Edge Deployment Planning Guide

What Defines an Edge Deployment?

Edge data center deployments are characterized by their proximity to end users or data sources rather than centralized network hubs. They typically range from 100 kW to 5 MW of IT load, operate in environments with constrained power and cooling infrastructure, and often lack on-site technical staff. The infrastructure must be self-contained, remotely manageable, and resilient to a wider range of environmental conditions than a controlled, purpose-built data center campus.

Edge deployments serve use cases including content delivery networks, 5G/MEC compute, IoT data aggregation, autonomous vehicle processing, and regional cloud availability zones. The common thread is that latency or data sovereignty requirements prohibit routing traffic to a centralized facility.

Site Selection and Constraints

Power Availability

Edge sites frequently have limited utility power. Unlike hyperscale campuses that negotiate dedicated utility feeds, edge sites may connect to local distribution grids with limited capacity and lower reliability. Planning must account for single-feed utility connections, local voltage variations, and potentially unreliable grid power that necessitates longer generator runtime assumptions.

Physical Space Constraints

Edge sites are often co-located with other infrastructure: on wireless tower compounds, in industrial parks, adjacent to enterprise buildings, or on leased parcels with strict footprint limits. Container-based deployments are the primary GridCore solution for edge scenarios because they minimize the physical footprint while delivering a complete, self-contained infrastructure environment.

Environmental Exposure

Edge sites may be located in extreme climate zones, coastal environments with salt air exposure, desert conditions with high ambient temperatures and dust, or cold regions with freeze-thaw cycling. Equipment selection and enclosure design must account for a wider environmental envelope than controlled indoor facilities.

Infrastructure Design for Edge

Self-Contained Architecture

Edge infrastructure should be designed as a complete, independently operational unit. Every system needed to operate the IT load, from power conditioning through cooling and fire protection, must be integrated within the deployment footprint. External dependencies (other than utility power and network connectivity) should be eliminated or minimized.

Remote Management and Automation

Without on-site staff, every aspect of edge infrastructure must be remotely observable and controllable. This includes power switching, cooling mode changes, access control, and environmental monitoring. GridCore edge configurations include out-of-band management networks, remote power cycling capability, and automated failover sequences that do not require human intervention.

Security for Unstaffed Sites

Physical security at edge sites cannot rely on 24/7 security personnel. Instead, deploy layered security: perimeter fencing with intrusion detection, armored enclosures with tamper-evident locks, video surveillance with remote monitoring, and electronic access control with audit logging. All security systems must be powered by the same UPS/generator infrastructure protecting the IT load.

Deployment Model for Edge

The GridCore container-based deployment model is the primary vehicle for edge infrastructure. Containers offer standardized, factory-tested, and rapidly deployable units that can be sited on a simple concrete pad with utility connections. For larger edge deployments (2-5 MW), modular building configurations provide additional capacity in a phased, expandable format.

• Single-container edge (100-500 kW): One IT container plus one infrastructure container (or integrated infrastructure) on a single pad. Suitable for content delivery, 5G MEC, and small regional compute.
• Multi-container edge (500 kW - 2 MW): Multiple IT containers with shared infrastructure containers for power and cooling. Supports regional cloud availability zones and larger IoT aggregation points.
• Micro-campus edge (2-5 MW): Modular building configuration with multiple modules and centralized utility yard. Serves as a regional hub for distributed edge networks or a standalone enterprise facility.