Data center prepared for the apocalypse. These generators could power a small city

The facility in question is a Warsaw data center (marked as WA3) belonging to the American company Equinix. Its construction was completed relatively recently, in April 2020, so it is definitely the company’s newest and largest data center in the Polish capital. Thanks to the company’s kindness, I was one of only a few “outsiders” who had the opportunity to visit the facility and enter a large part of the rooms to which only a very limited number of people have access – from the server room to the facility’s command center.

However, before we move on to what is most interesting, I must write two words of explanation. The data center I visited works in a rather unusual way. The servers located inside are not the property of Equinix, but of many customers who prefer to use the space offered by the American company by installing their own servers there. They can therefore use an existing data center and all the company’s ecosystem solutions, instead of building and maintaining their own server rooms or data centers on their own.

The mysterious building hides a large data center. It doesn’t even have a logo

The data center building is located at Aleje Jerozolimskie in Warsaw, right next to LOT Flight Academy, close to the city border. From the street it looks inconspicuous – it resembles an ordinary, modern office building. A typical passerby won’t even realize they’re passing a large data center. In accordance with Equinix’s policy, we will not even find the name or logo of the company that owns the facility on the fence or facade of the building – explained Robert Komar, Senior Manager IBX Operations at Equinix, who showed me around the facility.

The entire area around the data center is, of course, tightly fenced, and the entrance is guarded by a solid gate, 24-hour security and ubiquitous surveillance cameras. At the entrance to the building, security checked my details and compared them with the guest list. Unfortunately, for security reasons I could not take photos inside the data center. I was only allowed to use previously prepared photos that had been checked and approved by Equinix specialists.

Equinix WA3 data center in Warsaw photo: materials provided by Equinix

Two power systems and powerful generators. The facility is ready for blackout

We started the tour around the area not with the rooms themselves, housing the server racks, but with what is equally important, i.e. the power supply. As the Equinix representative explained to me, the entire data center is powered by the power grid using two separate systems from two suppliers. This is a market standard – in the event of a failure of one line, the facility uses a backup power system.

However, emergency power systems are impressive, prepared in the event of a total failure or disconnection from the power grid. In the event of a blackout, the Equinix facility can be powered by powerful generators that occupy several rooms resembling containers. Each is equipped with its own fuel tank and – if necessary – starts operating completely automatically.

Each generator also generates 1.5 MW (megawatt, or one million watts) of power, which means it could maintain power in an entire village consisting of one hundred houses (for a connection power of 15 kW for each house). The WA3 facility is equipped with as many as eight machines of this type, and another four will soon appear. The possibilities of emergency power supply significantly exceed even the target power of the entire facility, which is over 7 MW. And this is, of course, the maximum power – during everyday operation, the data center’s demand for electricity is much lower.

Equinix WA3 data center in Warsaw photo: materials provided by Equinix

Each generator is basically a powerful diesel engine equipped with a fuel tank with a capacity of 1,000 liters. There are two more common tanks in reserve with a total capacity of 80,000. liters. As Robert Komar emphasized, both the generators and the entire emergency power infrastructure are regularly serviced and tested so that they are always ready for operation. Moreover, the system constantly maintains the optimal engine temperature so that it can start as quickly as possible. This is why the rooms housing the generators are noticeably warmer than outside.

A data center that can isolate itself from the world. For long

But how does such a powerful emergency power system even work? In the event of a sudden power failure, a large UPS (uninterruptible power supply) takes over the task of powering the servers and all systems in a fraction of a second. UPS is a device or system known not only for professional applications. It is also used (but on a different scale) as an emergency power supply for small, private server rooms and even single desktop computers.

Its power source is batteries. In the case of the Equinix data center, there are so many of them that they are stored in a separate room where a constant temperature is maintained, ideal for the life of the cells. For safety reasons, it was decided to use not one, but three sets of batteries that will enable the UPS system to take over the power supply. Additionally, there are special security systems, including: sensors detecting the presence of hydrogen.

From the moment of power failure until the generators take over the load, there are usually several to several dozen seconds needed to start up and achieve optimal speed and power of the engines. During this time, the entire data center must operate on the mentioned set of batteries. It is impossible to allow servers to lose access to electricity even for a second.

Equinix WA3 data center in Warsaw photo: materials provided by Equinix

Once the generators take over the data center’s power supply, they can operate continuously for approximately 30 hours. This is because the amount of fuel stored in the tanks is enough. However, as Robert Komar pointed out, the facility owned by Equinix has suppliers who can replenish fuel supplies on an ongoing basis. There are, of course, two suppliers for security reasons. Even if one of them fails, the other company will provide the fuel.

In practice, a data center may be cut off from the external power grid for many days or even weeks. Interestingly, the facility also has its own groundwater source, which can be used in the event of a lack of water in the municipal water supply network.

Severy. Safety first

Let’s get to what’s most interesting, the servers themselves. These are located in several rooms, in a secured part of the building, and belong not to Equinix, but to the customers themselves. The company provides only server racks, which customers may or may not use. Some people decide to bring ready-made kits and install them in the building themselves under the supervision of Equinix employees.

Equinix is ​​responsible for ensuring the continuity of power supply and – equally important – cooling of servers. The heat generated by the equipment is dissipated outside, and the optimal temperature is ensured by a system of air conditioners blowing cool air (more effective liquid cooling is expected to appear in the future).

The level of protection of the equipment itself depends on customers. As Robert Komar explained to me, for some clients this issue is less important, for others it is a priority. Access to specific rooms is, of course, granted only to selected people, and each server rack available on site is also protected against unauthorized access. However, some people install additional protection.

Equinix WA3 data center in Warsaw photo: materials provided by Equinix

I could see the servers myself, which – for security reasons – were also located in a metal cage to which only the client’s employees have access. Of course, no server rack is signed. Thanks to this, no unauthorized person will find out whose devices are located in a given place. Also for security reasons, Equinix did not provide me with any photos showing the servers. This is why this type of photography is missing in this text.

Moreover, for the same reasons, the company’s representatives could not even tell me which customers actually use the services of the Warsaw data center. All that was revealed was that these were companies from almost every industry, both small and large. Only one name was mentioned – the Warsaw Stock Exchange. WSE itself this year on selecting Equinix as its data center provider.

A command center. Everything is connected here

Finally, I had the opportunity to see the control center of the entire data center working 24 hours a day. And I must admit that it looks very inconspicuous. It’s a small office and two employees who control the operating parameters of the entire facility on several screens. Two people guarding a large data center in two shifts seems to be an extremely modest number. However, Equinix claims that the staffing is sufficient, as there is nothing to stop the management of a given data center from being taken over by employees of any of the company’s other two Warsaw facilities in the blink of an eye.

Each Equinix data center – not only in Poland, but around the world – is connected to the rest by a direct, secure connection (and customers can also use it). Moreover, employees are not permanently assigned to one office, but can work interchangeably in each of the Warsaw data centers. Hence – in the event of an unexpected situation – the staff can be efficiently supplemented.

Equinix WA3 data center in Warsaw photo: materials provided by Equinix

Interestingly, the company is currently building its fourth data center in Warsaw. The company sees considerable, still untapped potential in Poland, hence further investments. Especially since – as Sylwia Pyśkiewicz, head of Equinix in Poland, told me – there is a dynamically growing trend among companies to move servers from their own, often small server rooms to secure data centers – e.g. the one Equinix has set up in the capital of our country.