Eaton's enhanced ePDU G3 platform offers 1% billing grade accuracy and advanced outlet-level power management
Power management company Eaton announced updated management capabilities for data centers and colocation facilities with its best-in-class ePDU third-generation (G3) platform in the Americas, featuring 1% revenue-grade power monitoring for enhanced accuracy and efficiency through its ePDU G3 managed models. Providing the ability to measure energy consumption and control power at the outlet level, Eaton’s robust platform combines all the benefits of outlet metering with switched rack power distribution units for advanced power management.
“Eaton’s ePDU G3 managed models are designed to help data center and facility managers control energy costs, enhancing business value with capabilities for pinpoint accuracy in monitoring power consumption,” said Hervé Tardy, vice president and general manager, Eaton’s Distributed Power Quality Division. “With advanced power management features that are designed to seamlessly integrate with other information technology (IT) and networking infrastructure, the ePDU G3 platform provides the resources needed to enhance energy efficiency and reliability.”
Power monitoring can be a strategic and cost-saving asset given the budget and resource constraints faced by many of today’s data centers and colocation facilities. Eaton ePDU G3 managed models are designed to allow data center and IT managers to precisely measure power consumption at all outlets for full-power utilization. With the capability to hone in on energy usage, data centers can increase power savings by shutting down certain servers at different times of the day. This level of control can also help facilities take advantage of rebate opportunities with utilities.
Network connected ePDU G3 models are optimized to work with Eaton’s Intelligent Power Manager software, offering end-users an integrated power management platform to monitor multiple units through virtualization systems like VMware vCenter Server. Network connected ePDU G3 models can also daisy chain with other units, so that four devices can share one network port and IP address, reducing network connection costs by up to 75 percent. Additionally, outlets can be grouped across power feeds to facilitate reboot of multiple power supplies at the same time, simplifying control of servers and switches.
Eaton ePDU G3 managed and metered input models offer a hot-swap network meter module so that, in the unlikely event of a failure, users can replace the module without shutting down servers; therefore, maintaining business continuity and enhancing serviceability. With ePDU G3 managed models, data centers gain the capability to meter power at the outlet level, which is the innovative functionality needed for accurate Level 3 power usage effectiveness (PUE) calculations.
All Eaton ePDU G3 models feature a new patent-pending International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) outlet grip designed to eliminate the common and often costly problem of plugs falling out of outlets due to bumps or vibrations. The solution can protect data center managers from incurring additional expenses related to cable trays or special power cords, which can increase purchase costs by several hundred dollars per unit.
