Exin CDCP Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP) Exam Practice Test

The fire triangle is a simple model that illustrates the three elements a fire needs to ignite: heat, fuel, and an oxidizing agent (usually oxygen). A fire naturally occurs when the elementsare present and combined in the right mixture. A fire can be prevented or extinguished by removing any one of the elements in the fire triangle.

References: EPI Data Centre Professional (CDCP®) Preparation Guide, page 9; Fire triangle - Wikipedia; The Fire Triangle Explained - Fire Action

Glass door racks are a type of rack that have solid glass front doors and rear door heat exchangers (RDHx). RDHx are devices that use facility coolant to absorb heat from the exhaust air of the IT equipment and return cool air to the room. RDHx can be either passive or active, depending on the fan configuration. In general, IT hardware within the rack is air-cooled and the door heat exchanger uses facility coolant to absorb heat from exhaust air to return air to the facility at or near inlet air temperature to the rack. This rear door heat exchanger can either be a passive or active solution. When dealing with glass door racks, cool air is injected into the rack from the rear door in a downflow direction. This means that the cool air flows from the top to the bottom of the rack, following the natural convection of the hot air rising. This way, the cool air can reach all the IT equipment in the rack and prevent hot spots or overheating.

References: [SOLVED] Rack - Solid or Mesh front door? - Data Center IT] ChilledDoor, Rear Door Heat Exchanger | Data Center Cooling, ACS Door Heat Exchanger Requirements for Open Rack.

An ultrasonic humidifier is a type of cool mist humidifier that uses a metallic diaphragm that vibrates at high frequencies to create water droplets that are added to the air. A fan projects these droplets into the air as mist, which then evaporates and humidifies the room. This type of humidifier rapidly vibrates the water to create a fog or mist.

References: EPI Data Centre Training Framework, How Humidifiers Can Help Allergies, Humidifier Buying Guide: Pros and Cons of Different Types.

Mean time between failures (MTBF) is a measure of the reliability of a system or component. It represents the average time that a system or component will operate before it fails. The higher the MTBF, the more reliable the system or component is. MTBF is calculated by dividing the total time of operation by the number of failures that occur during that time. MTBF is used to compare the reliability of similar systems or components, and to help with maintenance planning, inventory management, and system design.

References: EPI Data Centre Training Framework, CDCP Preparation Guide, Reliability Metrics 101: Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)

Damaged brand perception is an example of an indirect cost because it is not directly related to a specific product or service, but rather to the overall reputation and image of the company. Damaged brand perception can result from various factors, such as poor quality, customer dissatisfaction, security breaches, or negative publicity. Damaged brandperception can affect the company’s ability to attract and retain customers, partners, and investors, and thus reduce its profitability and competitiveness.

References: EPI Data Centre Training Framework, Indirect Cost: Definition and Example, What Is Indirect Cost? Definition, Types and Examples.

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The requirement of Concurrently Maintainability becomes relevant starting from Rated-3, according to the Uptime Institute Tier Classification System1. Concurrently Maintainability means that any component or system in the data centre can be maintained or replaced without affecting the availability of the IT equipment. This requires having redundant capacity components and multiple independent distribution paths serving the IT equipment. Rated-3 data centres are designed to achieve Concurrently Maintainability and have a minimum uptime of 99.982%. Rated-4 data centres also have Concurrently Maintainability, but they also have Fault Tolerance, which means that they can withstand any single unplanned event without affecting the availability of the IT equipment. Rated-4 data centres have a minimum uptime of 99.995%. Rated-1 and Rated-2 data centres do not have Concurrently Maintainability, as they have only one distribution path serving the IT equipment and no redundant capacity components. Rated-1 data centres have a minimum uptime of 99.671% and Rated-2 data centres have a minimum uptime of 99.741%.

References:

1: Uptime Institute Tier Classification System2, page 1, section 1 2: Data Center Tiers Classification Explained: (Tier 1, 2, 3, 4)3, page 1, section 1 3: Data Center Tier Standards4, page 1, section 1

According to the CDCP® Preparation Guide, smoke detectors are the most common type of fire detection devices used in data centers, as they can detect a fire in its early stages and provide early warning to the occupants and authorities. Smoke detectors can be either spot-type or air-aspirating, depending on the design and goals of the data center. Spot-type detectors are inexpensive and simple, but may cause activation delay and false alarms. Air-aspirating detectors are more sensitive and reliable, but may require more maintenance and installation costs. Both types of detectors should be installed in accordance with the relevant standards and codes, such as NFPA 72 and EN 54.

References: CDCP® Preparation Guide, page 30-31. Evaluating Fire Detection Options For Data Centers. Fire Detection and Suppression Systems in a Data Center.

FM200 (HFC-227) is a clean agent fire suppression system that uses a high-pressure gas to extinguish fires by reducing the oxygen concentration and absorbing the heat. FM200 is stored in cylinders at pressures of up to 42 bar (600 psi) and is released through nozzles into the protected area. Because of the high pressure, the nozzles must be mounted with two brackets to prevent them from moving or breaking during discharge. The brackets must be securely attached to the ceiling or wall and aligned with the nozzle outlet. The nozzle outlet must also be free of any obstructions that could affect the discharge pattern or distribution.

References:

•EPI Data Centre Professional (CDCP®) Preparation Guide, page 32

•FSL-227 Technical Manual, page 10

•Firetrace ILP Manual, page 21

Cost of downtime is the total amount of money lost due to a data centre outage or disruption. It can be classified into two categories: direct and indirect. Direct costs are the immediate and measurable expenses incurred during or after an outage, such as lost revenue, lost productivity, recovery costs, compensation costs, penalties, etc. Indirect costs are the long-term and intangible impacts of an outage, such as reputation damage, customer dissatisfaction, loss of market share, legal liabilities, etc. Both direct and indirect costs can vary depending on the type, duration, and severity of the outage, as well as the industry, size, and location of the data centre.

References:

•EPI Data Centre Training Framework1

•EPI Data Centre Competence Framework2

•Understanding the Cost of Data Center Downtime3

•Uptime Institute’s 2022 Outage Analysis Finds Downtime Costs and Consequences Worsening

•[INFOGRAPHIC] The Cost of Downtime: 21 Stats You Need to Know

According to the IBM document on temperature and humidity design criteria1, the temperature and humidity values indicated on the display of the computer room air conditioner unit are the values measured at the intake of the air conditioner. This is because the intake is where the air conditioner draws the air from the computer room and cools and dehumidifies it before sending it back to the computer room. The display shows the current conditions of the computer room air, which are used to adjust the cooling and dehumidifying operations of the air conditioner. The values measured at the exhaust (outlet) of the air conditioner are not displayed, as they are not relevant for the computer room environment. The values measured at the front of the rack of the aisle the air conditioner is situated are also not displayed, as they may vary depending on the distance and location of the rack. The average value between the intake and exhaust (outlet) of the air conditioner is not displayed, as it does not reflect the actual conditions of the computer room air or the air conditioner performance.

References: 1: Temperature and humidity design criteria - IBM

The UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is a device that provides backup power to the ICT equipment in case of a power outage or a power quality issue. The UPS should be dedicated to the ICT equipment only, and not to other loads, such as lighting, cooling, or security systems. This is because connecting fluorescent lights to the same UPS as the ICT equipment can cause several problems, such as:

•Reducing the battery runtime of the UPS, which may not be enough to support the ICT equipment until the backup generator kicks in or the utility power is restored.

•Increasing the harmonic distortion of the UPS output, which can affect the performance and reliability of the ICT equipment and the UPS itself.

•Creating electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI), which can disrupt the communication and data transmission of the ICT equipment.

•Triggering false alarms or tripping the circuit breakers of the UPS, which can cause downtime or data loss.

Therefore, fluorescent lights should not be connected to the same UPS that supports the ICT equipment. Instead, they should be connected to a separate power source, such as the utility power, the backup generator, or a different UPS.

References:

1: CDCP Preparation Guide, page 17, section 2.3.1 2: Data Center Lighting Design Considerations3, page 1, section 3 4: Data Center Lighting Solutions5, page 1, section 1 6: Going beyond energy savings in data centers with LEDs7, page 1, section 2

MTBF stands for Mean Time Between Failures, and it is the arithmetic mean of time between the failing and the subsequent running of the system in a particular time period. MTBF is a measure of reliability that indicates how often a system or component fails during its operation. MTBF can be calculated by dividing the total operating time by the number of failures over a given period. For example, if a system operates for 1000 hours and experiences 5 failures, the MTBF is 1000/5 = 200 hours.

References: EPI Data Centre Training Framework, CDCP Preparation Guide, MTBF, MTTR, MTTF, MTTA: Understanding incident metrics - Atlassian

Sprinkler heads used in computer rooms activate at 57 °C (135 °F), which is the standard temperature rating for ordinary sprinklers. This is the temperature at which the heat-sensitive element of the sprinkler head, such as a glass bulb or a fusible link, breaks or melts, allowing water to flow from the sprinkler. Sprinkler heads are designed to activate only when exposed to a fire, not to ambient temperature fluctuations. Therefore, sprinkler heads should be installed at a sufficient distance from the heat sources, such as servers, racks, or ducts, to avoid accidental activation. Sprinkler heads should also be selected and installed in accordance with the relevant standards and codes, such as NFPA 13 and NFPA 75.

References:

1: CDCP Preparation Guide, page 24, section 2.4.3 2: Sprinkler Systems in Data Centers3, page 1, section 1 4: Data Center Fire Protection5, page 1, section 2 6: Data Center Sprinkler System Design7, page 1, section 1

The most damaging type of floor load for raised floor tiles in a data centre is the rolling load (RL), according to the CDCP Preparation Guide1 and various web sources234. A rolling load is the load that is applied by a moving object, such as a pallet jack, a forklift, or a rack on wheels. A rolling load can cause more stress and fatigue on the raised floor tiles than a static load, such as a concentrated load (CP) or a uniformly distributed load (UDL), because it creates dynamic forces and impacts that can crack, dent, or deform the tiles. Moreover, a rolling load can also damage the pedestals and stringers that support the tiles, and cause the tiles to become loose or misaligned. Therefore, when designing and installing a raised floor system, it is important to consider the maximum rolling load that the tiles can withstand, and to use appropriate materials and methods to enhance the strength and durability of the tiles. For example, some possible solutions include using steel or concrete-filled tiles, reinforcing the edges and corners of the tiles, and using locking or gravity-held systems to secure the tiles.

References:

1: CDCP Preparation Guide, page 23, section 2.4.2 2: Top 5 Considerations - Selecting a Data Center Raised Floor Tile5, page 1, section 1 3: Raised Floor Systems: Explained, Improved and Reinvented6, page 1, section 1 4: Raised Floor Systems: Common Problems and Solutions7, page 1, section 1

Shielded twisted pair cables (STP) are Ethernet cables that feature additional protection against electromagnetic interference from external sources, such as radio waves, microwaves, or other network cables. This is achieved by wrapping each pair of wires with a conductive shield, usually made of foil or braided wire, and then enclosing the entire cable with another shield layer. However, this shielding is not effective against low frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) from power cables, which can induce currents and voltages in the network cables and cause signal distortion or data loss. Low frequency EMF can only be reduced by increasing the distance between the power and network cables, or by using a tre-foil cable arrangement, which is a special configuration of three power cables twisted together to cancel out the magnetic fields they generate.

References: STP Cable: Your Shield Against Network Disturbances; What is Shielded Twisted Pair Cable? - Advantages, Disadvantages; Shielded vs. Unshielded Cables: What’s the Difference? - Cable Matters.

The current recommended temperature for ICT equipment as described in the ASHRAE TC 9.9 guideline is 18-27 C (64.4 - 80.6°F). This is the recommended range for the dry-bulb temperature at the inlet of the servers, which is the most critical parameter for ensuring the optimal performance and reliability of the ICT equipment. The recommended range is based on the thermal specifications of the majority of the ICT equipment in the market, as well as the energy efficiency and environmental considerations of the data centre cooling systems. The recommended range is suitable for Classes A1 to A4 of the ASHRAE thermal guideline classes, which cover different types and generations of ICT equipment.

References:

1: 2021 Equipment Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments - ASHRAE2, page 1, Table 2.1 3: ASHRAE TC9.9 Data Center Power Equipment Thermal Guidelines and Best Practices4, page 10, section 2.1 5: Does your Data Center Follow ASHRAE TC 9.9 Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments?6, page 1, section 1

A computer room air handling unit (CRAH) is a device that uses circulating chilled water to remove heat from the data center environment. A CRAH consists of a fan, a coil, and a filter. The fan draws the warm air from the data center and passes it through the coil, where the heat is transferred to the chilled water. The chilled water is supplied by a chiller or a cooling tower, and the cooled air is returned to the data center. A CRAH is different from a computer room air conditioning unit (CRAC), which uses a refrigerant instead of chilled water to cool the air.

References:

•EPI Data Centre Professional (CDCP®) Preparation Guide, page 36

•Chilled Water Systems: Applications and Common Uses

•The Principles of Basic Refrigeration: What is a chiller?

Escape route signage should be placed at every door providing a pathway to the exit or the assembly area, according to the CDCP Preparation Guide1 and the EU Safety/Health Signs Directive2. Escape route signage is used to guide the occupants of the data centre fromwherever they are in the building, via a place of relative safety (the escape route), to the place of ultimate safety (the assembly area). Escape route signage should not be limited to only emergency escape doors or the main entrance of the data centre building, as these may not be accessible or visible from all locations. Escape route signage should also not include doors that do not lead to the exit or the assembly area, such as riser doors, doors of storage closets, or doors of other rooms, as these may confuse or mislead the occupants. Escape route signage should be placed at every door that provides a pathway to the exit or the assembly area, and should indicate the direction and distance of the escape route using pictograms, arrows, and words. Escape route signage should also be designed and installed in accordance with the relevant standards and codes, such as BS 5499 and ISO 7010.

References:

1: CDCP Preparation Guide, page 24, section 2.4.3 2: EU Safety/Health Signs Directive3, page 1, section 1

Availability is the degree to which a system, product or component is operational and accessible when required for use. It is one of the attributes of reliability, which is the ability of a system or component to perform its required functions under stated conditions for a specified period of time. Availability can be calculated as the ratio of the expected value of the uptime (the time when the system is functional) to the total time (uptime plus downtime) of a system or component. Availability can also be influenced by factors such as maintainability, fault tolerance, redundancy, diagnostics, and logistics.

References: EPI Data Centre Professional (CDCP®) Preparation Guide, page 8; Availability - Wikipedia; Reliability - ISO 25000.

According to the CDCP® Preparation Guide, a natural disaster is a catastrophic event that is caused by natural forces and has a significant impact on human lives, property, and environment. Hurricanes are examples of natural disasters, as they are powerful storms that form over warm ocean waters and produce strong winds, heavy rain, storm surges, and flooding. Grid failure, blackouts, and human error are not natural disasters, but rather man-made or technological disasters that result from failures or errors in human systems or activities.

References: CDCP® Preparation Guide, page 9. Natural Disaster Readiness for Data Centers. EM-DAT - The international disaster database. PDC Global - Pacific Disaster Center.

VESDA (Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus) or HSSD (High Sensitivity Smoke Detection) systems are the fastest smoke sensors among the options listed. These systems use a network of pipes to draw air samples from the protected area and analyze them using a laser-based detection chamber. VESDA/HSSD systems can detect smoke at very low concentrations, typically in the range of 0.005 to 20 percent obscuration per meter. This means they can provide early warning of a fire before it becomes visible or spreads. VESDA/HSSD systems are ideal for data centers and other critical facilities that require high levels of fire protection and minimal downtime.

References: VESDA Smoke Detection Systems - Xtralis, HSSD Smoke Detection Systems - Fire Protection Online, Smoke Detection in Data Centers - Siemens.