Data center systems or subsystems that are preassembled in a factory are often described with terms like prefabricated, containerized, modular, skid-based, pod-based, mobile, portable, self-contained, all-in one, and more. There are, however, important distinctions between the various types of factory-built building blocks on the market. This paper proposes standard terminology for categorizing the types of prefabricated modular data centers, defines and compares their key attributes, and provides a framework for choosing the best approach(es) based on business requirements.
Many terms, with varying definitions and scopes, have been used to describe data center systems or subsystems that are pre-assembled in a factory. A partial list includes:
- Containerized
- Self-contained
- Modular
- Prefabricated
- Portable
- Mobile
- Pod (based)
- Skid (based)
These terms create confusion and lead to dysfunctional discussions because they overlap and are ambiguous in meaning.
A prefabricated modular data center is defined here in this paper as a data center that is:
- made up of at least one pre-engineered, factory-integrated, and pre-tested assembly of subsystems that have traditionally been installed separately onsite
- mounted on a skid or in an enclosure