Helpful Features
Recent posts
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What is a Data Center PDU? Defined.
by Annie Paquette
Categories: Helpful FeaturesWith a host of PDU types available in the market, understanding what a Data Center PDU does can be confusing. This Server Technology blog clears the air on Data Center PDUs.
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What is a Switched PDU? Defined.
by Annie Paquette
Categories: Helpful FeaturesWith a host of PDU types, understanding what a Switched PDU does can be confusing. This Server Technology blog provides information on what Switched PDUs do.
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Just the Facts Part 2: Data Center Environmental Monitoring Defined
by RJ Tee
Categories: Helpful FeaturesIn our previous post on intelligent PDUs, we dedicated a blog to defining what it means to be an intelligent PDU. In this blog, we will discuss one of the characteristics of intelligent PDUs in more detail: data center environmental monitoring. Intelligent PDUs provide the support network that gives more rack-based data. In addition to power quality or capacity data, intelligent PDUs can be outfitted with data center environment sensors that collect additional information required for the management of the data center. Besides power, feedback on the operation of the cooling system is of utmost importance, but so is the physical security of the rack itself.
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Just the Facts Part 1: Intelligent PDUs Defined
by RJ Tee
Categories: Helpful Featuresintelligent PDU, IP Power Strip, network pdu
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Then, What is a Switched PDU?
by Kayla Poole
Categories: Helpful FeaturesIn our previous post “So, What Is an Intelligent PDU?” we provided some clarification to what can be thought of as a broad a category of products, all of which have a network connection in common. An intelligent PDU is a basic PDU with a network connection. And like most general categories, there are subcategories that bear some discussion. As we defined it in the last post, an intelligent PDU does two things: first, the network connection provides data feedback on the operation of the unit; second, the network connection provides the ability to control the operation of the unit remotely. From these two features come the two major subcategories in the intelligent PDU world: ‘smart’ for data feedback, and ‘switched’ for command and control.
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So, What Is an Intelligent PDU?
by RJ Tee
Categories: Helpful FeaturesThe term ‘intelligent PDU’ has become so ubiquitous, the definition is no longer clear. Not surprising, “What is an intelligent PDU?” is one of the most common questions we get from our readers. Terms like ‘network power strip’ and ‘IP power strip’ get bandied about, but they somehow fail to capture the essence of choosing and using an intelligent unit. We thought we would take a moment to clear the air about the term, and in doing so, we hope to set the record straight about this class of rack power strips. It is important to think of them as a category or family, if you will, rather than a specific kind of PDU.
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ZTP = PDQ
by RJ Tee
Categories: Helpful FeaturesIf there was ever a situation where practice doesn’t necessarily make perfect, this is it: setting up a PDU manually – without ZTP. As you can see in our new white paper, Server Technology is in the business of making provisioning our power distribution units simpler for you.
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Top Reasons to Use Switched PDUs in Your Data Center
by Josh Schaap
Categories: Helpful FeaturesIt’s not easy trying to decide which type of rack PDU to purchase for your data center. As we explained in a recent article, the decision ultimately comes down to your data center’s unique needs. Your appetite for risk, facility budget, and operating preferences will all play a big part in determining what type of rack PDU you should be using. In this article, we will focus on the switched PDU, which is a smart PDU that will let you toggle power on and off, on a per outlet bases, from a remote location. A switched PDU also allows you to centralize the management functions of your PDU.
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Rack PDUs: Making the Choices less of a Challenge
by RJ Tee
Categories: Helpful FeaturesWhile in previous blogs we’ve talked about the advantages of customization and having so many PDU options to choose from, now might be a good time to keep it simple. Server Technology is in the business of meeting complex power needs for every customer’s equipment and data demands. But we would be remiss if we didn’t address those needs in the simplest and most straightforward way possible.
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The Advantages of an Uncluttered Rack, Part II
by RJ Tee
Categories: Helpful FeaturesAs mentioned in our previous post on Alternating Phase rack PDUs, many of us at Server Technology (including myself) like to talk about the benefits of our approach to handling three-phase power distribution within the rack. While the subject of three phase is de rigueur in the fashionable world of high density, there is a lot to talk about above and beyond the distribution of large amounts of power in a very small footprint.
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The Advantages of an Uncluttered Rack, Part I
by RJ Tee
Categories: Helpful FeaturesAlternating phase power distribution technology from Server Tech is one of my favorite subjects. It has benefits that extend well beyond the electrical distribution world. In fact, it is one of the few power products whose secondary benefits meet and sometimes exceed the fundamental purpose of a three-phase distribution product. I discussed it in a previous post. Server Tech’s Alternating Phase PDUs may well set the new standard for the phrase, “the gift that keeps on giving.”
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On the Benefits of Alternating Phase
by RJ Tee
Categories: Helpful FeaturesWe’ve extolled the virtues of single phase 60A power distribution to the rack. But there are still may situations in which a three phase deployment is required to power the needs of racks that consume 12kW or more. In other words, situations that begin with ‘high’ and end with ‘density.’
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The Rack PDU’s Role in Battling Cyber Threats
by RJ Tee
Categories: Helpful FeaturesOne of the ongoing issues facing data center managers is cybersecurity, and the rack PDU may play a surprising role in the protection of the IT systems housed within the mission critical facility. While threats of intrusion are as old as the IMSAI 8080 from the movie WarGames, the intelligent power strip is a surprising new actor in the ongoing security battle.
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HDOT Family Welcomes Per Outlet Power Sensing PDUs
by RJ Tee
Categories: Helpful FeaturesJust in case you didn't know, our award winning HDOT PDUs contain embedded Per Outlet Power Sensing (POPS) with device-level power monitoring, making this the most innovative product line yet. Every data center should seriously consider using HDOT PDUs — with +/- 1 percent billable-grade accuracy — to drive efficiencies, maximize uptime and slash operating costs.
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Picking the Right Rack Mount PDU For Your Data Center
by RJ Tee
Categories: Helpful FeaturesDecisions, decisions. We often stress over relatively easy decisions more than we reasonably should. One decision that shouldn’t be all that difficult – once you’re armed with the proper knowledge – revolves around which type of rack mount PDU you’ll need to help power your data center for the foreseeable future. When picking a rack mount PDU for your data center, pinpointing your exact needs before shopping will save you a lot of time and energy in the long run. Perhaps density is your primary concern. Or maybe uptime is on the top of your checklist, along with capacity planning. That’s where Server Technology comes in. We offer smart, switched and other intelligent rack PDU options ranging from ready-made units with super-fast shipping to PDUs precisely customized to meet your every need.
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Top Tools For Data Center Environmental Monitoring
by RJ Tee
Categories: Helpful FeaturesThere’s an old proverb that goes, “Trust, but verify.” This sentiment is particularly apt for data center management, where it’s vital to track every metric you can get your hands on. The need for better environmental monitoring capabilities is increasing due to increasing compute, network, and storage densities and increasing operating temperatures in the data center. Thus, keeping close watch over environmental activity in your data center, particularly when it comes to temperature, and humidity in the rack are critical to prevent disasters if left unchecked. So, what is the best way to get four or more data center environmental monitoring points in your cabinets? Sounds like a complicated question, but the answer is simple: Server Technology Intelligent PDUs are enabled right out of the box with the abilities to attach environmental probes that can precisely detail environmental conditions in your data center equipment cabinets. This information is most reliable when measured external to the devices in the cabinet.
