Nlyte Software has released a version of its data center performance management suite designed to measure power usage effectiveness (PUE) in real time.

The 6.0 version of the Nylte can also provide reports for a range of business functions now buying into the data center space with a customized dashboard that allows for business managers and data center operations teams to forecast, report and maintain equipment and its functions in the data center.

The software can also identify and measure individual components, which means that as well as running usage and capacity measurements on areas such as electricity, heat density and overall use it can be used to schedule maintenance and mange warranties, according to Nlyte cofounder and VP of EMEA product management Robert Neave.

The solution has levels of security built in for differing components, meaning specific levels of access can be set for different functions. A colocation client, for example, could require only select measurements set by the colocation provider when power use charge back models are in use.

Neave said public pressure on data center operators has made data center infrastructure management a recognized category in its own right over the last year. "People now need software that can model the physical world," Neave said.

"The Carbon Reduction Commitment (scheme in the UK) has made people more aware of the environmental impact of their data center, and how this affects a company's bottom line. Many people now, for example, are looking into to DCIM solutions so they can then charge the use of power back to customers as they have to apply energy costs to something."

Nylte commissioned market research group TNS to conduct a survey with 1,000 Great Britain consumers aged between 16 and 64 years old to find out their awareness of online and mobile activity and its affect on the data center.

It showed that only 2% of these would consider paying to offset their carbon emissions for data center use. A further survey carried out with 100 UK CIOs and data center managers by Vanson Bourne, also released in November, showed that 53% did not fully understand the environmental impact of their own data center.

"Most data center managers measure their data center's carbon footprint with regular energy bills, but this is a completely inadequate method of measurement," Neave said.

"If there is nothing in place to measure the carbon footprint of data and energy usage of targets to help forecast future demand, businesses won't even be in a position to be able to charge these types of services to cusnsumers."

Neave said DCIM tools can help encourage awareness of the use of resources in the data center, not only for inside operations but external awareness, from business departments to general Facebook and online service users.

Neave said the days of running data centers on spreadsheet records will have to advance to take into account the levels of information that will be required by data center operators moving forward to commit to environmental and other targets set by governments and legislation.

"It is not just the data center operator wanting or needing this information ÔÇô the CFO and CTO will soon start demanding it," Neave said.