Technical Notes

Insights

Technical reference material on data center component sourcing, specifications, and supply chain topics.

The following articles address specific technical and procurement topics relevant to data center infrastructure component sourcing. They are written for engineering and procurement teams working on active infrastructure programs, not as general-audience introductions to the sector.

Liquid Cooling / OCP

Understanding OCP UQD Rev 2.0 specifications and cross-validation requirements

The Universal Quick Disconnect specification, maintained through the Open Compute Project, defines the mechanical and hydraulic interface for rack-level liquid cooling connections. Rev 2.0 introduced updated flow rate, pressure drop, and material compatibility requirements. This article covers what changed and what it means for procurement validation.

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Procurement / Liquid Cooling

Evaluating liquid cooling component suppliers: a procurement framework

Not all liquid cooling components distributed into the North American market are produced under equivalent quality systems. This article outlines a structured evaluation framework for procurement teams assessing supplier qualification, covering certification requirements, cross-validation testing, and documentation standards appropriate for mission-critical infrastructure programs.

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Power Distribution / AI Infrastructure

Power distribution considerations for AI training clusters

High-density AI training clusters impose power distribution requirements that differ materially from general-purpose compute deployments. This article addresses busway selection, PDU specifications, branch circuit configuration, and the power redundancy architectures commonly used in GPU cluster environments, with reference to OCP power specification alignment.

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Supply Chain / 2026

Sourcing data center components in 2026: lead times, certifications, and risk

The demand environment for data center infrastructure components has shifted materially over the preceding two years. This article examines current lead-time conditions for key component categories, the certification documentation requirements that procurement teams should require from suppliers, and the supply chain risk factors most relevant to active construction programs in 2026.

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For component sourcing inquiries related to any topic covered in these articles, contact Ethyco directly.

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