As the demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing continues to rise, the College of Information at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) first proposed the idea of centralized server management in 2017, which led to the launch of a co-managed data center construction project. After numerous discussions, the project was approved in July 2017 and officially began construction in July 2018. During this process, NYCU received strong support from alumni, especially the generous donations from the Class of 1990, which provided crucial funding to ensure the smooth completion of the data center, officially launched in December 2018.

The establishment of the co-managed data center significantly improved server management efficiency and resource utilization, providing a stable and secure computing and storage environment for academic research. However, with the rapid advancement of AI research in recent years, the number of high-performance servers in the facility has grown rapidly. This has led to increasing challenges in terms of power load and heat dissipation. Eventually, in the early hours of March 6, 2024, a power anomaly occurred in the data center.

The incident was caused by the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system operating under high load for an extended period, which led to the breakdown of insulation varnish in the 220V to 380V transformer. This breakdown released a strong odor and interfered with the normal operation of equipment in the facility. Following the incident, the university immediately activated its emergency response mechanism and contacted a 24-hour high-voltage electrical maintenance provider for inspection. Based on expert recommendations, the data center was temporarily shut down to identify the root cause. Over the following days, the data center management team worked intensively to restore information systems, identify and reduce high-load equipment, and replace the external air conditioning unit. Full operations were successfully restored 12 days later on March 18.

Although the facility resumed operations smoothly, the incident highlighted the fact that the current infrastructure is no longer adequate to meet growing demands and must be upgraded to ensure reliable performance in the future.

In response to the challenges in power supply and management, outstanding alumnus Mr. Sunny Chen, Class of 1981 from the Department of Computer Engineering, expressed deep concern and decided to donate 48 sets of 16/20A metered power distribution units and temperature/humidity monitoring modules. These devices enhance the data center's ability to monitor power usage in real time, preventing overload-related incidents. Additionally, they enable environmental monitoring (temperature and humidity) to ensure a stable operating environment within the facility, reducing the risk of equipment failure due to overheating. This improved infrastructure significantly enhances management capabilities, boosts energy efficiency, minimizes unnecessary power consumption, and lowers operating costs. Moreover, the monitoring system can also help predict potential risks and allow for timely adjustments, thereby preventing similar incidents in the future.

Mr. Sunny Chen’s generous donation has laid a solid foundation for the future development of the data center and has created a better learning and research environment for future generations. With the joint efforts of the university and industry partners, this facility will continue to evolve and serve as a vital cornerstone for the advancement of technology in Taiwan.