POD Architecture^®

A True Modular Design

Digital Realty Trust’s one of a kind POD Architecture^® has been developed based on the experience we have gained through the construction of over $2.5 Billion worth of data centres globally. The POD Architecture^® enables Digital Realty Trust to use a modular methodology to build-out raised floor data centre space using standard power and cooling building blocks for cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency and design flexibility.

A Modular Approach

Rather than building out large data centre spaces all at once, the POD Architecture^® is a 5th generation design that uses a modular approach that enables Digital Realty Trust to build out our data centres in 8 – 12,000sq ft (US) and 500 - 800m² (international) "PODs".

The POD Architecture^® incorporates natural power and mechanical breakpoints and uses standard bill of materials (BOM) per POD that includes:

• Generators
• Switchboards
• Transformer

Each component has been selected has been selected to operate at peak efficiency resulting in:

• Maximised cost effectiveness
• Efficient power usage ensuring green operations
• Full 2N electrical redundancy
• N+1 main mechanical plant
• Perhaps, most important each POD has it’s own discrete – rather than shared mechanical and electrical backplane. Many competitors use a shared backplane that introduces the risk that the failure of one attached data centre will bring down all attached units.

Accelerated Delivery

The POD Architecture’s^® combination of standard components and incremental methodologiy dramatically reduces the time required for Digital Realty Trust to complete the construction of each 8 – 12,000 sq ft space.

Typically completed in 4-7 months versus 24 month industry average, POD components are purchased by Digital Realty Trust using volume purchase agreements that:

• Eliminate long lead times for major components
• Ensure that components are available when needed