PDU Applications

Rack Mount PDU Applications

A PDUs main purpose is to supply AC power to multiple pieces of IT equipment within the rack. This can be as simple as a basic power strip with no internal intelligence, that simply provides AC power to the connected IT equipment, or as advanced as an outlet-level PDU that can remotely monitor, control and report on the status of every outlet within the unit.

Which Power Distribution Unit is Best for Your Application?

Rack mountable PDUs are available in four conventional designs with an additional subset available for even more precise control:

• Basic: As the name implies, basic rack PDUs provide power to the IT equipment without any advanced features such as metering, monitoring or remote access functionality. Essentially rackmountable power strips, basic rack PDUs' appeal stems from their lower cost, wide availability, and ease of use.
• Metered: Metered PDUs provide the data necessary to properly load and balance rack power circuits. The LED display lets administrators know how much headroom exists between current capacity and the maximum draw of the strip. From there, professionals can make informed decisions about equipment installation.
• Smart/Monitored: Typically include the feature sets of the metered products in a single unit but also has the ability to remotely (IP) monitor the state of the distribution unit. Access to these models is typically accomplished through dedicated remote access software that is included with the PDU, direct web interface, SNMP or serial (RS232) menu.
• Switched: Switched typically includes the features of the Metered PDU as well as the ability to remotely control the on/off state and reboot capabilities of each outlet contained in the unit through a web interface or a serial (RS232) menu. Switched PDUs are often used by the Admin Manager to "lock off" any number of outlets to prevent accidental connection of equipment that might overload the circuit. This type of "lock off" management has grown in popularity.
• Outlet Level Power Monitoring Outlet level power monitoring, provides unprecedented reliable and granular visibility into power consumption, coupled with remote/network power and environmental monitoring. Use the built-in network interface to view power, temperature and humidity levels via Web browser, or SNMP-based and email alerts when conditions exceed defined thresholds. Outlet Level PDUs provide power monitoring per an individual outlet/device. Power information per individual outlet /device includes current, voltage, power (kW), apparent power, crest factor, and power factor.

  Outlet Level Monitoring PDUs enables you to:

  • Control cabinet power via a network (ON/OFF/REBOOT)
  • Reboot a single or dual power server with one command
  • Receive SNMP-based or email alerts when power or environmental conditions exceed thresholds
  • Assign access rights to user groups or individuals

Smart, Switched, or Outlet level monitoring?

Whatever the level of criticality, IT and Facility Managers need to reliably and efficiently distribute data center power to rack-based networking equipment via rack power distribution units. Whether you need a PDU in situations where up-to-the-minute monitoring of power draw within a rack is required (metered) or drill down to each individual outlet and have the ability to monitor and trend your power usage (outlet level), 42U has the right systems that keep network closets, computer rooms and data centers up and running.

 

 

 

Rack PDU Types

Basic Rack PDU:  Also known as power strips, basic units supply power to IT equipment  without advanced features such as metering, monitoring or reboot able outlets.

Switched Rack PDU: Switched PDUs allow remote reboot capabilities of individual and grouped outlets and include other features such as web monitoring, SNMP alerting and metering at the strip. Different models provide metering at either the strip or even the outlet level.  

There are many benefits of using switched PDUs:

• Protect mission critical equipment and quickly respond to any problems by monitoring amperage draw per circuit, power state, and other variables
• Monitor equipment 24x7x365 through automatic alerting via SMTP/SMS/SNMP when conditions (like current draw) exceed established thresholds
• Decrease dependency and cost of third party service calls for power related issues
• Control user access to specific outlets or groups of outlets
• Manage a network of interconnected Switched PDUs through integrated software packages

Monitored Rack PDU: Monitored power distribution units provide remote monitoring of current and other critical measurements such as rack temperature and humidity. Monitored products are the first entry into IP-addressable PDUs supporting monitoring and alerting capabilities. Users can set automatic alerting via SMTP/SMS/SNMP when conditions (like amps, temperature, or humidity) exceed defined thresholds.

Metered Rack PDU: Metered PDUs are equipped with a local amperage meter on the strip, allowing IT personnel properly load and balance each circuit. The LED display lets administrators know actual current usage in order to safely power equipment without exceeding the maximum draw of the strip and circuit it is attached to. From there, professionals can make informed decisions about equipment installation, and future growth potential by understanding where capacity exists on existing circuits, also known as "stranded power", so that additional circuits are not pulled unnecessarily

Outlet-Level Rack PDU: An enhanced version of the monitored rack PDU. All outlet level PDUs have remote capabilities that allow users to know power consumption of individual outlets.

Benefits of Outlet-Level PDUs are:

• Granularity: Instead of measuring the IT load via a UPS or a floormount PDU, both of which have electrical losses that inflate the IT load value, users can achieve a quick, accurate snapshot of the power consumed by just the IT equipment and loss at the UPS level.
• Efficiency Metrics: Software, sold in tandem with the PDUs, can aggregate power information across all PDUs. The total IT load of a data center can be only a few clicks away.  Inefficiencies in the rack, at the UPS and facility level can be identified for remediation and immediate savings and ROI.
• Server Consolidation/Retirement: If a device's power draw never changes, the server may be comatose - an ideal candidate for consolidation, virtualization, or retirement.
• Chargeback Programs: Some companies charge individual departments (HR or Finance for example), for their power use in the data center. Through outlet level monitoring, data center managers can assign devices and the associated power consumption to respective business owners, who are now financially accountable for their energy consumption.

 

    

Rack PDU Types