Raritan has launched a new more intelligent rack power distribution unit (PDU) at the DCD Enterprise event in New York. The new PDUs will provide more monitoring and control of data center power use.

The intelligent rack PDUs (iPDUs) contain a new iX7 controller, with improved management capabilities, so they can gather more data, and analyze it more effectively, showing how electricity is used by the IT equipment. This should enable better use of available data center power, and ensure more reliable IT equipment supporting better services.

raritan ipdu 1
Raritan iPDU module – Raritan

More monitoring

“These are the most reliable, PDUs, the easiest to use, and the most future proof,” said David Wood, director of power solutions at Raritan.

The iPDUs will provide more sensing and infrastructure data collection points, and can operate more reliably as they support power sharing and redundant networking.

The intelligent units support cascading, so networked functions can be implemented more simply. PDUs down the line can communicate through their USB or Ethernet ports. 

The new iPDUs also provide more sensing and infrastructure data collection points, and can operate more reliably as they support power sharing and redundant networking. Gigabit Ethernet and redundant network connections are now standard.

The monitoring functions will be more dependable because they can have redundant power sharing. A standard Cat5 cable connects the iX7 controllers of the A- and B-side iPDUs in a typical dual power feed cabinet. In case of a power loss to one of the feeds, the second iPDU powers both controllers and an instant alert of the power outage is sent; never losing touch with the control features of either iPDU.

Downstream cascaded devices, including iPDUs and environmental sensors, will remain powered and be visible on the dashboard. “A small amount of DC power is shared, so the controller can maintain its uptime,” explained Wood.

The iPDUs have a colored display, which can be configured to show important alarms at a glance for technicians in the IT floor. The information also comes through remotely, via connections to any major DCIM product, including the Sunbird platform which Raritan spun off, as well as to building management systems (BMS).

The iPDUs can be updated with a USB stick, said Wood: “You can configure an entire data center, with hundreds of PDUs in a matter of hours.”

The new models will cost the same as the existing models they replace, and will start appearing straight away. However, the large variety of options within Raritan’s portfolio mean that not all the intelligent versions will appear straight away, Wood explained. 

Older PDUs will have a firmware upgrade, which will allow them to be compatible with the cascading function, although they won’t support the increased numbers of sensors or have the higher intelligence of the iPDUs, Wood told DCD.

DCD Enterprise New York is happening right now, stick to DCD for all the latest news, or head over to the livestream here.