Salute and MCIM Partner to Cut AI Liquid Cooling Risk

Salute and MCIM have revealed a new partnership aimed at improving operational intelligence within data centres that are deploying direct-to-chip liquid cooling.

This collaboration integrates MCIM into Salute’s ecosystem of technology partners, which underpins its Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling Operations service.

The service is designed to address the operational difficulties presented by high-density AI and high-performance computing (HPC) deployments.

The agreement focuses on giving data centre operators enhanced visibility and control as rack densities rise and liquid cooling becomes more prevalent. Salute and MCIM already support Applied Digital’s AI and HPC facilities, bringing shared experience of operating liquid-cooled environments at scale.

The move towards direct-to-chip cooling, where liquid coolant is delivered straight to processors like GPUs, responds to the intense heat generated by modern AI and HPC workloads.

This method is more efficient than traditional air-based systems and allows for higher compute densities. It also introduces new operational risks related to fluid management, monitoring and maintenance.

Strengthening operations with an intelligence platform

Salute’s service aims to mitigate these challenges by offering a combination of operational processes, training and specialised staffing.

The partnership strengthens this offering by incorporating MCIM's operational intelligence platform. This integration is intended to help operators prepare their facilities for liquid-cooled infrastructure more quickly while managing the associated risks.

According to MCIM, its platform is already in use across more than 6.5GW of IT capacity globally and is responsible for managing over one million critical data centre assets.

The platform is also utilised by three of the top four global colocation providers and is designed to unify IT and operational technology workflows in environments where cooling systems and compute platforms are tightly integrated.

An integrated model for high-stakes environments

Under this new operating model, Salute will provide the on-the-ground execution. This includes established operational procedures, specialised training programmes and access to staff with experience in liquid-cooled facilities.

In parallel, MCIM will deliver portfolio-level governance and real-time operational intelligence through its single, unified platform. This combined approach is structured to eliminate data silos and offer a consistent view of performance from individual racks up to the entire portfolio.

Salute and MCIM suggest that this integrated model allows operators to deploy AI and HPC infrastructure more rapidly while maintaining firm control over operational and financial risk. The partnership is specifically positioned for facilities characterised by high densities and extremely low tolerance for downtime.

John Shultz, Chief Product Officer AI and Learning Officer, for Salute, says: "AI/HPC computing requires an entirely new approach to data centre operations because of the requirements of GPUs and the risks of DTC liquid cooling. Together, Salute and MCIM are able to help data centre operators protect their investments in AI by mitigating significant operational and financial risks.

"MCIM provides powerful visibility that delivers insights for optimising operations and eliminating risks. That is even more powerful when you combine it with Salute’s industry-leading operational model for DTC operations, our proven training capabilities and our ability to provide staffing with difficult-to-find expertise. Together, we can help organisations achieve and maintain operational excellence.”

A new operational model for the AI era

The combination of operational data and skilled teams could allow potential issues to be identified and rectified earlier.

This includes monitoring coolant flow, thermal performance and asset health across high-density rooms where system failures can escalate rapidly. From MCIM’s perspective, the partnership directly responds to the speed and scale at which AI infrastructure is being built.

MCIM's platform aggregates data across a multitude of assets and sites, which enables consistent workflows and real-time insights for operators who are managing increasingly complex environments. This capability is critical as the demands on data centres evolve.

Mike Parks, CEO of MCIM, explains: “AI is redefining what ‘mission critical’ means. The speed and scale of this buildout demand more than hardware and headcount. They demand a new operational model. Together, Salute and MCIM are delivering that model, where every person, process and asset is connected, visible and performing to plan.”