Modular data center testing

A method for functionally testing components of modular data centers that are being manufactured, the method comprising:

• determining one or more functional tests for quality assurance of an environmental control system (ECS) that are specified for a selected module from among an information technology pre-assembled component (ITPAC) module and an environmental system (ES) module that are configured for being coupled together for cooling of heat-generating equipment of the ITPAC module at a deployed location for operational use as a modular data center (MDC);
• and
• for each of the one or more functional tests:
• identifying, by a test controller, at least one input signal value associated with the unselected module;
• emulating, via a communication test cable connected between the selected module and the test controller, the identified at least one input signal value;
• determining, via the communication test cable, any response by the selected module to the at least one input signal value;
• comparing the determined response to an expected response contained in the test application;
• and
• generating and outputting test data based on the comparison.

A method for testing and separately deploying components of a modular data center (MDC), the method comprising:

• providing a volumetric container of an information technology pre-assembled component (ITPAC) module that has mounting provisions for heat-generating equipment that require cooling by an environmental system (ES) module that is physically and electrically coupled to the ITPAC module at a deployed location;
• installing a portion of an environmental control system (ECS) in the ITPAC module that provides the cooling for the heat-generating equipment and is managed by an ECS controller positioned in at least one of the ITPAC module and the ES module and responsive to sensor inputs to determine environmental requirements of the ITPAC module to select an environmental operating mode of the ES module;
• providing a communication test cable configured to carry sensor and control signals for operation of the ECS distributed between the ITPAC module and the ES module;
• determining, by a test controller, one or more functional tests for quality assurance of the ECS that are specified for the ITPAC module;
• and
• for each of the one or more functional tests:
• identifying, by the test controller, at least one input signal value associated with the ES module;
• emulating, via the communication test cable connected between the portion of the ECS installed in the ITPAC module and the test controller, the identified at least one input signal value;
• determining, via the communication test cable, any response by the ITPAC module to the at least one input signal value;
• comparing the determined response to an expected response contained in a test application;
• and
• generating and outputting test data based on the comparison.