SOMERSET, N.J. (January 15, 2014)—Raritan – a leading provider of data center infrastructure management (DCIM) and rack power distribution solutions – today celebrated the PX2 iPDU’s first billion hours of monitoring power and energy in data centers around the globe.  The PX2 iPDU – Raritan’s second-generation intelligent rack power distribution unit introduced three years ago – provides real-time, outlet-level monitoring of data center energy and loads.  The information is used to help make data centers more efficient and operate better.

Recognizing that a PDU has one of the best vantage points in a data center, Raritan was the first to add to a rack PDU: intelligence for monitoring data center energy usage and performance; a port for adding sensors, including temperature and humidity sensors, to monitor the health of a rack’s environment; and, a USB port to expand capabilities.  The USB port, for example, can be used to add security webcams or to install Wi-Fi connections or to configure and maintain the intelligent PDUs.

“Our PX2 has more than 1.2 billion hours of proven field experience in data centers in every industry,” said David Wood, Director of Power Management Solutions at Raritan.  “We are the leading provider of intelligent PDUs because of our partnership with customers who are in the forefront of efficient data centers.  By listening to our customers we were the first, for example, to provide 1% billing-grade accuracy to measure real-time kWh energy consumption, first to introduce a portfolio of color PDUs to make managing equipment in racks easier, and the first to add fully functional USB-A and USB-B ports to a PDU.”

Raritan Smart Rack PDUs

With more than 625 unique models, Raritan’s rack iPDU portfolio is the largest in the industry.  To meet the needs of diverse IT environments, the portfolio includes single-phase, three-phase, high power (400V), outlet-metered, outlet-switched, and unswitched rack PDUs and inline power meters.

The intelligence built into Raritan iPDUs provides real-time, outlet-level monitoring of data center energy and loads, as well as monitoring of environmental conditions when using optional plug-and-play sensors.  Raritan iPDUs are available in 10 color choices to help save time in identifying and locating power distribution pathways and in differentiating between multiple PDUs in a rack.

The two USB ports on the PX2 can be used by data centers to:

• Add USB webcams for security.
• Reduce Ethernet drops by either using the USB port to plug in Wi-Fi networking (802.11 a/b/g/n), or to cascade up to four PDUs using one Ethernet drop.
• Turn a laptop into a serial console without adapters.
• Plug a configuration USB stick to perform fast and efficient firmware upgrades and/or to change PDU settings and network configuration – and, the work can be done even before the data center network is online.
• Connect an iPad for remote display or local troubleshooting.

About Raritan

Raritan is a proven innovator of energy and infrastructure management solutions for data centers of all sizes.  In more than 50,000 locations worldwide, Raritan’s award-winning hardware and software solutions – including intelligent rack PDUs and sensors; DCIM and energy management software; and access and control products – provide IT and facility directors, managers and administrators with the control they need to increase power management efficiency, improve data center productivity and enhance operations.  Based in Somerset, N.J., Raritan has offices worldwide serving customers in 76 countries.  Visit us at Raritan.com or follow us on the Raritan blog.

Raritan is an active member of the Green Grid, Climate Savers Computing Initiative, and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design associations.  The EPA has recognized Raritan for its contribution to the agency’s data center initiative.  A number of top industry analyst firms also have recognized the company:  Raritan was named a “Cool DCIM Vendor” by Gartner; a “Major DCIM player worldwide” by IDC; a “Strong Value DCIM Vendor” by EMA; and, “Key DCIM player” by TechNavio.

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