What type of data center has non-redundant components?

The type of data center characterized by non-redundant components is a Tier I data center. In this classification, the infrastructure is typically sufficient for basic operations but lacks the redundancy designed to handle equipment failures. This means that a Tier I data center may experience downtime if a key component fails, as it does not have backup systems in place to ensure continuous operation.

In contrast, higher tiers, such as Tier II, Tier III, and Tier IV, include varying levels of redundancy and fault tolerance. For instance, Tier II incorporates some redundancy, while Tier III is designed with multiple paths for power and cooling—allowing maintenance without disrupting operations. Tier IV offers the highest resilience and is engineered to function continuously even in the event of component failures. Thus, the defining characteristic of a Tier I data center is its reliance on single components without redundancy, which provides a clear understanding of its limitations in terms of reliability and availability.