The intelligent rack power distribution unit (rack PDU) has revolutionized data centers. As the last link of the elaborate data center power chain, the traditional role of the rack PDU is to deliver stable and reliable power to devices in the rack. It provides the electrical heartbeat to the systems running the critical applications that support the operation of a business (or that, in some cases, is the business). In years past, rack PDUs were often considered a simple commodity, just power strips to plug devices into. Typically, IT staff merely told facilities how much power was needed at the rack based on device nameplate specifications. The thought was that this information would provide plenty of headroom and ensure minimal risk of downtime. Little thought was given to the added value the rack PDU could provide until recently.

Over the past few years, system availability has become a given, and data center management attention is now focused on managing operational costs, efficiency improvements, sustainability, and resource optimization. With the annual expenditure for powering the average data center surpassing the cost to buy the IT equipment itself, the efficient use (and waste) of energy is now prioritized. Beyond the actual cost to power a data center, related issues affect current operations and future expansion—e.g., physical space limitations, utility power availability, carbon footprint impacts, capacity, and potential government regulation. Because most of the power delivered from the utility to the data center is consumed directly by the devices plugged into rack PDUs or indirectly by the infrastructure to bring power to the rack and cool the devices, the once-obscure rack PDU is now pivotal to a data center’s management.

Not surprisingly, many of the major strategies to address the above issues and improve overall data center efficiency now depend on the capabilities of an intelligent rack PDU, which are not available in commodity off-the-shelf power strips