Data centres and network rooms

UPDATED 28 APRIL 2024

Data centres and network rooms

Effective maintenance of ANU data centres and network rooms is essential to ensure the availability of the University's critical networks and IT systems. This requires adherence to both data centre and communications room standards.

On this page, you will find links to the relevant standards and associated documents governing access and use of these spaces. You will also find an overview of design, construction, and operational requirements, as well as expectations for staff and contractors who access them.

Data Centre Operations and access

The Data Centre Operations (DCO) team is responsible for ANU data centres.

The ANU Data Centre Standards detail the responsibilities of data centre users and must be referenced by all users prior to accessing the University’s data centres. 

Before performing any work, all ANU staff members and external contractors must:

1. submit an ANU Data Centre Request For Access form, outlining a valid reason for access, signed by an ANU data centre delegate. 
2. complete an induction session with a DCO staff member.

As specified in the standards, all ANU data centre work requests are to be submitted via the Service Desk portal with the Data Centre Request for Work form attached.

Communications rooms standards

The Network and Communications Team has overall responsibility for the communications rooms and the racks and cabinets within them, which are part of the Integrated Communications Network (ICN), and determine the standards that must be adhered to.

The ANU Cabling Specification details the design, supply, delivery, installation, testing, and commissioning of these rooms. The standards apply to communications cabinets across the University. It should be noted that these standards are being implemented gradually across the University, so not all cabinets and/or the spaces that house them currently meet these standards.

Cabinets and associated spaces are being uplifted to meet these standards in parallel with network switch upgrades, building refurbishments, and the establishment of new communications rooms.

Access and security of communications rooms

All communications rooms must be fitted with both a Cardax Strike and a Netcomms lock. Keying arrangements are to be determined through consultation with the ANU locksmith and the ITS Data Centre Operations Team. 

All cabinets must be lockable on the front, sides, and rear, and fitted with the ANU standard cabinet lock, as specified in the ANU Cabling Specification.

Communications cabinets must remain locked at all times, except when patching is being undertaken. Keys must not be left in cabinet doors under any circumstances.

Power supply in communications rooms

For communications rooms with:

• a single communications rack, there must be a minimum of three dedicated 15A power outlets supplied from the nearest electrical distribution board.
• more than one communications rack, there must be two dedicated 15A power outlets per rack, also supplied from the nearest electrical distribution board.

Uninterruptible Power Supplies

Communications cabinets may contain an Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) that supplies power to the network switch infrastructure. The following guidelines apply:

• UPSs are for switch infrastructure only. No other equipment may be plugged into a communications cabinet UPS, unless there is express consent from the Data Centre Operations Team. UPSs are sized and provisioned with batteries according to the calculated switch load. Adding more load can reduce the UPS's capability to maintain reliable wired and wireless network services to the University community.
• UPSs are remotely monitored over the network and typically patch into port 1 of the switch stack in a cabinet with yellow UTP cabling.

Cooling of communications rooms

Communications spaces may be supported by a variety of cooling technologies, including ducted or split system air-conditioning systems, extraction fans, and grills. Cooling is determined by the room's heat load and various other factors. 

Communications room cooling infrastructure must not be changed, restricted, or interfered with under any circumstances. Uninterrupted operation of cooling infrastructure is critical to ensuring the availability of wired and wireless network services across the University.

Rubbish and construction work

Rubbish, such as plastic packaging and cable ties, must not be left in communications cabinets.

Any contractor carrying out construction work in a communications space, such as core drilling, must ensure that appropriate protection is applied to all network and UPS equipment from dust or debris, and that the area is completely cleaned up afterward. This is particularly important to prevent and remove fine concrete dust that can easily get into electronics, reducing the life expectancy and efficiency of equipment.

Patching within communication rooms

Patching changes are restricted to within the set of switch ports allocated to the relevant business area. If your business area requires additional ports, please contact the Networks and Communications Team via the Service Desk. 

Un-patching and re-patching may only be undertaken by persons that have been approved by the business area responsible for the relevant patches and ports, central ITS precinct staff, or staff/contractors approved by the Networks and Communications Team.

The following patching standards must be adhered to:  

1. Use the shortest patch lead practical for the job.
2. Patch leads must be routed through horizontal and vertical cable tidies as appropriate.
3. No patch leads other than those supplied by the Network and Communications Team are to be used in the communications cabinets.
4. Patch leads are to be run neatly, maintaining manageable densities in cable tidies. In general, this will be achieved by evenly splitting patch cables from patch strips to the left and right.
5. All redundant and/or spare UTP patch leads are to be removed from patch panels/switch ports and either removed from the communications room or coiled, twist tied, and stored neatly for re-use.

Any replacement or additional patch leads must be of the same colour allocated to the business area. For example, blue, or blue and/or green for shared cabinets. Networks and communications supplies are available at no additional charge, including patch leads for communications cabinets.

Communications rooms audit and upkeep

The Data Centre Operations and Networks and Communications Teams, as the responsible entities for managing communications cabinets and the equipment within them, will routinely audit cabinets to ensure they meet the required standards. If needed, they will ask local or central IT precinct staff to help with maintenance to restore conditions to necessary standards.