← All glossary terms

Data Center Design and Operations

UPS topology

UPS topology describes the architecture used to provide ride-through and power conditioning, such as distributed redundant, block redundant, catcher system, or 2N. Topology affects efficiency, fault behavior, maintainability, and cost.

Explore more terms

N+1

N+1 means the system has the base capacity required for the load plus one additional redundant component or unit. It improves maintainability and resilience, but it is not the same as a fully duplicated system.

Read definition →

PILOT

Payment in Lieu of Taxes is an agreement where a project pays negotiated amounts instead of standard property taxes, often as part of an incentive or public-finance structure. PILOT value should be evaluated against baseline taxes and community costs.

Read definition →

Reliability

Reliability is the ability of a system to perform its intended function over time under stated conditions. For data centers, reliability depends on design, equipment, operations, maintenance, utility performance, and human procedures.

Read definition →