Re: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Fletcher Kittredge]

Mel;

You are absolutely right. I should have been more specific in my
description of the problem.

On Thu, Jan 31, 2019 at 1:27 PM Mel Beckman  wrote:

> Fletcher,
>
> I don’t think that’s true. I find no specs on fiber dB loss being a
> function of ambient temperature. I do find fiber optic application data
> sheets for extreme temperature applications of -500F and +500F
> (spacecraft). You’d think if temperature affected fiber transmission
> characteristics, they’d see it in space.
>
> What you likely were seeing was connector loss, owing either to improper
> installation, incorrect materials, or unheated regen enclosures.
>
> Insertion loss (IL) failures, for instance, in the cold are a direct
> result of cable termination component shrinkage. That’s why regen and patch
> enclosures need to be heated as well as cooled.
>
> All fiber termination components have stated temperature limits. As
> temperatures approach -40F, the thermoplastic components in a
> cable's breakout, jacketing, and fiber fanout sections shrink more than the
> optical glass. Ruggedized connectors help somewhat, but the rule is that
> you can’t let optical connectors and assemblies get really cold (or really
> hot).
>
> A typical spec for a single-mode OSP connector is:
>
> Operating -30C (-22F) to +60C (+140F)
>
> The range for the corresponding Single Mode fiber is:
>
> Operating -55C (-67F) to +70C (+158F)
> Storage -60C (-76F) to +70C (+158F)
> Installation -30C (-22F) to +50C (+122F)
>
> All professional outside plant engineers know these requirements. So if
> you’re seeing failures, somebody is breaking a rule.
>
>  -mel
>
>
> On Jan 30, 2019, at 3:05 PM, Fletcher Kittredge  wrote:
>
>
> Cold changes the transmission characteristics of fiber. At one point we
> were renting some old dark fiber from the local telephone company in
> northern Maine. When it would get below -15%-degree F the dB would get bad
> enough that the link using that fiber would stop working. The telephone
> company was selling us dark fiber because regulation required them to. They
> refused to give us another fiber nor inspect/repair. They took the position
> they were required to sell us fiber, not working fiber.
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 30, 2019 at 11:41 AM Mark Tinka  wrote:
>
>> For anyone running IP networks in the Midwest, are you having to do
>> anything special to keep your networks up?
>>
>> For the data centres, is this cold front a chance to reduce air
>> conditioning costs, or is it actually straining the infrastructure?
>>
>> I'm curious, from a +27-degree C summer's day here in Johannesburg.
>>
>> Mark.
>>
>
>
> --
> Fletcher Kittredge
> GWI
> 207-602-1134
> www.gwi.net
>
>
>

-- 
Fletcher Kittredge
GWI
207-602-1134
www.gwi.net

Re: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Tom Beecher]

“Sold you fiber , not working fiber” is at the same time amazing lawerying
and insanely facepalmy. :)

On Thu, Jan 31, 2019 at 11:48 Fletcher Kittredge  wrote:

>
> Cold changes the transmission characteristics of fiber. At one point we
> were renting some old dark fiber from the local telephone company in
> northern Maine. When it would get below -15%-degree F the dB would get bad
> enough that the link using that fiber would stop working. The telephone
> company was selling us dark fiber because regulation required them to. They
> refused to give us another fiber nor inspect/repair. They took the position
> they were required to sell us fiber, not working fiber.
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 30, 2019 at 11:41 AM Mark Tinka  wrote:
>
>> For anyone running IP networks in the Midwest, are you having to do
>> anything special to keep your networks up?
>>
>> For the data centres, is this cold front a chance to reduce air
>> conditioning costs, or is it actually straining the infrastructure?
>>
>> I'm curious, from a +27-degree C summer's day here in Johannesburg.
>>
>> Mark.
>>
>
>
> --
> Fletcher Kittredge
> GWI
> 207-602-1134
> www.gwi.net
>

RE: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Colin Stanners (lists)]

Out here in Manitoba we use unheated/no-electricity OSP fiber patch panel 
pedestals in some locations, those work without issue down to the occasional 
-40. Note that that’s using all high-quality components.

 

For Fletcher’s case, it’s also possible that:

-there had been water intrusion in a splice case or cable on the way – but then 
that tends to cause complete failure, either on the first occasion or not long 
after, and not repeating temperature-dependent fade.

-there’s a bad fusion splice on the way whose characteristics are affected by 
temperature.

 

My first step in such a case would be to OTDR the line (renting an OTDR if we 
were a company that didn’t own one) to see approximately where the issue is and 
to get an idea what kind of issue it is – Fletcher, I guess that your company 
did not do so at that time?

 

 

From: NANOG [mailto:nanog-boun...@nanog.org] On Behalf Of Mel Beckman
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2019 12:26 PM
To: Fletcher Kittredge 
Cc: North American Network Operators' Group 
Subject: Re: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

 

Fletcher, 

 

I don’t think that’s true. I find no specs on fiber dB loss being a function of 
ambient temperature. I do find fiber optic application data sheets for extreme 
temperature applications of -500F and +500F (spacecraft). You’d think if 
temperature affected fiber transmission characteristics, they’d see it in space.

 

What you likely were seeing was connector loss, owing either to improper 
installation, incorrect materials, or unheated regen enclosures.

 

Insertion loss (IL) failures, for instance, in the cold are a direct result of 
cable termination component shrinkage. That’s why regen and patch enclosures 
need to be heated as well as cooled. 


All fiber termination components have stated temperature limits. As 
temperatures approach -40F, the thermoplastic components in a cable's breakout, 
jacketing, and fiber fanout sections shrink more than the optical glass. 
Ruggedized connectors help somewhat, but the rule is that you can’t let optical 
connectors and assemblies get really cold (or really hot).

 

A typical spec for a single-mode OSP connector is:

 

Operating -30C (-22F) to +60C (+140F)

 

The range for the corresponding Single Mode fiber is:

 

Operating -55C (-67F) to +70C (+158F)
Storage -60C (-76F) to +70C (+158F)
Installation -30C (-22F) to +50C (+122F)

All professional outside plant engineers know these requirements. So if you’re 
seeing failures, somebody is breaking a rule.

 

 -mel

 

 

On Jan 30, 2019, at 3:05 PM, Fletcher Kittredge mailto:fkitt...@gwi.net> > wrote:

 

 

Cold changes the transmission characteristics of fiber. At one point we were 
renting some old dark fiber from the local telephone company in northern Maine. 
When it would get below -15%-degree F the dB would get bad enough that the link 
using that fiber would stop working. The telephone company was selling us dark 
fiber because regulation required them to. They refused to give us another 
fiber nor inspect/repair. They took the position they were required to sell us 
fiber, not working fiber.

 

 

On Wed, Jan 30, 2019 at 11:41 AM Mark Tinka mailto:mark.ti...@seacom.mu> > wrote:

For anyone running IP networks in the Midwest, are you having to do anything 
special to keep your networks up?

For the data centres, is this cold front a chance to reduce air conditioning 
costs, or is it actually straining the infrastructure?

I'm curious, from a +27-degree C summer's day here in Johannesburg.

Mark.




 

-- 

Fletcher Kittredge
GWI
207-602-1134

www.gwi.net <http://www.gwi.net/> 

 

Re: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Mel Beckman]

Fletcher,

I don’t think that’s true. I find no specs on fiber dB loss being a function of 
ambient temperature. I do find fiber optic application data sheets for extreme 
temperature applications of -500F and +500F (spacecraft). You’d think if 
temperature affected fiber transmission characteristics, they’d see it in space.

What you likely were seeing was connector loss, owing either to improper 
installation, incorrect materials, or unheated regen enclosures.

Insertion loss (IL) failures, for instance, in the cold are a direct result of 
cable termination component shrinkage. That’s why regen and patch enclosures 
need to be heated as well as cooled.

All fiber termination components have stated temperature limits. As 
temperatures approach -40F, the thermoplastic components in a cable's breakout, 
jacketing, and fiber fanout sections shrink more than the optical glass. 
Ruggedized connectors help somewhat, but the rule is that you can’t let optical 
connectors and assemblies get really cold (or really hot).

A typical spec for a single-mode OSP connector is:

Operating -30C (-22F) to +60C (+140F)

The range for the corresponding Single Mode fiber is:

Operating -55C (-67F) to +70C (+158F)
Storage -60C (-76F) to +70C (+158F)
Installation -30C (-22F) to +50C (+122F)

All professional outside plant engineers know these requirements. So if you’re 
seeing failures, somebody is breaking a rule.

 -mel


On Jan 30, 2019, at 3:05 PM, Fletcher Kittredge 
mailto:fkitt...@gwi.net>> wrote:


Cold changes the transmission characteristics of fiber. At one point we were 
renting some old dark fiber from the local telephone company in northern Maine. 
When it would get below -15%-degree F the dB would get bad enough that the link 
using that fiber would stop working. The telephone company was selling us dark 
fiber because regulation required them to. They refused to give us another 
fiber nor inspect/repair. They took the position they were required to sell us 
fiber, not working fiber.


On Wed, Jan 30, 2019 at 11:41 AM Mark Tinka 
mailto:mark.ti...@seacom.mu>> wrote:
For anyone running IP networks in the Midwest, are you having to do anything 
special to keep your networks up?

For the data centres, is this cold front a chance to reduce air conditioning 
costs, or is it actually straining the infrastructure?

I'm curious, from a +27-degree C summer's day here in Johannesburg.

Mark.


--
Fletcher Kittredge
GWI
207-602-1134
www.gwi.net

Re: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Fletcher Kittredge]

Cold changes the transmission characteristics of fiber. At one point we
were renting some old dark fiber from the local telephone company in
northern Maine. When it would get below -15%-degree F the dB would get bad
enough that the link using that fiber would stop working. The telephone
company was selling us dark fiber because regulation required them to. They
refused to give us another fiber nor inspect/repair. They took the position
they were required to sell us fiber, not working fiber.


On Wed, Jan 30, 2019 at 11:41 AM Mark Tinka  wrote:

> For anyone running IP networks in the Midwest, are you having to do
> anything special to keep your networks up?
>
> For the data centres, is this cold front a chance to reduce air
> conditioning costs, or is it actually straining the infrastructure?
>
> I'm curious, from a +27-degree C summer's day here in Johannesburg.
>
> Mark.
>


-- 
Fletcher Kittredge
GWI
207-602-1134
www.gwi.net

RE: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Hiers, David]

Excessive cold killed us once when the air exit vents froze shut.


From: NANOG [mailto:nanog-bounces+david.hiers=cdk@nanog.org] On Behalf Of 
Naslund, Steve
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2019 9:43 AM
To: nanog@nanog.org
Subject: RE: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

Ironically you don’t really save a lot of energy when it’s this cold because 
the loops are running at high speed and the humidification coils are working 
overtime to keep the RH up in the room.

People think we can bring in all the outside cold we want but the issue then is 
humidity stability.

Steven Naslund
Chicago IL

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and any attachments from your system.

Re: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Matthew Petach]

On Wed, Jan 30, 2019 at 9:07 AM Christopher Morrow 
wrote:

> And here I always figured it was bespoke knit caps for all the packets in
> cold-weather climes?
> learn something new every day! (also, now I wonder what the people who
> told me they were too busy knitting caps are ACTUALLY doing??)
>

Unfortunately, they're knitting *DATA* caps.

;-P

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Matt

RE: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[bzs]

Re: Fire

Also fire dept response.

I've ridden with the Boston Fire Dept, extreme cold is a major PITA,
hydrants freeze, you have to work in it going from the heat of the
fire to sub-zero air temps over and over, all while getting soaking
wet, and wind-chill is certainly a factor.

There were always cautionary stories about some firefighter having a
heart attack struggling to get a frozen hydrant open. Whether factual
or not I think it makes a point, no water no firefighting in general.

I could tell you about the fire boats in February...sometimes you need
them.

I just saw a news spot (I believe Chicago) where they had to raise to
multiple alarms on a fairly simple tho working house fire just so they
had enough firefighters to cycle them through a warming truck (I don't
remember any warming truck in Boston tho you could go sit in a truck
cab :-))

Which means thinner coverage for other areas.

-- 
-Barry Shein

Software Tool & Die| b...@theworld.com | http://www.TheWorld.com
Purveyors to the Trade | Voice: +1 617-STD-WRLD   | 800-THE-WRLD
The World: Since 1989  | A Public Information Utility | *oo*

Re: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Tom Beecher]

Well said. The electrical load shifts, hydraulic systems, airflows
constrained by ice cover, etc, etc, etc. All kinds of things being asked to
do stuff outside or at the edge of specifications.

Hug your local facilities guys when these things happen. (Or bring them
booze.)

On Wed, Jan 30, 2019 at 12:58 PM Naslund, Steve 
wrote:

> >And apparently fire. I wasn’t going to chime in but one of my >providers
> *just* alerted us to an electrical fire in a Minneapolis pop >causing
> loads to failover to ups. Unknown whether weather >conditions contributed
> to the incident.
>
>
>
> Yes, in Chicago we will see an increase in home fires because heating
> systems are being pushed to their limits and people tend to do stupid
> things like run unattended space heaters and try to thaw frozen stuff in
> crazy ways.  In a datacenter you might be pushing electrical loads while
> external electrical components are stressed with temperature.  I have seen
> transformer fires caused by the oil inside not circulating correctly.  You
> end up with hot and cold zones in them.
>
>
>
> Steven Naslund
>
> Chicago IL
>
>

RE: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Naslund, Steve]

>And apparently fire. I wasn’t going to chime in but one of my >providers 
>*just* alerted us to an electrical fire in a Minneapolis pop >causing loads to 
>failover to ups. Unknown whether weather >conditions contributed to the 
>incident.

Yes, in Chicago we will see an increase in home fires because heating systems 
are being pushed to their limits and people tend to do stupid things like run 
unattended space heaters and try to thaw frozen stuff in crazy ways.  In a 
datacenter you might be pushing electrical loads while external electrical 
components are stressed with temperature.  I have seen transformer fires caused 
by the oil inside not circulating correctly.  You end up with hot and cold 
zones in them.

Steven Naslund
Chicago IL

RE: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Naslund, Steve]

Ironically you don’t really save a lot of energy when it’s this cold because 
the loops are running at high speed and the humidification coils are working 
overtime to keep the RH up in the room.

People think we can bring in all the outside cold we want but the issue then is 
humidity stability.

Steven Naslund
Chicago IL

Re: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Mark Tinka]

On 30/Jan/19 19:37, Naslund, Steve wrote:

>
>  
>
> A good HVAC team is critical because we have noted that the building
> management systems often are not flexible enough to automatically deal
> with super extremes and require some human intervention to tell them
> to do things like run heat and cooling simultaneously.  Other actions
> like closing down louvers on evaporators may or may not be automated
> depending on your systems.  If any part of the system does fail in
> these conditions you have to move super quick or you could get serious
> damage fast.  Our biggest monitoring points are flow rate/pressure
> (which could indicate a freeze up beginning or a pump failing), output
> and return temp on the loops.
>

This was one of the things I was concerned about, fluids going smudgy or
just simply freezing up...

Mark.

Re: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Paul Zugnoni via NANOG]

And apparently fire. I wasn’t going to chime in but one of my providers
*just* alerted us to an electrical fire in a Minneapolis pop causing loads
to failover to ups. Unknown whether weather conditions contributed to the
incident. PZ

On Wed, Jan 30, 2019 at 09:25 Naslund, Steve  wrote:

> >To the 'infrastructure' question, I think the biggest concerns would >be
> power related. Although we have a DC in Buffalo that is cooled >on
> ambient outside air that has the opposite problem ; it's TOO cold >at the
> moment, so we are cycling most of the hot server exhaust >back into the
> computer rooms to maintain temperatures.
>
>
>
> Exactly what he said.  We actually run cooling and supplemental heating in
> extreme cold.  We need to keep the chiller pulling heat into itself and
> pumps moving on high to keep the outdoor components from freezing up.
> During the summer you might run close to or slightly below freezing on the
> coolant loops but in these conditions you cannot run that low a temp
> because things will freeze up before the coolant returns.  We also have to
> keep the room reasonably warm (50F +).  You also need to watch out for fast
> temp excursions to keep humidity under control.
>
>
>
> The wind speed does make some difference since it is like a fan on your
> evaporator pulling heat out of the cooling loops faster than still air will.
>
>
>
> Steven Naslund
>
> Chicago IL
>
-- 
PZ
Head of Datacenter and Network Infrastructure, Wish
p...@wish.com +1-650-313-3458

RE: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Naslund, Steve]

>Exactly what he said.  We actually run cooling and supplemental heating >in 
>extreme cold.  We need to keep the chiller pulling heat into itself and >pumps 
>moving on high to keep the outdoor components from freezing >up.  During the 
>summer you might run close to or slightly below freezing >on the coolant loops 
>but in these conditions you cannot run that low a >temp because things will 
>freeze up before the coolant returns.  We also >have to keep the room 
>reasonably warm (50F +).  You also need to watch >out for fast temp excursions 
>to keep humidity under control.

A good HVAC team is critical because we have noted that the building management 
systems often are not flexible enough to automatically deal with super extremes 
and require some human intervention to tell them to do things like run heat and 
cooling simultaneously.  Other actions like closing down louvers on evaporators 
may or may not be automated depending on your systems.  If any part of the 
system does fail in these conditions you have to move super quick or you could 
get serious damage fast.  Our biggest monitoring points are flow rate/pressure 
(which could indicate a freeze up beginning or a pump failing), output and 
return temp on the loops.

Steven Naslund
Chicago IL

RE: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Naslund, Steve]

>To the 'infrastructure' question, I think the biggest concerns would >be power 
>related. Although we have a DC in Buffalo that is cooled >on ambient outside 
>air that has the opposite problem ; it's TOO cold >at the moment, so we are 
>cycling most of the hot server exhaust >back into the computer rooms to 
>maintain temperatures.

Exactly what he said.  We actually run cooling and supplemental heating in 
extreme cold.  We need to keep the chiller pulling heat into itself and pumps 
moving on high to keep the outdoor components from freezing up.  During the 
summer you might run close to or slightly below freezing on the coolant loops 
but in these conditions you cannot run that low a temp because things will 
freeze up before the coolant returns.  We also have to keep the room reasonably 
warm (50F +).  You also need to watch out for fast temp excursions to keep 
humidity under control.

The wind speed does make some difference since it is like a fan on your 
evaporator pulling heat out of the cooling loops faster than still air will.

Steven Naslund
Chicago IL

RE: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Naslund, Steve]

The main issue is infrastructure like power, cable damage, and heating/cooling 
systems.

Power lines tend to go down because anything weak becomes brittle and any 
accident involving a pole tends to cause them to break rather than absorb 
impact.  Also, conduits and manholes that normally might be above freezing 
underground can have standing water freeze breaking splice cases and such.

Large chiller plants need to be run at higher temperatures and speeds to keep 
any outdoor components from freezing up.

Of course, repairs on anything outdoors tend to take a lot longer to resolve.  
Anything that requires digging might be near impossible in these conditions.

So far though in my area (Chicago) my carriers AT, Comcast, Cogent, and Level 
3 all seem to be fine so far.  Our current temp is -18.  Wind chill reports at 
-50 to -60 depending where you are.

Steven Naslund
Chicago IL

From: NANOG  On Behalf Of Mark Tinka
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2019 10:38 AM
To: North American Network Operators' Group 
Subject: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

For anyone running IP networks in the Midwest, are you having to do anything 
special to keep your networks up?

For the data centres, is this cold front a chance to reduce air conditioning 
costs, or is it actually straining the infrastructure?

I'm curious, from a +27-degree C summer's day here in Johannesburg.

Mark.

Re: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Tom Beecher]

To be fair, reporting the the wind chill factor is very meaningful for
health and safety reasons almost everywhere so proper warning is given
about people spending time outside. Minneapolis, and the bigger Canadian
cities have those inside walkways and pedestrian pathways, but they're not
that common elsewhere. I don't think Chicago does for example, and we don't
have that here in Buffalo. Contrary to the rumors, 0F with -40F wind chills
are NOT very common around here.

People need to be warned to take this weather seriously. You might be used
to it, but not everyone in a native that can say that.

To the 'infrastructure' question, I think the biggest concerns would be
power related. Although we have a DC in Buffalo that is cooled on ambient
outside air that has the opposite problem ; it's TOO cold at the moment, so
we are cycling most of the hot server exhaust back into the computer rooms
to maintain temperatures.

On Wed, Jan 30, 2019 at 11:52 AM Mel Beckman  wrote:

> Being a Minnesota native, I can tell you that while it is indeed cold,
> this is nothing new i the Great White North :)  I am amaze a how
> consistently the media overplays the severity of Midwest cold weather as
> some kind of unique phenomenon. They amplify this by reporting the
> wind-chill factor, which is the “what it feels like” equivalent in a cold
> and windy environment. But equipment feels nothing, so windchill is
> irrelevant.
>
> For example, Minneapolis is -20F, but the news media instead reports “-60F
> wind chill”, which, while dramatic, is not meaningful for most purposes. I
> grew up in Minnesota with -30F and lower quite common, and we walked to
> school in those temperatures. You just have to dress well. Minneapolis is
> paved with tunnels and heated skyways to eliminate most outdoor walking
> downtown.
>
> As far as networks go, none of the ISPs I know of do anything different
> than anywhere else in the country. Everyone has backup power. It’s already
> common practice everywhere to exploit cooler winter ambient temperatures to
> reduce HVAC requirements, so that’s not new either. But it gets as hot in
> the Midwest in our summer as it is in SA for you now, so everyone must
> still build out HVAC capacity to cover the hottest days.
>
>  -mel beckman
>
> On Jan 30, 2019, at 8:40 AM, Mark Tinka  wrote:
>
> For anyone running IP networks in the Midwest, are you having to do
> anything special to keep your networks up?
>
> For the data centres, is this cold front a chance to reduce air
> conditioning costs, or is it actually straining the infrastructure?
>
> I'm curious, from a +27-degree C summer's day here in Johannesburg.
>
> Mark.
>
>

Re: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Christopher Morrow]

And here I always figured it was bespoke knit caps for all the packets in
cold-weather climes?
learn something new every day! (also, now I wonder what the people who told
me they were too busy knitting caps are ACTUALLY doing??)

On Wed, Jan 30, 2019 at 8:55 AM Bryan Holloway  wrote:

> Approximately 3 hrs ago we lost B-feed at Minneapolis Cologix.
>
> Apparently the local utility requested that they move one side to
> generator due to the weather and high-utilization, and the ATS failed.
>
> But we're up ...
>
>
> On 1/30/19 10:50 AM, Mel Beckman wrote:
> > Being a Minnesota native, I can tell you that while it is indeed cold,
> > this is nothing new i the Great White North :)  I am amaze a how
> > consistently the media overplays the severity of Midwest cold weather as
> > some kind of unique phenomenon. They amplify this by reporting the
> > wind-chill factor, which is the “what it feels like” equivalent in a
> > cold and windy environment. But equipment feels nothing, so windchill is
> > irrelevant.
> >
> > For example, Minneapolis is -20F, but the news media instead reports
> > “-60F wind chill”, which, while dramatic, is not meaningful for most
> > purposes. I grew up in Minnesota with -30F and lower quite common, and
> > we walked to school in those temperatures. You just have to dress well.
> > Minneapolis is paved with tunnels and heated skyways to eliminate most
> > outdoor walking downtown.
> >
> > As far as networks go, none of the ISPs I know of do anything different
> > than anywhere else in the country. Everyone has backup power. It’s
> > already common practice everywhere to exploit cooler winter ambient
> > temperatures to reduce HVAC requirements, so that’s not new either. But
> > it gets as hot in the Midwest in our summer as it is in SA for you now,
> > so everyone must still build out HVAC capacity to cover the hottest days.
> >
> >   -mel beckman
> >
> > On Jan 30, 2019, at 8:40 AM, Mark Tinka  > > wrote:
> >
> >> For anyone running IP networks in the Midwest, are you having to do
> >> anything special to keep your networks up?
> >>
> >> For the data centres, is this cold front a chance to reduce air
> >> conditioning costs, or is it actually straining the infrastructure?
> >>
> >> I'm curious, from a +27-degree C summer's day here in Johannesburg.
> >>
> >> Mark.
>

Re: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Bryan Holloway]

Approximately 3 hrs ago we lost B-feed at Minneapolis Cologix.

Apparently the local utility requested that they move one side to 
generator due to the weather and high-utilization, and the ATS failed.


But we're up ...


On 1/30/19 10:50 AM, Mel Beckman wrote:
Being a Minnesota native, I can tell you that while it is indeed cold, 
this is nothing new i the Great White North :)  I am amaze a how 
consistently the media overplays the severity of Midwest cold weather as 
some kind of unique phenomenon. They amplify this by reporting the 
wind-chill factor, which is the “what it feels like” equivalent in a 
cold and windy environment. But equipment feels nothing, so windchill is 
irrelevant.


For example, Minneapolis is -20F, but the news media instead reports 
“-60F wind chill”, which, while dramatic, is not meaningful for most 
purposes. I grew up in Minnesota with -30F and lower quite common, and 
we walked to school in those temperatures. You just have to dress well. 
Minneapolis is paved with tunnels and heated skyways to eliminate most 
outdoor walking downtown.


As far as networks go, none of the ISPs I know of do anything different 
than anywhere else in the country. Everyone has backup power. It’s 
already common practice everywhere to exploit cooler winter ambient 
temperatures to reduce HVAC requirements, so that’s not new either. But 
it gets as hot in the Midwest in our summer as it is in SA for you now, 
so everyone must still build out HVAC capacity to cover the hottest days.


  -mel beckman

On Jan 30, 2019, at 8:40 AM, Mark Tinka > wrote:


For anyone running IP networks in the Midwest, are you having to do 
anything special to keep your networks up?


For the data centres, is this cold front a chance to reduce air 
conditioning costs, or is it actually straining the infrastructure?


I'm curious, from a +27-degree C summer's day here in Johannesburg.

Mark.

Re: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Mel Beckman]

Being a Minnesota native, I can tell you that while it is indeed cold, this is 
nothing new i the Great White North :)  I am amaze a how consistently the media 
overplays the severity of Midwest cold weather as some kind of unique 
phenomenon. They amplify this by reporting the wind-chill factor, which is the 
“what it feels like” equivalent in a cold and windy environment. But equipment 
feels nothing, so windchill is irrelevant.

For example, Minneapolis is -20F, but the news media instead reports “-60F wind 
chill”, which, while dramatic, is not meaningful for most purposes. I grew up 
in Minnesota with -30F and lower quite common, and we walked to school in those 
temperatures. You just have to dress well. Minneapolis is paved with tunnels 
and heated skyways to eliminate most outdoor walking downtown.

As far as networks go, none of the ISPs I know of do anything different than 
anywhere else in the country. Everyone has backup power. It’s already common 
practice everywhere to exploit cooler winter ambient temperatures to reduce 
HVAC requirements, so that’s not new either. But it gets as hot in the Midwest 
in our summer as it is in SA for you now, so everyone must still build out HVAC 
capacity to cover the hottest days.

 -mel beckman

On Jan 30, 2019, at 8:40 AM, Mark Tinka 
mailto:mark.ti...@seacom.mu>> wrote:

For anyone running IP networks in the Midwest, are you having to do anything 
special to keep your networks up?

For the data centres, is this cold front a chance to reduce air conditioning 
costs, or is it actually straining the infrastructure?

I'm curious, from a +27-degree C summer's day here in Johannesburg.

Mark.

Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

[Mark Tinka]

For anyone running IP networks in the Midwest, are you having to do
anything special to keep your networks up?

For the data centres, is this cold front a chance to reduce air
conditioning costs, or is it actually straining the infrastructure?

I'm curious, from a +27-degree C summer's day here in Johannesburg.

Mark.