, and reports can be produced to contain all the properties available for the whole data hall but at the zone and cage level. The release has built on cage and zone summaries in the operational tool’s insights area, so they now contain a far wider range of metrics.  

System integration and management 

Another benefit of 6SigmaDCX is that it can be easily integrated with external systems. Release 17 has continued this trend, offering aggregated measured data for several properties and objects, allowing users to quickly see data where it is most useful. Users are also provided with an increased number of selectable objects with display names in 6SigmaAccess, which can be customized using the 6SigmaModelStore management page. 

Easy recovery of solve in queue jobs 

Finally, users also now have the option to set checkpoints on a solve in queue job, which can be used to recover steady-state and transient simulations that have failed during a simulation. This allows users to continue solving from the latest checkpoint, rather than starting from scratch. 

A wealth of design and operational improvements 

Mark Fenton, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Cadence says: “Cadence 6SigmaDCX is used across the data center industry. Colocation providers, owner-operators, consultants, and vendors all rely on our software, safe in the knowledge they will receive a streamlined data center design and day-to-day operations management solution. We have built a wealth of upgrades into Release 17, all of which exemplify 6SgimaDCX’s commitment to delivering powerful, yet easy-to-use software. From sustainability improvements to interface optimization, our developers have sought to provide our users with the best possible experience.”