Exin Exam CDCS Topic 1 Question 5 Discussion

Actual exam question for Exin's CDCS exam

Question #: 5
Topic #: 1

A data center is located in an area where the demand for power is higher than the utility power company is able to deliver. This results in frequent power outages and, therefore, power shedding (scheduled/controlled power shutdown for areas) is frequently applied. The mains power is more than 650 hours/year not available.

What type of generators should be installed?

AStandby generators should be installed in at least an N+1 configuration

BContinuous generators should be installed, at least in an N+1 configuration

CA combination of standby-, prime-, and continuous-generators, as the duration of the power outage is unpredictable. The total available capacity of the generators should be at least 500% of the data center load

DContinuous generators should be installed; no N+1 configuration is needed as the generators will run all the time

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: B

In areas with frequent and extended power outages, continuous generators with at least an N+1 configuration are necessary to ensure consistent power availability. Continuous generators are designed for prolonged operation, making them suitable for scenarios where utility power is frequently unavailable, as in this case with outages exceeding 650 hours per year. An N+1 configuration ensures redundancy, which is critical for maintaining uptime in a high-availability data center.

Detailed Explanation:

Continuous generators provide reliable power over long durations, unlike standby generators, which are intended only for short-term use. The N+1 configuration ensures that there is always an additional generator available in case of failure, thus maintaining power supply even if one generator goes offline.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI best practices recommend continuous generators with redundancy for data centers located in areas with high power instability to maintain reliability and continuous operation.

by Elza at Oct 20, 2024, 05:23 AM

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Destiny

1 months ago

Haha, option D sounds like something a power company executive would propose - 'Just run the generators all the time, it'll be fine!' Yeah, right, and I have a bridge to sell you too.

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Kristeen

1 months ago

I'm not sure why anyone would choose option D. Continuous generators without an N+1 configuration? That's just asking for trouble when one of them inevitably goes down.

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Melodie

14 days ago

I agree, having a combination of generators with extra capacity is definitely the safer option

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Ronny

17 days ago

C) A combination of standby-, prime-, and continuous-generators, as the duration of the power outage is unpredictable. The total available capacity of the generators should be at least 500% of the data center load

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Hester

18 days ago

A) Standby generators should be installed in at least an N+1 configuration

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Desmond

1 months ago

I agree with Luis, having a combination of standby, prime, and continuous generators makes sense to ensure continuous power supply.

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Delmy

1 months ago

I agree, C is the best choice. The data center needs a robust and reliable power solution to ensure continuous operations, and the 500% capacity recommendation sounds like a sensible approach.

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Luis

1 months ago

I think option C is the best choice because the power outage duration is unpredictable.

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Hyman

1 months ago

Option C seems the most appropriate. With such frequent power outages, a combination of different generator types would provide the required redundancy and flexibility to handle the unpredictable duration of the outages.

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