Exin CDCS EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Specialist Exam Practice Test

Answer : D

Design changes during the implementation phase are generally allowed only when there is a strong business and/or technical justification. Changes at this stage can lead to delays, increased costs, or compromise design integrity. Thus, a rigorous assessment is required to ensure any modifications are essential and provide clear benefits or address critical issues.

Detailed Explanation:

Changes post-design freeze should be minimized to avoid scope creep and additional costs. However, if a technical issue arises that would affect operational goals, or a business need warrants modification, justified changes are permissible, following an impact assessment and approval process.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI project management guidelines recommend a controlled change management process during implementation, allowing changes only when they align with critical objectives or address unforeseen issues that affect the project's success.

Answer : B

A spirit level bar should not be used for leveling a raised floor, as measurement errors are likely to propagate from one pedestal to the next. Spirit levels can introduce cumulative errors, leading to uneven floors, particularly in large installations where precise leveling is critical.

Detailed Explanation:

Using a laser level or a precision leveling device is recommended to ensure accuracy across all floor tiles. Spirit levels, while adequate for short spans, can transfer small inaccuracies from one pedestal to another, which can cause alignment issues and floor instability over time.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI data center guidelines discourage the use of spirit levels for raised floors. Instead, they advocate for precision tools like laser levels that ensure consistency and accuracy in large-scale installations, aligning with best practices for raised floor construction.

Answer : C

The attenuation factor for shielding material is typically calculated using the formula A = 20 log (R / M). This equation provides the attenuation in decibels (dB), where R represents the measured electromagnetic field strength, and M is the maximum acceptable level. The logarithmic scale helps quantify how much the shielding reduces EMF levels relative to the maximum allowable value.

Detailed Explanation:

This formula calculates attenuation by comparing the measured value with the acceptable threshold, with the result expressed in decibels. A higher attenuation indicates more effective shielding material, essential for environments requiring robust EMF management.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI standards include the use of logarithmic formulas to evaluate attenuation levels, ensuring that shielding materials provide adequate reduction in EMF to protect sensitive equipment within data centers.

Answer : A

The server's repeated overheating despite adequate intake and exhaust temperatures suggests that dust buildup inside the server may be impeding heat transfer. Dust accumulation can obstruct airflow within the server, insulate components, and disrupt the convection-based cooling systems that regulate internal temperatures, leading to overheating and potential hardware failures.

Detailed Explanation:

While the intake and exhaust temperatures appear within acceptable ranges, internal dust can reduce airflow and impede cooling efficiency, causing internal components to overheat despite seemingly normal ambient conditions. Regular cleaning and maintenance are critical for preventing dust-related issues, especially in high-powered equipment like a 5kW server.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI emphasizes regular maintenance to prevent dust buildup in data center equipment. Dust can significantly impact cooling efficiency and lead to overheating, which underlines the importance of routine cleaning for optimal server performance.

Answer : B

In areas with frequent and extended power outages, continuous generators with at least an N+1 configuration are necessary to ensure consistent power availability. Continuous generators are designed for prolonged operation, making them suitable for scenarios where utility power is frequently unavailable, as in this case with outages exceeding 650 hours per year. An N+1 configuration ensures redundancy, which is critical for maintaining uptime in a high-availability data center.

Detailed Explanation:

Continuous generators provide reliable power over long durations, unlike standby generators, which are intended only for short-term use. The N+1 configuration ensures that there is always an additional generator available in case of failure, thus maintaining power supply even if one generator goes offline.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI best practices recommend continuous generators with redundancy for data centers located in areas with high power instability to maintain reliability and continuous operation.

Answer : C

The design and configuration of racks, particularly high-density and closed-circuit cooling racks, directly impact the fire suppression system design. Closed-circuit cooling racks, like blade-center racks, can affect airflow and potentially trap heat, influencing how fire suppression agents are distributed within the space. Therefore, it is essential to inform the fire suppression system supplier about the rack design to ensure effective coverage and proper agent distribution.

Detailed Explanation:

High-density racks can change how smoke and heat travel, which in turn affects fire detection and suppression. Closed racks with built-in cooling can isolate airflow, requiring adjustments in fire suppression design to ensure that suppression agents reach all necessary areas, including within enclosed spaces. The supplier may need to account for these factors to ensure proper protection coverage.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

The EPI Data Center Specialist training underscores that fire suppression systems must be tailored to the specific environmental characteristics of the data center. The design of racks, particularly high-density configurations, should always be considered to ensure that suppression agents can effectively control a fire, even in contained rack spaces.

Answer : A

In a hot/cold aisle configuration, placing down-flow air conditioners perpendicular to the cold aisle ensures that cool air is directed efficiently into the cold aisles where server intakes are located. This layout allows for optimal cooling performance by aligning the airflow directly with the equipment intakes, minimizing hot spots and enhancing cooling efficiency.

Detailed Explanation:

With a raised floor design, cold air from the air conditioners is supplied into the cold aisle, where server intakes are located. Positioning the air conditioning units perpendicular to the cold aisles ensures that cool air is delivered directly into these aisles, preventing air mixing and optimizing cooling. This setup takes full advantage of the airflow management strategy inherent to the hot/cold aisle configuration.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI guidelines on cooling emphasize that down-flow air conditioners should be positioned to maximize the effectiveness of cold aisle delivery, which improves cooling efficiency and helps maintain consistent temperatures across server racks.