Most Recent Exin CDCS Exam Questions & Answers

A Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.20 (achieved by Data Center B) indicates the highest facility efficiency among the three data centers. A lower PUE value signifies better energy efficiency, as it means that a greater proportion of the total energy consumed is used directly for IT equipment rather than for cooling, lighting, or other facility needs.

Detailed Explanation:

PUE is calculated as the ratio of total facility energy to IT equipment energy. A PUE close to 1.0 suggests that almost all the energy is dedicated to computing processes, with minimal overhead. With PUE values of 2.45, 1.20, and 1.90, Data Center B (1.20) operates most efficiently by devoting a higher percentage of its total energy to IT equipment.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

The EPI curriculum emphasizes PUE as a key metric for data center efficiency, with lower values representing better performance. Achieving a PUE near 1.0 aligns with industry best practices for energy-efficient data center design and operation.

An End of Row (EoR) design minimizes the number of network switches, as multiple racks can share a single switch at the end of a row, reducing switch counts and simplifying management. This design centralizes network switching to fewer points, which reduces the complexity and number of switches required compared to a Top of Rack (ToR) design, where each rack typically has its own switch.

Detailed Explanation:

In EoR designs, each row has a single network switch that handles the connections for all racks within that row. This reduces the number of individual switches needed and centralizes network management, which is ideal for minimizing equipment and simplifying infrastructure in the data center.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI promotes the EoR design as a way to reduce switch counts and streamline management in data centers. This configuration allows for easier scaling and maintenance while maintaining efficient network connectivity.

The cooling capacity of a raised floor tile is primarily influenced by the percentage of surface opening, the obstruction caused by the supporting construction, the pressure under the raised floor, and the damper construction. These factors dictate how much airflow can pass through the tile and how effectively cool air is distributed to the equipment in the data center.

Detailed Explanation:

The percentage of surface opening on a floor tile affects how much air can flow through, with larger openings allowing more airflow. Supporting structures beneath the floor can obstruct airflow, reducing cooling efficiency. Pressure under the raised floor impacts the velocity and volume of air that moves through the tile. Additionally, if dampers are installed, they control the airflow rate, which can be adjusted to meet specific cooling needs for the area.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI guidance on airflow management under raised floors emphasizes these factors as critical for effective cooling, especially in high-density areas. Ensuring unobstructed and adequate airflow helps maintain consistent cooling across equipment.

A 2(N+1) configuration implies two independent UPS systems, each with N+1 redundancy. This configuration provides high availability by ensuring that each UPS system can independently support the load with an additional unit for redundancy. Given the 80 kW load, this setup implies that two separate N+1 systems are running, providing reliability and fault tolerance for the data center's power needs.

Detailed Explanation:

The N+1 notation denotes that each system has one additional unit beyond what is needed to carry the load, providing redundancy. With 2(N+1), there are two such setups, ensuring that if one fails, the other can still support the load without interruption, fulfilling high availability requirements.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI teaches that multiple redundant systems, such as 2(N+1), enhance data center reliability by ensuring that power is maintained even if a failure occurs in one system. This meets the stringent demands for uptime in critical environments.

As relative humidity decreases, Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) risks increase. Lower humidity levels reduce the amount of moisture in the air, which normally helps dissipate static charges. When the humidity drops from 50% to 35%, the likelihood of static electricity accumulating on surfaces rises, leading to a higher potential for ESD incidents that could damage sensitive IT equipment.

Detailed Explanation:

ESD events are more common in dry environments because there is less atmospheric moisture to neutralize electrical charges. Maintaining relative humidity above 40% helps minimize the risk of ESD, which is why data centers often control humidity levels tightly to protect equipment from static discharge that could cause hardware failures or data loss.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI data center best practices stress the importance of maintaining stable humidity levels to prevent ESD, particularly in computer rooms. Recommended humidity ranges are typically above 40% to prevent conditions that would foster static buildup.