Today’s modern data centers rely on electrical distribution that reliably powers critical servers, networking, storage, cooling systems and infrastructure components. Organizations are implementing an increasingly connected, power-hungry infrastructure that demands much more than basic power distribution. Organizations are looking to leverage intelligent PDU that deliver increased visibility of power usage at the rack level to help data center teams understand, monitor and manage infrastructure more effectively.

Leading Network Systems offers intelligent power distribution for organizations aiming to build more visible and manageable data center infrastructures.

Products include Metered, Switched and Switched Metered by outlet PDUs, NetShelter Rack PDU Advanced products and APC power cords.

A power distribution unit or PDU powers equipment located in a rack or cabinet. Basic PDUs fulfill this essential function, but intelligent power distribution units (PDUs) add additional value by including a set of monitoring, management and control capabilities. These added layers of visibility can make a significant difference in ensuring your infrastructure functions in a predictable fashion.

According to Leading Network Systems, intelligent PDUs can give data center managers the remote network access needed to provide real-time infrastructure information, so they can make more informed decisions regarding infrastructure availability, capacity and efficiencies. Intelligent PDUs transform rack-level power consumption from a hidden “set and forget” utility to a more visible, manageable component. Information on what equipment is consuming electricity, and how the rack’s capacity is being utilized, leads to more informed decision-making.

For organizations with a number of racks, and multiple devices housed in each rack, manually gathering an estimate of power consumption can soon become overwhelming. When rack densities begin to increase significantly, the amount of effort involved in managing this distributed power environment will balloon, and an intelligent monitoring tool offers a practical solution.

Changing work loads also contribute to the growing need for a more visible distributed power strategy. The power drawn by the equipment located in any single rack, and in the overall facility, can be highly variable over the course of a day or during peak usage times. Having the ability to access detailed information regarding these variations will allow the infrastructure team to more effectively respond to changes.

Modern computing is an increasingly dynamic environment. High-density servers, storage arrays and networking equipment have increased density and raised the overall electrical needs for the data center. Leading Network Systems acknowledges that, while racks of 10kW or lower continue to be somewhat commonplace, 15kW racks may be prevalent in hyperscale data centers, with some facilities deploying equipment of up to 25kW per rack. This increase in density demands additional due diligence on rack power planning.

While physical rack space may be readily available, actual capacity can be limited by the rack’s electrical limitations. If you add new gear you may very well trip a breaker, or be unable to add the amount of new equipment you had intended. A smarter approach to distributed power can provide the insight necessary to make smarter decisions regarding future expansion plans.

The right Intelligent power distribution solution allows teams to clearly understand what is occurring within any single rack and the overall data center environment. Intelligent PDUs can offer visibility into a rack’s power consumption, thermal conditions, load balancing and potential for expansion by taking into account factors such as these.

Intelligent power solutions help to reduce the need for physical rounds to check on infrastructure health, or for equipment configuration checks. This is crucial for managers who need to oversee infrastructure remotely, across multiple sites, even different rooms or floors. Being able to retrieve real-time operational status remotely, for example, significantly improves responsiveness to potential issues and streamlines ongoing infrastructure maintenance.

Intelligent power distribution contributes to your green IT and sustainability initiatives by revealing the actual power being consumed within your facility, leading to smarter decisions about equipment utilization and overall power efficiencies.

The selection of the appropriate PDU for an organization’s data center environment, and the infrastructure housed within it, is of course not as simple as plugging one into the wall. There are considerations as to size, power requirements of devices to be used, the current data center infrastructure, future planning needs of the organization, and more. A small server closet will differ greatly from large hyperscale facilities, which may be powered very differently from high-density enterprises.

Leading Network Systems offers Metered, Switched,Switched Metered by outlet, NetShelter Rack PDU Advanced products, and APC Power Cords, as well as other infrastructure solutions that include remote power management.

Consultation with industry-leading experts can go a long way in ensuring that you select an equipment strategy which not only addresses your immediate needs, but supports long-term growth and flexibility.

Electrical distribution is inextricably linked to data center reliability and overall efficiency. Without proper connectivity and distribution, a data center will inevitably fail. Smart distribution builds upon the traditional capabilities of power distribution by incorporating more sophisticated monitoring, management, and automation.

Leading Network Systems explains that their suite of intelligent PDUs can offer remote power control, as well as monitoring of individual outlets – which allows organizations to identify inefficiencies or individual equipment failures before they impact larger operations.

Alerts can be triggered if parameters, such as wattage or temperature thresholds, are exceeded; giving staff timely notification of situations that require investigation. This helps create a more proactive management framework, moving from reactive to preventive maintenance in a way that leads to greater uptime and improved operational outcomes.

Increased power efficiency, a key requirement for the cost-conscious modern data center, can also be a benefit. By gaining real-time insight into power consumption at a granular level, organizations can make informed decisions about workload allocation and infrastructure capacity. Leading Network Systems highlights that their intelligent PDU products are designed to help organizations maximize energy efficiency through accurate power measurements, remote switching for powering down idle servers, and the enablement of power capping at the PDU or even the individual outlet level. Ultimately, the goal of all this information is to improve decision-making in an environment where IT professionals need a better understanding of their infrastructure.

For enterprises committed to certain service levels with an emphasis on uptime and availability, smart PDU provide valuable tools for meeting or exceeding those requirements. Leading Network Systems states that intelligent PDUs have the potential to support existing customer service-level agreement (SLA) commitments by allowing infrastructure managers to minimize downtime and enable manufacturer or third-party supported services. Ultimately, intelligent power distribution, and thus the data it yields, should improve infrastructure awareness; enabling IT professionals to “know where and when” potential power problems can arise and avoid them altogether.

Modern, complex IT infrastructure presents many challenges and opportunities. Choosing intelligent power distribution equipment from Leading Network Systems can put your organization on a clearer path forward for managing your power environment. The company supports data center, internet, networking, colocation, and many other types of service provider industries, in addition to manufacturing, financial services, utilities, government, healthcare, telecommunications, retail and more.

Leading Network Systems has built a reputation on helping customers to assemble and manage sophisticated infrastructure solutions including network and server enclosures, UPS systems, automatic transfer switches, Intelligent power distribution units, micro data center solutions, remote power and energy management software and precision air conditioning systems.

Their expertise may extend beyond power to help integrate power distribution into an overall management solution that is optimized for your needs.

It may be time for a closer inspection of your power distribution infrastructure, especially if your organization is updating to higher density servers, or considering expanding your facilities over the next few years. Learn more about intelligent power solutions and how they can improve reliability, enhance efficiency and support increased agility in your data center by contactingLeading Network Systems today to discuss your unique requirements. By choosing the right intelligent PDU and power distribution strategy, your organization can better understand what is happening in your data center and plan for continued success.