Free Exin CDCS Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 4

The Open Compute Project (OCP), initiated by Facebook in 2011, focuses on open designs for servers, storage, racks, and power systems. The goals are:

Reduce energy consumption by using efficient hardware.

Save materials by eliminating unnecessary components.

Lower costs by standardizing and sharing open designs.

Option B is wrong—OCP hardware can be adopted by enterprises as well. Option C is unrelated (OCP is hardware, not OS). Option D is broader cloud adoption, not OCP’s direct mission.

Thus, the primary focus is energy, material, and cost savings through open-source hardware.

The minimum requirement for power feeds to a Rated-3 data center according to ANSI/TIA-942 is to have two independent power feeds, which can come from two different substations provided by the same power company. This ensures redundancy and concurrent maintainability, as each feed can support the load independently during maintenance or failure of the other.

Detailed Explanation:

The separation by two substations ensures resilience in case of a localized outage or substation maintenance, aligning with Rated-3 requirements for uninterrupted operation. ANSI/TIA-942 permits these feeds from a single utility provider as long as they are supplied from distinct substations.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI underscores the importance of dual power feeds from separate substations for Rated-3 facilities, highlighting that the ability to draw from different substations aligns with redundancy requirements for high availability.

A Top of Rack (ToR) design typically requires more switches because each rack has its own switch to manage network connections, as opposed to End of Row (EoR) or centralized designs, which consolidate switches. While ToR designs improve cabling efficiency and reduce latency, they also increase the number of switches, thus raising management complexity and potentially increasing capital and operational costs.

Detailed Explanation:

In a ToR setup, each rack’s individual switch allows for quick access and streamlined cabling within the rack. However, this setup means more devices to configure, monitor, and maintain, which can increase administrative overhead and network management complexity.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI documentation notes that ToR designs can improve performance but also lead to increased management needs due to the higher switch count, making them less ideal in environments where simplified network management is prioritized.

The life cycle begins with planning and design. The very first step is to clearly define the project scope: business requirements, capacity, availability targets, compliance standards, and budget. Without scope definition, design validation or vendor selection would be premature.

Vendor selection (A) happens much later during procurement.

Validation (B) occurs after conceptual and detailed designs are prepared.

Freezing design (D) is the final stage before implementation.

Therefore, defining the project scope is the correct initial step.

Hot and cold aisle containment prevents mixing of supply and return air, which improves cooling efficiency. By maintaining higher return-air temperatures, cooling units operate more efficiently, often allowing higher chilled water setpoints. This reduces overall cooling power consumption, directly improving PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness).

Containment is recognized by ASHRAE and Green Grid as one of the simplest and most cost-effective methods for lowering PUE. Options A, C, and D are false because containment benefits apply regardless of cooling source or IT virtualization.

MPO (Multi-fiber Push On) pre-terminated fiber offers the advantage of quick installation and supports high-speed upgrades up to 40 Gbit/s and 100 Gbit/s. This technology simplifies connections by allowing multiple fibers to be connected in a single plug-and-play module, reducing installation time and making future expansions or upgrades to higher speeds easier.

Detailed Explanation:

MPO connectors consolidate multiple fiber connections into a single interface, which simplifies cable management and reduces installation complexity. This setup is particularly beneficial in data centers where high-speed networks are essential, and where rapid deployment is necessary. MPO pre-terminated fiber also supports the use of OM4 fiber, making it compatible with existing high-performance cabling infrastructure.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI training highlights that pre-terminated fiber solutions, like MPO, can greatly enhance efficiency in data centers. By reducing installation time and providing scalability for higher transmission speeds, they align with best practices for maintaining flexible and future-ready network infrastructure.