Module1

[Audio] "Welcome to the Data Center Fundamentals course! India's data center market will hit $10Billion by 2027 driven by cloud adoption, AI, and digital transformation—this course gives you knowledge of design, operations, and security. Learn about edge computing, sustainability, and compliance to position yourself for high-demand roles in cloud and IT infrastructure." I'm Smita Jain, a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Cybersecurity Lead with expertise in IT-OT convergence and cloud infrastructure. This course is designed to help professionals master modern data center technologies and accelerate their careers.".

[Audio] Welcome to the "Introduction to Datacenters" course! This course is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the datacenter industry. You'll gain insights into the critical role datacenters play in our digital world, powering everything from cloud computing to e-commerce. Additionally, we'll take a closer look at what goes on inside a datacenter, including the technology, infrastructure, and innovative practices that ensure their efficient and sustainable operation. We'll also explore the fascinating history of datacenters, from their early beginnings to the cutting-edge advancements shaping the future. Get ready to embark on an exciting journey into the heart of the digital economy!.

[Audio] In this module, you'll learn the basics of datacenters—what they are, why they exist, and their critical role in modern IT infrastructure. We'll explore the evolution of datacenters from mainframes to the cloud and look at different types, such as enterprise, colocation, cloud, and edge datacenters. You'll also discover the core components that make up a datacenter, including power supply, cooling, security, and key areas like the MMR and NOC. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of the purpose and structure of datacenters..

[Audio] Learning Objectives: • Understand what data and a datacenter are, why data matters, and why datacenters exist. • Identify the historical evolution of datacenters from mainframes to the cloud. • Recognize the different types of datacenters and their use cases. • Understand the core components of a datacenter..

[Audio] 1.1 Overview of datacenters What is data? Data refers to information in a structured, unstructured, or semi structured format that can be stored, processed, and transmitted digitally. It encompasses everything from raw numbers and textual information to images, videos, application states, sensor readings, user interactions, and logs generated by systems. Data serves as the foundational building block of modern digital ecosystems, enabling communication, computation, decision making, and innovation. Why is data important? Data is crucial because it helps make informed decisions in many areas. By analyzing concrete data, we can gain valuable insights that lead to better efficiency, easier risk management, and more opportunities for innovation. Hospitals, governments, and municipals all rely on data to keep them operational. What is a datacenter? A datacenter is a specialized facility designed to house computers, servers, storage systems, and networking equipment. Its purpose is to provide a secure, reliable, and efficient environment for storing, managing, and processing large amounts of data. Datacenters power a wide range of digital services, including hosting websites, cloud computing, data storage, and online applications, ensuring that data is accessible and services are operational 24/7. 1.1 Overview of datacenters What is data? Data refers to information in a structured, unstructured, or semi structured format that can be stored, processed, and transmitted digitally. It encompasses everything from raw numbers and textual information to images, videos, application states, sensor readings, user interactions, and logs generated by systems. Data serves as the foundational building block of modern digital ecosystems, enabling communication, computation, decision making, and innovation. Why is data important? Data is crucial because it helps make informed decisions in many areas. By analyzing concrete data, we can gain valuable insights that lead to better efficiency, easier risk management, and more opportunities for innovation. Hospitals, governments, and municipals all rely on data to keep them operational. What is a datacenter? A datacenter is a specialized facility designed to house computers, servers, storage systems, and networking equipment. Its purpose is to provide a secure, reliable, and efficient environment for storing, managing, and processing large amounts of data. Datacenters power a wide range of digital services, including hosting websites, cloud computing, data storage, and online applications, ensuring that data is accessible and services are operational 24/7. Datacenters support the efficient handling of data by providing the infrastructure and environment required to store, manage, process, and distribute it. This involves hosting critical hardware like servers, storage devices, and networking equipment in secure, scalable, and resilient facilities. Datacenters are essential for enabling services such as cloud computing, content delivery, data analytics, and business continuity, ensuring the availability and integrity of data for users and organizations worldwide. Why do datacenters exist (their role and objectives)? Without datacenters, many of the services, technologies, and operations we rely on daily would not be possible. Without datacenters, we would lose access to cloud computing, e-commerce, communication platforms, real-time media streaming, financial services, and many other critical technologies that define our connected world. Let's look at some of the major areas supported by datacenters and what would no longer be possible or even exist if datacenters were not present to support them. 1. Cloud Computing Services Example: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform Without datacenters: Cloud storage, cloud computing, and cloud-based applications would not exist. Without datacenters, businesses and individuals could not access scalable computing resources on-demand. Companies would need to own and maintain their own physical infrastructure for every service,.

[Audio] What is data? Data refers to information in a structured, unstructured, or semi-structured format that can be stored, processed, and transmitted digitally. It encompasses everything from raw numbers and textual information to images, videos, application states, sensor readings, user interactions, and logs generated by systems. Data serves as the foundational building block of modern digital ecosystems, enabling communication, computation, decision-making, and innovation. Why is data important? Data is crucial because it helps make informed decisions in many areas. By analyzing concrete data, we can gain valuable insights that lead to better efficiency, easier risk management, and more opportunities for innovation. Hospitals, governments, and municipals all rely on data to keep them operational. What is a datacenter? A datacenter is a specialized facility designed to house computers, servers, storage systems, and networking equipment. Its purpose is to provide a secure, reliable, and efficient environment for storing, managing, and processing large amounts of data. Datacenters power a wide range of digital services, including hosting websites, cloud computing, data storage, and online applications, ensuring that data is accessible and services are operational 24/7. Datacenters support the efficient handling of data by providing the infrastructure and environment required to store, manage, process, and distribute it. This involves hosting critical hardware like servers, storage devices, and networking equipment in secure, scalable, and resilient facilities. Datacenters are essential for enabling services such as cloud computing, content delivery, data analytics, and business continuity, ensuring the availability and integrity of data for users and organizations worldwide..

[Audio] Why do datacenters exist (their role and objectives)? Without datacenters, many of the services, technologies, and operations we rely on daily would not be possible. Without datacenters, we would lose access to cloud computing, e-commerce, communication platforms, real-time media streaming, financial services, and many other critical technologies that define our connected world..

[Audio] 1. Cloud Computing Services Example: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform Without datacenters: Cloud storage, cloud computing, and cloud-based applications would not exist. Without datacenters, businesses and individuals could not access scalable computing resources on-demand. Companies would need to own and maintain their own physical infrastructure for every service, which would be cost-prohibitive and inefficient. 2. Online Gaming Example: Fortnite, Call of Duty, Xbox Cloud Gaming Without datacenters: Multiplayer games and cloud gaming wouldn't exist. Without datacenters, players couldn't connect to remote servers for real-time interactions, hosting, or matchmaking. Cloud gaming wouldn't allow high-performance games to be streamed to low-powered devices, and massive online worlds with persistent data would be impossible to maintain. Online multiplayer games require dedicated servers to host the game worlds and facilitate communication between players. These servers are typically housed in datacenters. When you play a game like Fortnite, Call of Duty, or World of Warcraft, the game does not run solely on your console or PC—it connects to a remote server hosted in a datacenter. Cloud gaming is another area where datacenters have played a transformative role. With cloud gaming services like NVIDIA GeForce Now, and Xbox Cloud Gaming, players can play high-performance video games on devices that don't have the necessary processing power to run these games locally (like smartphones or low-end PCs). In any multiplayer game, especially massive ones with millions of players (such as Minecraft or League of Legends), all the interactions between players need to be synchronized in real-time. This includes player actions, in-game world states, player inventories, and more. Many games feature persistent worlds—virtual environments that continue to evolve even when the player is not logged in. These worlds are powered by datacenters, which store the state of the game, player progress, and interactions. In games like EVE Online or Second Life, players can leave the game, but the world keeps running, evolving, and reacting to the actions of other players. Datacenters ensure that these worlds are always active, with data being saved and synchronized in real-time. 3. Web Hosting and Websites Example: Websites like Facebook, Google, Reddit Without datacenters: Hosting websites and providing content over the internet would be impossible without datacenters. They provide the infrastructure needed to store, process, and serve the vast amounts of data (images, videos, text) that websites rely on. 4. Streaming Services Example: Netflix, YouTube, Spotify Without datacenters: Streaming media (videos, music, live broadcasts) in real-time would not be feasible. Datacenters store and distribute massive amounts of multimedia content efficiently to users around the world. 5. Online Banking and Financial Transactions Example: Online banking, stock trading platforms, PayPal Without datacenters: Real-time financial transactions, secure data storage, and processing would be impossible without datacenters. They handle the secure, rapid transactions that allow for digital banking, investing, and payments. 6. E-Commerce and Online Retail Example: Amazon, Etsy, Shopify Without datacenters: Operating large-scale online stores and managing customer data, inventory, and transactions at scale would not be possible. Datacenters ensure e-commerce websites can function continuously and efficiently, handling thousands or millions of transactions per day. 7. Communication Platforms and Social Media (Including Email) Example: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Zoom, Gmail, TikTok, Outlook Without datacenters: Instant messaging, social media interactions, video conferencing, and email would not be feasible without datacenters. These platforms rely on datacenters to ensure fast, secure, and reliable communication across various forms—whether through social media posts, direct messages, video calls, or email. 8. {Big Data.

[Audio] Now that we've seen the incredible range of possibilities enabled by datacenters, let's dive into the different types of datacenters that make all this possible. Datacenters come in various forms, each designed to meet specific needs and requirements. From hyperscale datacenters that support massive cloud services to edge datacenters that bring computing power closer to users, we'll explore the unique characteristics and functions of each type. Understanding these distinctions will give you a clearer picture of how datacenters operate and the critical roles they play in our interconnected world..

[Audio] Enterprise datacenter: These are privately owned and operated by a single organization to support its business operations. Designed for internal use, offering high customization and control over infrastructure and security. Example: A corporate datacenter that supports a bank's online transactions: JPMorgan Chase Data Center: Location: JPMorgan Chase has multiple datacenters worldwide, with key locations in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Size and Features: JPMorgan Chase operates high-security, large-scale datacenters to support its vast array of banking services. These datacenters are designed to host mission-critical systems, including online banking, mobile applications, and financial services infrastructure. They also store sensitive financial data and support the bank's transaction processing systems. Purpose: The datacenters are primarily used for running internal banking systems, including systems for customer accounts, loan processing, trading platforms, and real-time financial transactions. They also support security protocols and compliance standards required by the banking industry. Why is it an enterprise datacenter? Owned by JPMorgan Chase: These datacenters are privately owned and managed by JPMorgan Chase, making them enterprise-level facilities dedicated solely to the bank's infrastructure and data processing needs. Security and Compliance: Given the sensitive nature of the data (e.g., customer financial data), these datacenters follow strict security measures, including physical security, data encryption, redundancy, and compliance with financial regulations (e.g., PCI-DSS for payment card information)..

[Audio] Colocation datacenter: These facilities lease (rent out) space, power, cooling, and networking to multiple organizations. Ideal for businesses that want to avoid building and maintaining their own datacenters but still need reliable infrastructure. Example: Companies renting server racks in a third-party facility such as Equinix, Digital Realty, NTT Global Data Centers. In a colocation datacenter, clients rent space (rack space, cabinets, or even entire rooms) within the datacenter facility but own and manage their own servers, storage, and networking equipment. The responsibility for hardware management, configuration, updates, and maintenance lies with the client. The datacenter provider is responsible for physical infrastructure (such as power, cooling, security, and connectivity), but not the client's IT systems..

[Audio] Cloud datacenter: These are operated by cloud service providers and deliver services like computing, storage, and applications over the internet. Designed for scalability and flexibility, enabling organizations to pay only for the resources they use. Example: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform.

[Audio] Edge datacenter: Smaller, distributed datacenters located close to users or devices to reduce latency and improve performance. They support real-time applications like IoT, autonomous vehicles, and streaming. Example: Amazon Web Services (AWS) Wavelength. Location: AWS Wavelength extends AWS infrastructure to 5G networks and is deployed in various global locations, including U.S. cities and Asia-Pacific regions, in partnership with mobile carriers such as Verizon in the U.S. and SK Telecom in South Korea. Size and Features: AWS Wavelength brings AWS services to the edge of the 5G network, with the edge datacenters located near 5G towers or base stations. The purpose of Wavelength is to allow developers to build applications that require single-digit millisecond latencies to end users, such as autonomous vehicles, industrial IoT, and augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) applications. Purpose: The primary goal of AWS Wavelength is to provide ultra-low latency, high-bandwidth applications at the edge of the network, closer to the user, while integrating seamlessly with the AWS Cloud. It brings the power of the cloud to local 5G networks, enabling applications to process data in real-time with minimal delay. Why is it an edge datacenter? Edge of the Network: AWS Wavelength is designed to place computing resources directly in the telecom network, right next to 5G towers, allowing for real-time data processing closer to where data is generated. Low Latency and High Throughput: It enables applications to deliver ultra-low latency by reducing the distance data travels, which is crucial for applications such as real-time gaming, streaming, IoT, and smart city solutions..

[Audio] Hyperscale datacenter: Massive facilities operated by tech giants to handle extremely high levels of data and compute capacity. They are optimized for cloud computing and big data analytics with thousands of servers working together. A hyperscale datacenter is much larger in terms of both physical size and computing capacity than a usual datacenter. Example: Datacenters owned by Meta, Google, Microsoft or Amazon. These datacenters are built to scale rapidly and accommodate thousands or even millions of servers to handle massive computing workloads. They are often associated with cloud service providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure, and are designed to support highly scalable, global services. The infrastructure is massive, typically spanning hundreds of thousands of square feet or more..

[Audio] Software-defined datacenter (SDDC): A datacenter where all key infrastructure components—compute, storage, networking, and security—are virtualized and managed through software. Physical hardware still exists but is ed and controlled programmatically. SDDCs provide greater flexibility, scalability, and automation, enabling organizations to quickly adapt to changing workloads and reduce operational complexity. Example: A cloud-based datacenter where virtual machines (VMs), software-defined storage (SDS), and software-defined networking (SDN) are centrally managed through tools like VMware vSphere or Microsoft System Center..

[Audio] Servers: The backbone of a datacenter, handling computations, data processing, and application hosting. Virtual Machines (VMs) and Containers: Software-defined computing units that optimize resource utilization. High-Performance Computing (HPC) Systems: Advanced servers for handling demanding tasks like AI, simulations, and analytics. could use photo here: MDC-AMD MI300X- 01 - Asset Detail.

[Audio] Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and Solid-State Drives (SSDs): Used for storing data in various formats. Storage Area Networks (SANs): High-speed networks that connect storage devices to servers. Network-Attached Storage (NAS): Dedicated file storage connected to the datacenter network. Cloud-Based Storage: Integrated cloud solutions for scalability and flexibility..

[Audio] Switches and Routers: Facilitate communication between devices within and outside the datacenter. Firewalls: Protect the datacenter from unauthorized access and cyber threats. Load Balancers: Distribute network traffic across servers to optimize performance and reliability. Cabling: High-speed fiber optics and Ethernet cables to connect components..

[Audio] Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS): Provide backup power during outages. Power Distribution Units (PDUs): Manage and distribute electrical power to datacenter equipment. Cooling Systems: Include air conditioning, liquid cooling, and airflow management to maintain optimal operating temperatures. Generators: Ensure power continuity during extended outages..

[Audio] Racks and Enclosures: Physical frameworks to house servers and storage devices. Raised Floors: Allow cabling and cooling systems to run beneath equipment. Buildings and Facilities: Purpose-built structures designed for security, scalability, and environmental control..

[Audio] Physical Security: Includes surveillance cameras, biometric access controls, and security personnel. Cybersecurity Tools: Firewalls, intrusion detection systems, encryption, and endpoint security..

[Audio] Datacenter Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Software: Provides visibility into physical and IT resources. Monitoring Systems: Track performance, power usage, and environmental conditions. Automation Tools: Enable efficient resource management and predictive maintenance..

[Audio] Software is a critical component of a datacenter, but its role differs from that of physical infrastructure. Software provides the intelligence and control needed to manage and optimize datacenter operations. Unlike physical hardware (servers, racks, power systems), software is intangible and often modular, meaning it can be updated, replaced, or reconfigured without affecting the datacenter's physical layout. While hardware provides the foundation, software is what makes the datacenter functional, flexible, and efficient. Software orchestrates and manages the hardware components (servers, storage, and networking). Without software, the hardware in a datacenter would be static and non-functional. Types of Software Critical to datacenters: Operating Systems (OS): Enable servers and devices to run applications and manage resources. Virtualization Software: Allows multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on a single physical server, optimizing resource usage. Datacenter Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Software: Monitors and manages physical and virtual resources, including power, cooling, and server workloads. Networking Software: Manages traffic routing, load balancing, and network security. Storage Management Software: Oversees how data is stored, accessed, and backed up. Automation and Orchestration Tools: Facilitate routine tasks, resource provisioning, and scaling..

1.2 History of datacenters. A hallway with rows of computer servers..

[Audio] The history of datacenters is closely linked to the development of computing technology, the internet, and the increasing demand for data storage and processing. Here's a timeline of the key milestones in the evolution of datacenters:.

[Audio] Mainframes and Early Computing: The first "datacenters" didn't exist in the modern sense, but large mainframe computers were housed in controlled environments to handle data processing. These mainframes were typically stored in research facilities or corporate locations. In the 1940s, the concept of data centre was developed by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly. Eckert and Mauchley were the primary inventors of the ENIAC computer, which was the world's first data centre, built in 1946 at the University of Pennsylvania in the US. However, the ENIAC was very different from the data centres we have today. Example: IBM 701, one of the earliest commercial computers, was installed in university and corporate facilities in the 1950s. Challenges: Early computing systems were huge, expensive, and required specialized conditions like temperature control and regular maintenance. Data processing was limited, and the concept of a centralized location for large-scale data management didn't emerge yet..

[Audio] The Birth of Modern Datacenters (1960s - 1970s) Early Data Storage Needs: As computing technology improved, organizations needed better ways to store and manage the growing amount of data. Mainframe Storage: Companies began implementing their first forms of data storage with large tape drives and disk storage systems. Cooling and Power Management: The need for dedicated facilities to house this equipment started becoming clear, and organizations began to focus more on cooling, power, and physical security to support these large machines..

[Audio] Growth and Expansion of Commercial Datacenters (1980s) First Commercial Datacenters: As the internet grew, businesses began to see the value of dedicated data storage and processing centers. This marked the rise of commercial datacenters. Companies such as Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and Compaq began offering outsourced data services, providing a dedicated space for organizations to house their IT infrastructure. Client-Server Architecture: The shift from mainframe computing to client-server architectures began. This allowed businesses to move from relying on a single, centralized mainframe to having distributed networks of personal computers and servers..

[Audio] Internet Explosion and the Dot-Com Boom (1990s) Internet and Web Hosting: As the internet exploded in popularity during the dot-com boom, there was a massive demand for web hosting and storage. As internet companies multiplied and web traffic surged, the need for data hosting services became more apparent. Many startups and e-commerce companies needed reliable infrastructure without the cost and complexity of building their own data centers. Datacenter Growth: Companies like Equinix and AT&T began to build large-scale facilities to host websites, email services, and business-critical applications. The Rise of Colocation Services: Colocation became popular. In this model, businesses started renting out space within a large facility to house their own servers and IT infrastructure, thus sharing power, cooling, and internet connectivity. The rise of colocation services (where businesses rent space within a large facility to house their own equipment) became a major trend during this time. By the end of the 1990s, many small and medium-sized businesses began relying on dedicated servers and colocated servers housed in these commercial datacenters. The Birth of Commercial Datacenters: While mainframe computers and client-server architectures were already in use by the late 1980s and early 1990s, the true rise of commercial datacenters came with the explosion of the internet and web hosting services in the mid-to-late 1990s, during the dot-com boom. This is when companies started to build large facilities specifically designed to house multiple organizations' servers, providing storage, power, cooling, and internet connectivity. While there isn't a single "first" datacenter from the dot-com era, companies like Equinix (founded in 1998), Yahoo!, and AOL were key pioneers in the creation of commercial datacenters that helped power the internet explosion during the dot-com boom. These datacenters laid the groundwork for the vast, interconnected, and highly scalable datacenters we rely on today for cloud computing and other digital services. Key companies and pioneers: Equinix (Founded in 1998) Equinix is often regarded as one of the first companies to establish large-scale, commercial datacenters designed for interconnecting different organizations' networks. It was founded during the dot-com boom and became a leader in datacenter interconnection and colocation services. Equinix opened its first datacenter in Silicon Valley in 1999, and it quickly expanded with other locations across the U.S. and globally. They provided secure, reliable hosting for the rapidly growing internet infrastructure and began offering colocation services, where businesses could rent space to house their own servers. Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and Compaq Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), founded in the 1950s, was a key player in the development of early data storage and computing infrastructure. In the 1990s, DEC's systems were used in some of the earliest commercial datacenters. Compaq, after acquiring DEC, also played a significant role in providing server and storage solutions used in commercial datacenters that powered the growing internet. Yahoo! and AOL (Early Web Hosting Centers) During the dot-com boom, companies like Yahoo!, AOL, and others began building their own datacenters to support their rapidly growing user bases and web traffic. These early datacenters were crucial in providing email services, web hosting, and search engine operations. Yahoo! established one of the first large-scale, high-performance datacenters to handle the increasing traffic demands from its growing web portal. Early Network Connectivity: By the late 1990s, fiber-optic cables and high-speed internet connections started making their way to datacenters, significantly improving the speed and capacity for data transmission..

[Audio] The Cloud Era and Virtualization (2000s) Virtualization Technology: The introduction of virtualization (by companies like VMware and Microsoft) allowed multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical server, dramatically improving efficiency, scalability, and resource utilization. Cloud Computing Emerges: Major players like Amazon (AWS), Microsoft (Azure), and Google began offering cloud computing services, which essentially turned their datacenters into vast, distributed networks of servers that could provide storage, computing power, and software as a service over the internet. Cloud services allowed businesses and individuals to rent computing resources on-demand, reducing the need for them to build and maintain their own datacenters..

[Audio] Software-Defined Datacenters and Hyper-Scale Growth (2010s) Software-Defined Infrastructure (SDI): The introduction of software-defined networking (SDN) and software-defined storage (SDS) transformed traditional hardware-based datacenters into software-defined datacenters (SDDCs). This approach s the underlying hardware and allows for greater flexibility, automation, and scalability in managing infrastructure. Hyper-Scale Datacenters: Hyperscale datacenters, operated by companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, became the backbone of the cloud computing revolution. These datacenters are massive in size, designed to scale efficiently and handle huge volumes of data and computational tasks. They often span multiple locations and include thousands of servers to support high-demand services such as search engines, social media platforms, and e-commerce. Energy Efficiency and Sustainability: The focus on energy-efficient designs became critical, as massive datacenters consume notable amounts of electricity. Companies began to focus on green technologies, such as using renewable energy sources and improving cooling efficiency..

[Audio] The Current State and Future Trends (2020s and beyond) Edge Computing: Edge datacenters are emerging as the next frontier. These smaller datacenters are located closer to users and devices to reduce latency and provide real-time processing for applications such as IoT, autonomous vehicles, and smart cities. AI and Automation: Datacenters now use advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for predictive maintenance, automation, and optimization of resources. Sustainability and Green Datacenters: With increasing awareness of environmental impact, datacenters are becoming more sustainable, focusing on energy-efficient cooling systems, waste heat reuse, and adopting renewable energy sources..

[Audio] The datacenter industry and market: Trends, drivers, and size The datacenter industry is growing faster than ever. Datacenters are massive buildings where companies store huge amounts of data, run websites, and support all kinds of internet services (like social media, gaming, or shopping platforms). How big is the datacenter market? In 2023, the global datacenter market was worth about $123.6 billion. To put that into perspective, that's more than the entire economy of some countries! By 2030, experts predict the datacenter market will more than double in size to $354 billion. This is happening because more people are using the internet, and more companies need to store and process tons of data..

[Audio] Several key things are making datacenters even more important in 2025: AI and heavy computing Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a big part of our daily lives (think smart assistants, video games, or even self-driving cars). All of this requires a lot of computing power. As AI grows, datacenters are getting bigger and need more energy to support it. It's like the amount of electricity needed to run a huge gaming server or an online game that millions of people play at once. Green and renewable energy Datacenters use a lot of power, which is why many companies are trying to switch to renewable energy sources (like solar or wind power) to run their operations. For example, Amazon plans to be carbon neutral (no net carbon emissions) by 2040. This means they'll use green energy to power their datacenters to reduce their environmental impact. Cooler, smarter datacenters Modern datacenters must be very efficient. One way they're improving is by using new cooling technologies to keep servers from overheating. These technologies work much like how air conditioning works in a home, but on a much larger scale. More liquid cooling and other systems are being used to manage the heat from all the computing. More investment in datacenters Datacenters are expensive to build and run, which is why companies are getting investment from private funds and credit agencies. It's like how startups get funding to help them grow; datacenter companies need this money to build new facilities and keep up with demand. New locations for datacenters As more people around the world use the internet, new datacenters are popping up in places where there's growing demand, like in Asia and Africa. These places are becoming hubs for global internet services and tech innovation..

[Audio] Why does this matter? The growth of the datacenter industry is closely tied to almost every digital service you use. Whether you're streaming movies, playing games online, or working on a school project, datacenters help store and process that data. The bigger the industry gets, the more advanced and reliable these services will become. Sustainability is also a big part of the future. As more companies look to reduce their environmental impact, you might see tech companies and cloud services focusing even more on using green energy. We'll discuss sustainability and datacenters in greater detail in Module 5 of this course, including how datacenters measure their power usage effectiveness (PUE) and water usage effectiveness (WUE)..

[Audio] Did you notice, that when news articles or industry reports talk about the size of datacenters, they usually mention megawatts (MW) instead of square feet? This is for a very important reason: megawatts measure the power capacity of the datacenter, while square feet measure its physical space. An average household uses around 10,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, which translates to roughly 10 megawatt-hours (MWh), while a typical datacenter can consume hundreds of megawatts per year, with large hyperscale facilities using between 20-50MW annually, meaning a single datacenter can use significantly more energy than thousands of average households combined..

[Audio] Here's why megawatts (MW) is the more relevant unit for discussing datacenter size: Power consumption is key for datacenters Datacenters consume a lot of electricity to run the thousands of servers and keep the equipment cool. The power usage is a key factor in determining how big a datacenter is in terms of its ability to handle heavy workloads. Megawatts (MW) represent the electrical power a datacenter needs to operate. For example, a large datacenter may need 100 MW of power to run all its equipment. This tells you how much electricity it consumes and how much computing capacity it can handle. 2. Square feet alone don't tell the full story Square feet measure the physical size of the building. While this can be useful to understand the physical footprint of the building, it doesn't tell you much about how powerful or how many servers the datacenter can support. The number of servers, cooling systems, and other equipment inside the datacenter determines its power requirements, not just its physical size. 3. Efficiency and power density Modern datacenters are becoming much more efficient in using space. They can fit more servers and computing power into smaller spaces, which means the same amount of physical space (measured in square feet) can house a datacenter with a high MW capacity. For instance, new hyperscale datacenters (super-large datacenters built by companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Google) can be very powerful but might not necessarily take up significantly more space than older, smaller facilities. They use technology to pack a lot of computing power into a smaller area, so the MW rating gives a clearer idea of their capability. 4. Industry standard for power consumption In the data center industry, the MW rating is the standard way to discuss a facility's size because it directly relates to the energy consumption and operational capacity of the datacenter. For example, when a datacenter operator says their facility has 100 MW of capacity, it indicates how much power is available to support servers, storage, cooling, and other systems..

Knowledge Check. Please complete the knowledge check quiz for Module 1..

Review: Introduction to datacenters. Understand what data and a datacenter are, why data matters, and why datacenters exist. Identify the historical evolution of datacenters from mainframes to the cloud. Recognize the different types of datacenters and their use cases. Understand the core components of a datacenter..