DIFFERENT TYPES OF RACK PDUS
Types of Rack PDUs
There are four types of Power Distribution Units (PDUs); these are basic, metered (local amp meter), monitored (intelligent) and switched (intelligent). While they can all provide reliable power distribution to critical IT equipment within a rack or cabinet, the monitored and switched intelligent PDUs offer several smart features to help data centre managers understand their power infrastructure. With data centres becoming more dynamic and complex, intelligent PDUs have become more prevalent allowing IT administrators to remotely monitor power, view energy management and power metrics amongst other features.
Basic Rack PDU
Basic PDUs provide reliable power distribution to critical IT equipment within a rack or cabinet. They are entry-level solutions that are low cost. They meet a broad range of requirements with different electrical and receptacle configurations available. They should have regional compliance (i.e. UL in North America and CE in EMEA), which is a requirement for many data centers and insurance providers.
Metered Rack PDU
Metered PDUs allow data centre managers to view power consumption metrics instantly from a local display. This is ideal when deploying or moving equipment to monitor power usage and prevent overloads. Metered PDUs are best suited for highly secure data centre environments that must keep power infrastructure air-gapped from the local network.
Monitored Rack PDU
Monitored PDUs provide a comprehensive view of power usage, both at the rack and via remote access while continuing to provide reliable power distribution to critical IT equipment. Monitored PDUs are available in unit-level and outlet-level remote monitoring configuration options. They offer quick access to critical information to evaluate energy usage trends as well as provide alarming capabilities to alert users of breaches in user-defined power thresholds. They are recommended for high-density data centres that want to monitor or improve power usage effectiveness (PUE).
Switched Rack PDU
Switched PDUs provide a comprehensive view of critical IT equipment power usage, both at the rack and via remote access with the added ability to remotely turn on, turn off, or reboot power at each outlet. Switched PDUs are also available with unit-level and outlet-level remote monitoring configuration options. Switched PDUs are ideal for data centres needing to limit power usage at the outlet to avoid accidental overloads as well as remote data centres. They are extremely useful for data centers that require a quick and easy way to power cycle equipment in a large facility or, in some cases, an entire network of facilities.