In times of power blackouts, brownouts, and general unreliability of the power grid, many an IT manager has wondered if backup generators are a good idea for the data center. Pricey though generators can be, the decision to implement should not be based on cost alone: use selection criteria that best reflects enterprise risk levels.
The Skinny on Generators
Backup generators are usually powered by gasoline, diesel, or, in some cases, liquid hydrogen. Depending on the size of the fuel reservoir and kilowatt (kW) outputs, a generator can provide a clean, steady stream of electricity to the data center for as long as seven days. For extended periods of power grid outage, a backup generator is a logical choice for ensuring business continuity.