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Solutions For Business-Critical Continuity™
Safeguarding the Availability of 9-1-1 Emergency Communications
In life-critical situations, connectivity counts. Experts realize that connectivity depends on the performance of IT and data center support systems. Here is a checklist to evaluate the reliability of your underlying infrastructure, and discover best practices for fortifying your systems to ensure they operate when needed, effectively and efficiently.
FCC Report: Loss of 9-1-1 Connectivity was Avoidable Recently, the United States Federal Communications Commission
Is Your Infrastructure Vulnerable? Here is a checklist to assess your risk. A list of best practices can be found on page 2 to help you improve your operations.
Facility Are your technology operations secure from unauthorized access? Are your systems/network racks and cabinets secure from unauthorized entry? Do you want to be alerted when a rack/enclosure is opened?
Power Does your facility have redundant utility feeds?
issued a report, “Impact of the June 2012 Derecho on
Does your facility have redundant power systems?
Communications Networks and Services,” which examined how and
Are your uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems designed for true online performance?
why a summer wind storm severely disrupted 9-1-1 communications for more than 3.6 million people in six states across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. According to the report, “9-1-1 communications were disrupted in large part because of avoidable planning and system failures, including the lack of functional backup power,
Do you have transient voltage surge suppression (TVSS) in place at the utility entrance? Do you have sufficient generator backup, with enough fuel on hand to comply with local code (generally, 24 hours to two weeks)?
communications providers of visibility into critical network functions.”
Do you have sufficient power capacity to adapt to technology change or to expand services?
The report calls the failures unacceptable and urges the FCC to
Have you taken action to reduce single points of failure and minimize energy losses in your power system?
notably in central offices. Monitoring systems also failed, depriving
“consider action to ensure the reliability, resiliency and availability of 9-1-1 communications networks.” These include ensuring that service providers:
Does your UPS comply with FCC standards for EMI emitting devices, and UL and CSA safety certifications?
Cooling
1. Conduct periodic audits of 9-1-1 circuits.
Are your technology systems cooled with dedicated units?
2. Maintain adequate backup power at central offices and follow regular maintenance and testing procedures.
Are you experiencing any overheating IT racks or cabinets?
3. Have adequate network monitoring links. 4. Have a more specific obligation to notify 9-1-1 call centers of breakdowns of 9-1-1 communications. The demands of supporting today’s 9-1-1 services are changing. The services extend beyond landlines, to servicing mobile users, as well as text and even video feeds. Service providers must accommodate mobile and online apps, all of which demand more infrastructure support.
Is your cooling system supported by your backup power system?
Monitoring and Management Do you monitor your UPS batteries? Do you monitor environmental conditions with your IT systems, such as heat, humidity and water leakage? Do you have notifications of alarms/alerts of possible problems in your IT support systems?
Service and Maintenance Can you service the UPS without shutting down power? Have you performed a thermal and power assessment within the last 3 years? Do you have a preventive maintenance program in place for your critical equipment? Is your electrical system single-line diagram up-to-date?
Best Practices for Protecting Critical Applications
Greater Harris County 9-1-1
The following list of best practices can safeguard your infrastructure from disruptions and establish the infrastructure a 9-1-1 operations requires for reliable, efficient and flexible performance.
Greater Harris County 9-1-1 is the largest 9-1-1 system in Texas and the second largest in the United States. It turned to Emerson Network Power to upgrade and improve system support and protection.
Assessments
Conduct a data center assessment to baseline your facility and identify opportunities to improve availability, efficiency and capacity.
Solutions: Liebert® Data Center Assessment.
Power
Configure your power infrastructure to deliver redundancy for maximum availability and reliability. Deploy online, double-conversion UPS systems—these are the only systems that protect against the full range of power disturbances. Size UPS systems correctly to allow for redundancy, and growth in your power infrastructure. Consider modular systems to provide a path for growth without over-provisioning resources. Use TVSS products at key electrical design points to protect against voltage spikes. Use power systems tested and compliant with FCC Part 15, Class A regulations on EMI for UPS Systems, and UL1778 and CSA C22.2 for safety.
Power Infrastructure
To maintain uninterrupted access to emergency communication systems, the command center deploys ASCO automatic transfer switches, redundant Liebert UPS systems, Liebert power distribution units, Liebert SiteScan monitoring and preventive maintenance services from Liebert Services. In addition, the municipality depends on Liebert single phase UPS and integrated enclosures to maintain connectivity with the command center.
Results The robust power infrastructure has eliminated failures. Monitoring systems have enhanced the organization’s visibility into remote systems, improving uptime and reducing costs.
Solutions: Liebert NX™ with Softscale™, Liebert NXL™, NetSure™ ITM.
Airflow/Temperature/Humidity Control
General building comfort air conditioning systems are insufficient for the needs of IT systems. Critical equipment requires dedicated and specilaized temperature, airflow and humidity control. Ensure dedicated cooling systems are scalable to adjust to changing system demands. Ensure your cooling infrastructure is on your backup power plan, so that systems do not overheat when the electricity is disrupted.
Solutions: Liebert CRV™, Liebert DS™ or Liebert DSE™.
Enclosures and Integrated Solutions
Ensure physical security by using racks and enclosures with key or card-swipe locks and contact closures.
Pasco County Tampa Bay area Pasco County provides server functionality and telephony/communication support for the county’s 9-1-1 systems, serving approximately 475,000 residents.
Integrated Solution Pasco County’s continued IT growth and dependence, coupled with the budget constraints led the selection of the SmartRow solution from Emerson Network Power. The county improved availability while saving $80,000 in installation costs compared to a traditional data center design.
Consider an integrated approach, which provides a complete, rapid solution including power protection, cooling and monitoring.
Solutions: DCF™ and DCM™ enclosures, SmartRow™ and SmartMod™ infrastructures from Emerson Network Power.
Monitoring, Management and Service
Consolidate IT access with performance KVM switches. Deploy centralized monitoring and alarm management solution to ensure visibility and control of your critical systems.
Our local experts are available to answer questions and help you develop the right systems support solution. Visit our website and search for a local trusted advisor near you. EmersonNetworkPower.com
Battery issues are the single highest cause of UPS failure—a proactive battery monitoring system helps you protect your power chain. Depend on a local service organization that can guarantee response and total systems support. Utilize a sound preventive maintenance program to ensure availability and performance of your critical equipment Maintain your single-line diagrams to show how the electrical system is connected, improving safety and repair time.
Solutions: Avocent® High Performance KVM, Liebert SiteScan™, Alber® Battery Monitoring and Emerson Services.
While every precaution has been taken to ensure accuracy and completeness in this literature, Liebert Corporation assumes no responsibility, and disclaims all liability for damages resulting from use of this information or for any errors or omissions.© 2013 Liebert Corporation. All rights reserved throughout the world. Specifications subject to change without notice. All names and logos referred to herein are trade names, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. ® Liebert is a registered trademark of the Liebert Corporation. SL-24677 (R06/13)
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