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Reserve Your Seat TodayA rack mounted Power Distribution Unit (PDU) is a tool for selectively switching AC and/or DC power to your devices. This means that, with a rack power distribution unit and its switching ability you can turn on servers or other equipment from hundreds of miles away via LAN, dial-up, etc. Obviously, you can also power down equipment remotely. In this way, a simple rack PDU can save expensive trips out to distant locations. It's much better to issue power control commands remotely via a simple LAN, dial-up, cellular, or other connection.
Power Distribution Units are used in server rooms and data centers, remote telecom sites, and anywhere else that you need to be toggled control power to equipment without someone physically being on-site. PDUs are used in telecom, transportation/transit, public utilities, government, military, education, and research environments worldwide. A used PDU can be used in many different applications to prevent critical failures. Power management is an absolute essential for many companies.
A basic PDU comes in a variety of form factors. Rack PDUs are probably the most popular, but there are other types that mount to a wall.
A rack PDU like the one shown below mounts into your existing equipment racks. With a rack PDU, your power distribution unit is secured just as strongly as the rest of your gear. This is absolutely critical, since a lot of key equipment will be powered via the PDU.
One disadvantage of the rack PDU model, however, is that it takes up space in your equipment/server racks, where space may be limited. In "0 RU" PDU designs, a long and narrow power strip is attached to the side of an equipment rack, which is ordinarily wasted space. This allows you to add PDU functionality to your site without using up any physical rack space.
While any PDU will do an "OK" job with redundant power supplies, there are ways to make managing devices like this much easier. Look for a PDU with enough intelligence to logically group multiple outputs. This means that, if you have to reboot a server with 2 redundant power supplies, you can toggle power to all of those supplies simultaneously, triggering a reboot.
The most basic decision you have to make as you evaluate rack PDUs is: "AC or DC?" This decision will affect the internal power tolerances of the PDU and, more importantly for general use, the connectorization you'll use to attach your devices. An AC rack PDU will typically have the standard plugs you see in homes and offices around the world. With a DC PDU, you're more likely to see an industrial connector that accepts bare wiring.
Another thing to keep in mind is voltage output. You should make sure to choose a PDU with an appropriate output for your equipment. A manufacturer that offers many different builds, or better yet, can custom manufacture a unit to suit your needs 100%.
Unfortunately, many PDUs available in the marketplace are not of the best quality. Considering what PDUs do, this can make choosing a low-quality distribution unit an especially costly mistake. Any equipment that deserves remote power control should only be connected to quality power equipment. You should look for a powder-coated metal chassis instead of plastic. That's one of the best things to look for to get a quick idea of overall build quality. Also, look for a manufacturer that's been around for a while. That lets you leverage a proven design that's been providing reliable service for years.
An unmanaged PDU is nothing more than an industrial-style power strip, power bar, etc. You won't have any way to control power to individual outputs. This means that you can connect multiple devices to a single power source, but you'll have no way of remotely turning on, turning off, or rebooting your gear. A good managed rack PDU will have a web interface. If you've ever configured a network router for your home, you've seen one of these interfaces. A web interface makes it simple for just about anyone to remotely toggle power to your equipment.
SNMP stands for "Simple Network Management Protocol". Although the word "simple" in the acronym has been the subject of many sarcastic laughs, SNMP is an important feature for a rack PDU. Instead of simply toggling power through the PDUs native interface, SNMP compatibility allows you to integrate your PDUs into your broader monitoring and control system. When PDUs are under your SNMP manager umbrella, commands can be issued even faster - or even automatically. Look for a rack PDU that can send SNMP Trap messages and accept SNMP SETs and SNMP GETs.
Especially in the modern business culture that's increasingly demanding "green" power technologies, monitoring how much power your devices are using is a big deal. With good PDUs, you can monitor overall current flow through the PDU, and sometimes also the flow out of each output. Either one of these options is much better than no current monitoring since you can pinpoint the equipment that's hogging your power.
If you want to know more than only the amperage being pulled from your PDU, then a device with remote monitoring features is what you need. The best PDUs are able to remotely monitor at the rack level, phase/circuit level, or outlet level. Based on the thresholds you set, your PDU can even send alerts when the unit is reaching circuit capacity or isn't performing as expected.
A simple rack-mount PDU is available from many different manufacturers, but there are a few that include more functionality than the rest. As an example, the Remote Power Controller is a PDU and RTU (Remote Telemetry Unit) in one metal box. The PDU functionality allows you to control power, while the RTU capabilities allow you to monitor discrete and analog alarm data in real-time from your important equipment. Look for opportunities like this to do more with a single chassis, a single unit of rack space, a single power supply, and a single remote interface.
If you're trying to minimize wasted time and effort driving out to sites, don't stop at simple power control. You should also increase your remote site visibility with an RTU combo unit. That's a great way to kill two birds with one stone - without spending more than you have to.
With a simple add-on box, you can use your RTU as a PDU.
