Vertiv and the Open Compute Project (OCP)

Designing the Next-Gen Data Center


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There was a time when most data centers looked largely the same, but the advent of cloud and colocation services led to the proliferation of hyperscale data centers and everything changed. Today’s data center landscape is increasingly diverse, with new-look enterprise facilities at the hub of hybrid networks that stretch from enterprise to cloud to the edge of the network. All of these facilities are unique and evolving in various ways in different parts of the world.

The result is a data center ecosystem that is more complex than ever before. The Open Compute Project (OCP) is, among other things, an effort to simplify that ecosystem by bringing the industry’s best minds together to plot the path forward. Vertiv is a Platinum member in OCP, working with other industry leaders to influence the development of the next generation of data center infrastructure.

Vertiv Participation

Vertiv has been an active contributor to several OCP projects, most recently co-authoring a paper on design guidelines for immersion-cooled IT equipment. That work is consistent with our leadership position in data center thermal management and recognizes the challenges presented by continued increases in compute density. We collaborated with other OCP-affiliated experts in thermal management, fluid materials science and engineering, server integration, and power connectivity to identify guidelines and best practices in immersion cooling for high-density environments. Vertiv also developed rack DC bus bars and a 12V DC power shelf that are compatible with OCP racks.

Vertiv is active in the OCP today, serving on multiple committees including Data Center Facility, Rack and Power, and Advanced Cooling Facilities – Incubation. We are collaborating with other industry thought leaders on power and cooling innovations for future OCP racks to continue to drive data center efficiency.

 

Vertiv and OCP

Vertiv has been a powerful voice in the Open Compute Project, contributing to product development, serving on multiple OCP committees, co-authoring several papers, and presenting on various topics at Open Compute events.

  • ORV3 Rack

  • 48V DC Power Shelf

  • 48V DC Lithium Battery BBU
  • Liquid Cooling

  • Liebert FDC Reactive Power Panel

Vertiv OCP Compatible Products

The data center ecosystem is more complex than ever before. The Open Compute Project is, among other things, an effort to simplify that ecosystem, and the Vertiv Geist UPDU emerged from that work. The genesis for the development of the product was the overwhelming number of different rack power distribution units (PDUs) in use around the world. These systems all perform the same basic functions but with subtle and not-so-subtle differences and configurations that make inventory management a nightmare and procurement a maze. With a universal design, universal input and a detachable power cable, the Vertiv Geist UPDU is compatible with AC power topologies that are common worldwide.

 

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