D A T A C E N T R E P R E D I C T I O N S
Don Strickland , Product Manager , Legrand
efficiency in ways never seen before in the industry .
But what about the capacity of the system itself ? How can data centres ensure that the power sent to each rack won ’ t overload the circuits ?
a data centre ’ s DCIM ( Data Centre Infrastructure Management ) or BMS ( Building Management System ) software , providing data centre operators with a real-time overview of their operations , right down the rack . The importance of such detailed , PDU-level monitoring cannot be overstated .
When compared to sensing mechanisms for in-row or in-rack cooling solutions , smart sensors at the PDU level offer greater accuracy , better measurement density , increase flexibility and save wiring space , among a myriad of other benefits . With AI deployments , it ’ s a level of measurement that data centres can ’ t afford to bypass anymore .
Smarter power
We ’ ve discussed how data centres can arm themselves with the ability to track their power usage in the name of efficiency , but how can they use that information to optimise the way their facility uses power ? After all , the power consumption of AI workloads fluctuates widely , and often . Plus , with even denser compute configurations , the stakes are higher for the risk of power disturbances and quality issues .
The solution lies in changing how power reaches each rack . Until now , basic power strips have been enough to handle the density demands of the average data centre . However , heavyduty clusters and advanced computing setups force power distribution to evolve . Enter the intelligent rack PDU : advanced power distribution units that provide real-time control of electrical power across the data centre .
By integrating these PDUs , data centres can achieve real-time , granular adjustments in power quality and consumption at the outlet and infeed levels , offering enhanced energy efficiency , power management and redundancy planning in their IT environments . Intelligent PDUs not only flag potential problems , but also facilitate proactive management of resources , enhancing operational
The answer to this challenge lies in high-capacity track busways , specially designed for the demands of AI-driven data centres to handle high electrical loads . There are other power-andheat-related benefits , too . For one , the ability to tap power anywhere along the busway and add or rearrange plug-in units without downtime is a gamechanger , ensuring that power is always available where and when it is needed .
For another , their overhead configuration eliminates the obstruction of traditional wiring methods , thereby enhancing airflow and cooling efficiency .
Best of all , advanced track busway systems can integrate with power monitoring systems that provide real-time data on power usage and efficiency , so both the busways and the rack PDUs can work together at the click of a mouse .
As data centres evolve into AI brokers , the integration of intelligent technologies like smart sensors , advanced rack PDUs and high-capacity power busways will become increasingly crucial .
Along with advanced cooling systems , they form an important part of the comprehensive solution that will support the demands of the data centre now and into the great unknown digital future . �
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