Data centre energy consumption cut using mathematics

A new mathematical model developed by researchers at the University of Sydney could be used to cut power consumption at data centres and managed services facilities by 50 per cent, it has been claimed.

The Energy Conscious Scheduling (ECS) algorithm was developed and patented by Dr Young Choon Lee and Professor Albert Zomaya.

Working at the university's Centre for Distributed and High Performance Computing, the scientists created the algorithm with the hope of commercialising it by 2011.

"The growing popularity of cloud computing will help IT managers reduce data centre energy costs, but more research needs to be done before large organisations can fully entrust their precious data in cloud technology," says Professor Zomaya.

"ECS will work well on cloud systems as they mature but will give a more immediate means for organisations to reduce their data centre's energy consumption," he added.

According to IT industry expert Srikant Chakrapani, the use of data storage outsourcing is part of a bigger trend for improving energy efficiency in the sector.

Written by Mark Hainsby