A large group of networked computer servers typically used by organizations for the remote storage, processing, or distribution of large amounts of data. Source: Oxford Languages
Glossary - D
This is a glossary of older terms. While many of the definitions are unchanged, some of the definitions may be out of date and some of the terms may no longer be in use in the Data Center industry. This legacy glossary provides definitions for hundreds of information and communications technology (ICT) and data center terms and acronyms. Arranged alphabetically and searchable, the glossary explains common industry vocabulary.
Data Center
Data Center
A building or portion of a building whose primary function is to house a computer room and its support areas. Data centers typically contain high-end servers and storage products with mission-critical functions
Data Center Availability
Probability that a data center will be operable at a future time (takes into account the effects of failure and repair/maintenance of the data center)
Data Center Electrical & Cooling Systems
Systems residing in, on and next to a Building includes CRAHs, PDUs, CDUs, piping, conduit, and other power/cooling distribution systems. Source: TGG
Data Center Energy Practitioner (DCEP)
The data center industry and DOE partnered to develop the Data Center Energy Practitioner (DCEP) Program. The DCEP training program certifies energy practitioners qualified to evaluate the energy status and efficiency opportunities in data centers. More information at https://datacenters.lbl.gov/dcep
Data Center Reliability
Probability that a data center system will be operable throughout its mission duration (only takes into account the effects of failure of the data center)
Data Center, Air-cooled
Facility cooled by forced air transmitted by raised floor, overhead ducting, or some other method; A data center with only air-cooled equipment
Data Center, Liquid- and Air-cooled
Data center with both chilled air and liquid available
Data Center, Liquid-cooled
Data center with only liquid-cooled equipment
Data Frame
Consists of the destination address, source address, length field, logical link control (LLC) data, PAD, and frame check sequence
Data Terminal Equipment (DTE)
Any source or destination of data connected to the local area network
Datacom
Abbreviation for the data and communications industry
Dataset
The set of inputs for a particular benchmark. There may be more than one dataset available for each benchmark each serving a different purpose (e.g., measurement versus testing) or configured for different problem sizes (small, medium, large, etc.
Daughter Card
Also called daughter board. A printed circuit board that plugs into another circuit board to provide extended feature(s). A daughter card accesses its parent card's circuitry directly through the interconnection between the boards. A mezzanine card is a kind of daughter card that is installed such that it lies in the same plane, but on a second level above its parent
dBm
Decibels referenced to 1.0 mW
DC
Data Center. Source: OCP
DC
Direct Current a form of power distribution. Source: ASHRAE
DCIM
Data Center Infrastructure Management. Source: ASHRAE
DDR
Double data rate. A type of memory; a number behind DDR indicates the generation. Source: ASHRAE
Dead-end Service Rating (Valves)
Valves rated for dead-end service can be placed at the end of a pipe without a cap (i.e., with one end at atmospheric pressure) and will not have any leakage of fluid across the valve at the service pressure rating of the valve
Dehumidification
The process of removing moisture from air
Dew point
The temperature at which water vapor has reached the saturation point (100% relative humidity)
Dew-point Temperature
See temperature, dew-point
Dichotomous Sampler
Piece of measurement equipment that collects airborne particulates and separates them by size for analysis
Dielectric Fluid
A fluid that is a poor conductor of electricity
DIMM
Dual in-line memory module. Source: ASHRAE
Direct Current (DC)
An electric current flowing in one direction only. Source: Oxford Languages
Direct Expansion (DX) System
A system in which the cooling effect is obtained directly from the refrigerant. It typically incorporates a compressor, and in most cases, the refrigerant undergoes a change of state in the system
Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC)
A type of liquid cooling used to cool CPUs and GPUs. Cooling a CPU involves running a cold liquid (contained) over the top of a running chip. A thermal transfer material is used to conduct the heat from the top of the chip to a cold plate with the liquid flowing over the plate. The cooler liquid picks up the heat from the chip and is carried away to be cooled elsewhere. The cooler liquid is then returned to the chip in a closed loop system. Source: Supermicro
Direct to Chip (DTC) or (D2C)
A type of liquid cooling used to cool CPUs and GPUs. Cooling a CPU involves running a cold liquid (contained) over the top of a running chip. A thermal transfer material is used to conduct the heat from the top of the chip to a cold plate with the liquid flowing over the plate. The cooler liquid picks up the heat from the chip and is carried away to be cooled elsewhere. The cooler liquid is then returned to the chip in a closed loop system. Source: Supermicro
Direct water-cooled
Power that is transferred directly to an attached heat transfer component such as a cold plate. Source: ASHRAE
Discounting
A mathematical operation that aims to make monetary (or other) amounts received or expended at different times (years) comparable across time. The discounter uses a fixed or possibly time varying discount rate from year to year that makes future value worth less today (if the discount rate is positive). The choice of discount rate(s) is debated as it is a judgement based on hidden and/or explicit values. Source: IPCC
Disk Unit
Hard disk drive installed in a piece of data communications equipment, such as a personal computer, laptop, server, or storage product
Disruptive innovation
Demand-led technological change that leads to significant system change and is characterized by strong exponential growth. Source: IPCC
Diversity (from ASHRAE, industry)
Two definitions for diversity exist, diverse routing and diversity from maximum:
* Systems that employ an alternate path for distribution are said to have diverse routing. In terms of an HVAC system, it might be used in reference to an alternate chilled water piping system. To be truly diverse (and of maximum benefit), both the normal and alternate paths must each be able to support the entire normal load.
* Diversity can also be defined as a ratio of maximum to actual for metrics such as power loads. For example, the nominal power loading for a rack may be based on the maximum configuration of components all operating at their maximum intensities. Diversity would take into account variations from the maximum in terms of rack occupancy, equipment configuration, operational intensity, etc., to provide a number that could be deemed to be more realistic
Diversity (from ASHRAE)
A factor used to determine the load on a power or cooling system based on the actual operating output of the individual equipment rather than the full-load capacity of the equipment
DMTF Redfish
Standard designed to deliver simple and secure management for converged, hybrid IT and the Software Defined Data Center (SDDC). Both human readable and machine capable, Redfish leverages common Internet and web services standards to expose information directly to the modern tool chain. Source: DMTF
DoE
U.S. Department of Energy. The federal agency that oversees power administration, the regulation of nuclear power reactors, and other aspects of the energy industry. Source: United States Department of Energy
Domain
A group of computers and devices on a network that are administered as a unit with common rules and procedures. Within the internet, domains are defined by the IP address. All devices sharing a common part of the IP address are said to be in the same domain
Double Data Rate Memory (DDR Memory)
An advanced version of synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) memory now used in most servers. DDR-SDRAM, sometimes called SDRAM II, can transfer data twice as fast as regular SDRAM because it can send and receive signals twice per clock cycle
Double Precision
A level of floating point accuracy that usually requires twice the space for each value than does single precision, but provides considerably more precision. For most systems running the SPEC CPU tests from the OSG (e.g. CPU2000), double precision implies a 64-bit value
Downflow
Refers to a type of air conditioning system that discharges air downward directly beneath a raised floor commonly found in computer rooms and modern office spaces
Downtime
A period of time during which a system is not operational due to a malfunction or maintenance
DPC
DIMMs per channel. Source: ASHRAE
Drives
A component type of data center class servers. Source: Intel
Dry-bulb Temperature (DB)
See temperature, dry-bulb
Drywell
A well in a piping system that allows a thermometer or other device to be inserted without direct contact with the liquid medium being measured
Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM)
A small circuit board that usually holds memory chips. A single in-line memory module (SIMM) has card edge connections that are connected to the same signals on both sides of the PCB, whereas a DIMM has different signals on each side of the PCB
Dust
Solid particles of a substance or mixture suspended in in a gas (usually air). Source: United Nations GHS
DUT
Device Under Test. Source: OCP
Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM)
The most commonly used type of memory in computers. A bank of DRAM memory usually forms the computer's main memory. It is called dynamic because it needs to be refreshed periodically to retain the data stored within