Data Center Power Bloghttp://info.servertech.com/blog/RSS feeds for 60http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187284/Server-Technology-Brings-Back-the-80s#Comments0Server Technology Brings Back the 80shttp://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187284/Server-Technology-Brings-Back-the-80s<span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"><span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"></span></span> <p><img src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/blog80s-resized-600.jpg" alt="blog80s resized 600" border="0"></p> <p>Hi my name is Teresa, I’m the new Human Resources Director for Server Technology. I’m so glad to be here. The Server Technology employees are amazing.</p> <p><span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"><span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"></span></span></p> <p>On Friday the Server Technology employees dressed up in 80’s gear and donated $2,100 for a local family in need. Server Technology has a small team of people who get together on a monthly basis to discuss our Northern Nevada community and determine the on-going fundraising activities we should conduct here at Server Technology. It is important to all of us to give back to this great community we live in. Wishing you a great day.</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187284/Server-Technology-Brings-Back-the-80s&bvt=rss">Erik StabileFri, 06 Feb 2015 19:26:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:187284http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187154/Downtime-Is-a-Big-Problem-According-to-Fed-IT-Workers#Comments0Downtime Is a Big Problem, According to Fed IT Workers http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187154/Downtime-Is-a-Big-Problem-According-to-Fed-IT-Workers<p><img src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/risk.png" border="0" alt="describe the image"></p> <p>A total of 300 federal IT workers recently took the time to grade their departments’ downtime management strategies in a survey conducted by Meritalk, as was reported in a<strong><a href="http://www.federaltimes.com/story/government/it/management/2014/12/31/meritalk-data-center-downtme/21108807/"> Financial Times</a></strong> article.</p> <p>The results of the survey were not pretty, indicating that downtime is one of the biggest cyber issues facing the federal government in 2015.</p> <p>Some 36 percent of federal IT professionals gave their IT departments a grade of “C,” meaning average to below average, for downtime management performance. Additionally, just 29 percent of federal IT professionals believe that their IT department is fully aware of the impact that downtime can have on their agency’s overall performance.</p> <p>Furthermore, about half of those surveyed indicated that their data center lacks the necessary computational power, data storage and personnel needed to ensure optimal efficiency.</p> <p>This study is alarming given the fact that the transmission of real-time information is critical for facilitating a wide range of important federal tasks. These tasks range from safety inspections to healthcare. Without the help of a reliable network and a fully optimized data center, many workers are finding it difficult to complete important tasks.</p> <p>What can be done to rectify the federal government’s data center woes? Real-time data center power monitoring, as well as environmental monitoring, is an essential technology that would help ensure the safety and stability of core government networks, in regard to power. Federal IT professionals require real-time access to energy consumption metrics provided by this technology in order to prevent system overloading, network crashes and capacity shortages. With such a technology, the federal government could gain critical oversight into real-time power consumption as well as environmental data.&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187154/Downtime-Is-a-Big-Problem-According-to-Fed-IT-Workers&bvt=rss">Eric GiacominiMon, 19 Jan 2015 14:00:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:187154http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187144/Three-Data-Center-Power-Resolutions-for-2015#Comments0Three Data Center Power Resolutions for 2015http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187144/Three-Data-Center-Power-Resolutions-for-2015<p>Time flies as, once again, we reached the end of another year. It seems like just yesterday we were sharing with you ways to shelter your network equipment from soaring summer temperatures. Now, you should be preparing your data center to handle 2015.</p> <p>You’ll want to make sure your data center is well-equipped to handle the multitude of power-related challenges that will arise over the course of the next year. Toward this effort, we recommendation that you keep the following three data center power resolutions:</p> <p><b>Let your racks breathe: </b>Do your cables have a stranglehold on your racks? If so, they could be preventing cool air from getting to your servers, which could lead to overheating and equipment failure. Cable congestion also leads to frustration and confusion for network operators. So make sure reducing cable congestion is <strong><a href="http://www.servertech.com/videos_and_webinars/power_draw_cable_management/">high on your list of priorities</a></strong>.</p> <p><b>Improve your power usage effectiveness (PUE): </b>Like most data centers, you simply don’t have the budget to be hemorrhaging money on inefficient equipment. You should make it a point, therefore, to improve your PUE, which is a metric for quantifying how efficiently your data center uses energy apart from cooling and other forms of overhead.</p> <p><b>Gain control over your infrastructure: </b>Are you managing your data center, or is your data center managing you? If you feel like you’ve lost control over your data center equipment, it’s only a matter of time before you experience a catastrophe like sudden power failure or you reach network capacity. You need critical insight through a robust <strong><a href="http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186801/Monitor-Your-Network-s-Power-Consumption-Without-Any-Wires" title="data center power managing program" target="_self">data </a><a href="http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186801/Monitor-Your-Network-s-Power-Consumption-Without-Any-Wires" title="data center power managing program" target="_self">center power managing program</a><a href="http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186801/Monitor-Your-Network-s-Power-Consumption-Without-Any-Wires"></a></strong> that will let you see critical power draw in real time.</p> <p>Server Technology, a leading provider of data center power management solutions, has all of the tools that you need to fulfill these resolutions. So don’t wait until the new year to actualize your goals. <strong><a href="http://www.servertech.com/solutions/power-management">Click here</a></strong> to get started today.&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187144/Three-Data-Center-Power-Resolutions-for-2015&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapFri, 16 Jan 2015 14:00:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:187144http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187143/The-Global-Data-Center-Power-Market-Is-Booming#Comments0The Global Data Center Power Market Is Booming http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187143/The-Global-Data-Center-Power-Market-Is-Booming<p><img src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/datacenter1.jpg" border="0" alt="describe the image"></p> <p>A new study from <strong><a href="http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/z9fjlx/data_center_power#description" title="Research and Markets" target="_self">Research and Markets</a></strong> shows that data center power monitoring technology will continue to be a “go to” power management solution for network professionals over the next several years.</p> <p>The report, titled “Data Center Power Market by Solutions, by Services, by Verticals &amp; Regions – Market Forecasts and Analysis (2014-2019),” shows that the global data center power market will grow from $15.19 billion in 2014 to $23.67 billion in 2019. This demonstrates a compound annual growth rate of 9.3 percent.</p> <p>In the report, data center power monitoring is defined as the cost-effective management and maintenance of the distribution of power and back-up electricity sources.</p> <p>Why is the data center power market growing so quickly? The next-generation technology that the market encompasses provides greater visibility into network operations, resulting in:</p> <p>• <strong>Longer equipment life cycles:</strong> Replacing network hardware is expensive, so it’s vital to keep equipment functioning properly. To function properly, network hardware needs an adequate supply of power at all times. Data center power monitoring solutions ensure this equal and safe power distribution.</p> <p>• <strong>Reduced downtime:</strong> Using power monitoring software, it’s possible to glean advanced information about the health and stability of a network. If a server begins to run low on resources, for instance, IT managers can be alerted about the problem and can work to address the situation before it leads to prolonged downtime.</p> <p>• <strong>Better oversight and management:</strong> Armed with critical performance feedback, managers can make important changes in regard to capacity planning and data management. <br>Server Technology is proud to be listed in the Research and Markets report as a leading provider of power monitoring solutions. Server Technology offers a robust line of smart and metered power monitoring services, as well as advanced, high-density outlets that can provide a greater amount of power to the rack. <strong><a href="http://www.servertech.com/solutions" title="Click here" target="_self">Click here</a></strong> for more information.</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187143/The-Global-Data-Center-Power-Market-Is-Booming&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapThu, 15 Jan 2015 14:00:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:187143http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187127/Data-Center-Power-Monitoring-Protect-Your-Infrastructure#Comments0Data Center Power Monitoring: Protect Your Infrastructure http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187127/Data-Center-Power-Monitoring-Protect-Your-Infrastructure<p><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr"><a class="_ZR irc_hol" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=images&amp;cd=&amp;ved=0CAYQjB0&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fthirstingfortruth.com%2Fhacking-catholicism%2F&amp;ei=nwi3VICWNIaRyQTKmIKICQ&amp;bvm=bv.83640239,d.aWw&amp;psig=AFQjCNGuWEH-bPo5quiu8KagneD3c0UZWg&amp;ust=1421367834137740" data-ved="0CAYQjB0" data-href="http://thirstingfortruth.com/hacking-catholicism/"><img id="img-1421281624455" src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/binaryhole.png" border="0" alt="binaryhole"></a></span></p> <p>For people in the U.S. energy sector, securing the infrastructure that provides much of the country’s juice has become of paramount importance. With the number and impact of security breaches increasing, many are asking the same question: What would happen if the U.S. energy sector were to get hit with a massive cyberattack?</p> <p>The consensus amongst security experts is that such an attack could be catastrophic; it could lead to the loss of life, and cause severe damage to our critical infrastructure and economy.</p> <p>Hackers are certainly attempting to attack the energy grid, too—and frequently.&nbsp; In 2014, <strong><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2014/11/18/technology/security/energy-grid-hack/">they managed to break into</a></strong> at least 37 percent of energy companies. Experts believe that the infrastructures of major U.S. energy providers are riddled with dormant malware, which if activated could make it possible to launch a cyberattack and cause widespread outages.</p> <p>What all this portends is that such an event could occur. Malware could be released at anytime, leading to a service outage.</p> <p>But it’s just as likely that a major natural disaster, like a freak storm, could arise and damage the sensitive power grid too.</p> <p>As a data center manager, you need to be prepared to protect your facility should a major outage occur. If your power supply were to unexpectedly shut off, your business’s data would depend entirely on its backup uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to kick in and keep your servers running.</p> <p>If your UPS system is malfunctioning, however, your facility could easily be stranded until power is restored to your area. This means that all of your company’s electric systems, including its security architecture, could be shut down.</p> <p>A power monitoring and distribution system is your best bet for ensuring that your UPS system is functioning at all times. <strong><a href="http://cdn1.servertech.com/assets/documents/documents/1430/original/Advances_in_Wire-Free_Power_Monitoring_in_the_Data_Center1.pdf?1362008941">Click here</a></strong> for more information about how Server Technology can help provide your data center with this critical technology.</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187127/Data-Center-Power-Monitoring-Protect-Your-Infrastructure&bvt=rss">Eric GiacominiThu, 15 Jan 2015 00:08:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:187127http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187113/On-a-Budget-Here-s-How-to-Get-More-Rack-Power-Cheaply-and-Safely#Comments0On a Budget? Here’s How to Get More Rack Power Cheaply and Safelyhttp://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187113/On-a-Budget-Here-s-How-to-Get-More-Rack-Power-Cheaply-and-Safely<p>Like most data centers, your server racks are becoming increasingly dense as you adopt cutting-edge new technologies. This is creating the need for more power in your data center. Your challenge, therefore, is to increase power to each individual rack safely and affordably.</p> <p>But you are limited in your ability to meet this challenge due to escalating power prices in some parts of the country, <strong><a href="http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186802/Power-Prices-Set-to-Surge-as-Temperatures-Plummet-in-New-England" title="particularly in New England" target="_self">particularly in New England</a></strong> where there is a natural gas shortage. Many businesses are also rebounding from the stagnant economy, meaning budgets are still under close surveillance.</p> <p>So what’s the best solution to deliver power to your server racks? The answer is to migrate to a three-phase power distribution system. Three-phase power distribution generates and distributes an alternating current, which means power that is typically run into the ground in single-phase architecture can be pumped back into the data center. In other words, you gain more power without having to purchase an additional amount when you employ three-phase distribution; you simply optimize the distribution method.</p> <p>How effective is three-phase power distribution? Research shows that it can increase the available power in a rack by as much as 300 percent. Installing the technology also reduces your copper conductor count, too—meaning you will have more storage capacity.</p> <p>One of the best parts about three-phase power distribution is that it is safe. Since it uses more branches, there is less chance of experiencing an overload that could severely damage your equipment.</p> <p>Server Technology’s advanced line of power distribution units (PDUs) combines three-phase power distribution with advanced local and remote power and environmental monitoring capabilities, so you can keep a close watch on your equipment at all times.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://cdn1.servertech.com/assets/documents/documents/236/original/3-Phase_Power_in_the_Data_Center_Dec14.pdf?1417648532">Click here </a></strong>&nbsp;to read Server Technology’s white paper about three-phase power distribution in the data center.&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187113/On-a-Budget-Here-s-How-to-Get-More-Rack-Power-Cheaply-and-Safely&bvt=rss">Eric GiacominiWed, 14 Jan 2015 00:49:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:187113http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187089/Three-Reasons-to-Invest-in-Data-Center-Power-Monitoring-This-Winter#Comments0Three Reasons to Invest in Data Center Power Monitoring This Winter http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187089/Three-Reasons-to-Invest-in-Data-Center-Power-Monitoring-This-Winter<p><img id="img-1420841641968" src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/winter-476742_640.jpg" border="0" alt="winter 476742 640" width="408" height="305"></p> <p>Right now you and your IT staff are in the process of planning your budget for 2015. During this course of action, have you considered investing in a data center power monitoring solution for your business? &nbsp;</p> <p>A data center power monitoring solution is a rack-level management system that lets you observe and control your power intake and environmental settings from a central Web-based location. It’s affordable, easy to install and simple to use.</p> <p>Here are three major benefits it can provide for your facility:&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Increase UPS efficiency: </b>When the electricity goes out in your facility and your UPS power supply kicks in, you’ll want to make sure that you squeeze every ounce of energy that you can from it. Research shows that the average UPS <strong><a href="http://fireless.cs.cornell.edu/publications/powermanagement.pdf">only has an efficiency level</a></strong> of 92 percent, so you’ll want to make sure that power is being adequately distributed to all of your equipment. A monitoring solution can help provide the visibility necessary for making critical changes when necessary to conserve power and protect your equipment.</p> <p><b>Create a proactive IT culture: </b>A power monitoring solution will help you spot electricity-related problems well in advance, giving you the power to make critical changes before downtime occurs. By establishing an IT culture based on proactive maintenance, you can save money and time in your data center.</p> <p><b>Re-allocate your IT staff: </b>Are your best IT workers spending the majority of their time tending to power-related issues? If so, it’s time to re-allocate your staff to higher-level work. This can be accomplished through the use of a central power manager, which can provide real-time power monitoring and alerting. When something goes wrong, your team will know exactly where the problem is and how to fix it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187089/Three-Reasons-to-Invest-in-Data-Center-Power-Monitoring-This-Winter&bvt=rss">Eric GiacominiFri, 09 Jan 2015 21:42:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:187089http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187062/Now-Is-the-Time-to-Embrace-Renewable-Energy-in-Your-Data-Center#Comments0Now Is the Time to Embrace Renewable Energy in Your Data Centerhttp://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187062/Now-Is-the-Time-to-Embrace-Renewable-Energy-in-Your-Data-Center<p><img src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/640px-alternative_energies-resized-600.jpg" border="0" alt="describe the image"></p> <p>Your data center uses a massive amount of electricity. Like most large enterprises, the energy you burn in a year is enough to power a small city for an extended period of time.</p> <p>While your business’s heavy energy consumption is largely unavoidable, since your sizeable data center is an integral part of your organization’s operations, you can, on the other hand, avoid growing your carbon footprint by choosing to invest in green energy sources.</p> <p>It’s possible to help clean up the environment by switching to renewable energy like solar, wind or water power. Now, moving to renewable energy is more affordable and easier than ever before: In many states, you simply contact your utility provider and request the change. So, no more excuses as well as no more reasons to forego renewable energy.</p> <p>Don’t let the size of your enterprise keep you from switching your energy supply either. Google, for instance, a massive corporation with multiple data centers (at least 12 in the U.S. alone), currently uses renewable energy to power <strong><a href="http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/renewable/">35 percent of its operations</a></strong>. If Google can rely this heavily on renewable energy, your business can too.</p> <p>Beyond “going green” by switching your energy source, enhance your efforts by adopting a culture of responsible energy usage. This entails measuring and controlling your data center’s power consumption in real time. With the right data center power monitoring software, you can keep a close watch on your business’s usage and look for ways to reduce your impact on the environment. It can help you lower your energy costs, and comply with local and federal energy consumption mandates.</p> <p>Here at Server Technology, we’re ready to help you better manage your data center’s energy usage. Our advanced power monitoring software can provide unparalleled visibility into your daily power consumption, putting you in the driver’s seat when it comes to making important changes based on hard data.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.servertech.com/solutions/green-initiatives">Click here</a></strong> for more information.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187062/Now-Is-the-Time-to-Embrace-Renewable-Energy-in-Your-Data-Center&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapTue, 06 Jan 2015 23:04:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:187062http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187030/Protect-Your-Investment-with-a-Remote-Power-Monitoring-Solution#Comments0Protect Your Investment with a Remote Power Monitoring Solutionhttp://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187030/Protect-Your-Investment-with-a-Remote-Power-Monitoring-Solution<p><img id="img-1420070211420" src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/deep space.jpg" border="0" alt="describe the image" width="428" height="233"></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">What is the cost of power failure in a 24/7, mission-critical environment? Depending on your organization and the type of operation you are conducting, the results could be devastating.&nbsp;</span></p> <p>For some organizations, power failure could result in the loss of life, or millions of dollars of lost revenue. This is true for space exploration missions, for example, or for military operations where technology must remain up and running at all times. Whether a device is being used to conduct advanced scientific research or to guide a group of soldiers safely to their destination in hostile territory, the same message holds true: certain devices simply cannot fail while they are in use.</p> <p>As these examples prove, when power failure occurs in environments like deep space, military combat zones or at the bottom of the ocean, performing a physical reconnaissance mission can be risky, exorbitantly expensive or even impossible.</p> <p>For this reason, system administrators must have the ability to control and reboot mission- critical devices from a remote location at all times.</p> <p>Server Technology, a leading provider of remote data center power monitoring technology, provides system administrators with this ability through its Sentry PTXL products. These products provide network operations personnel with the ability to perform a variety of remote power monitoring and control functions, so that critical updates can be performed without having to be physically present in the location of the device.</p> <p>Interested in learning more? <strong><a href="http://cdn1.servertech.com/assets/documents/documents/239/original/JITC_tested_PDU_s_for_DOD_IT_and_NSA_Applications.pdf?1326169760">Click here</a></strong> to read about Server Technology’s cabinet power distribution solutions for Department of Defense information technology and national security system applications.&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187030/Protect-Your-Investment-with-a-Remote-Power-Monitoring-Solution&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapWed, 31 Dec 2014 23:45:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:187030http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187018/Looking-to-Reduce-Power-Consumption-In-Your-Data-Center#Comments1Looking to Reduce Power Consumption In Your Data Center? http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187018/Looking-to-Reduce-Power-Consumption-In-Your-Data-Center<p>Your data center was provisioned with far more servers than it uses on a daily basis; in fact, chances are likely that it typically operates at far below network capacity. But like most facilities, your data center continues to idle the majority of its machines even when operating at this level.</p> <p>As a result of this practice, your data center is distributing a large amount of power through these idle machines. <strong><a href="http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/pdelforge/new_study_americas_data_center.html">Consider the fact</a></strong> that there are about 12 million servers in the U.S. right now, and up to 30 percent are considered to be idle or unused yet still waste large amounts of energy.</p> <p>You may be looking to reduce expenses and help save power by turning off your idle servers. Before you do this, however, it’s important to gain a clear picture of how your entire network is utilizing them. You need to figure out the exact workflows that are run on these machines in order to determine whether it makes sense to power them down. You may find that it costs much more money to power your servers back up than it does to keep them running in idle states. <br> <br> A data center power monitoring solution will provide you with an in-depth look at your facility’s overall energy usage. Look for a device that can give you detailed information about how each rack consumes power so that you know which machines are safe to power down. Once you have a good idea of your utilization rates, you can then make an informed decision about how to adjust your equipment. But best practices call for taking a metric-driven approach to power reduction. This way, you can save money and electricity without creating an excessive amount of risk.&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/187018/Looking-to-Reduce-Power-Consumption-In-Your-Data-Center&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapWed, 31 Dec 2014 00:41:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:187018http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186955/Server-Technology-Wins-a-TMC-2014-infoTECH-Spotlight-Data-Center-Excellence-Award#Comments0 Server Technology Wins a TMC 2014 infoTECH Spotlight Data Center Excellence Award http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186955/Server-Technology-Wins-a-TMC-2014-infoTECH-Spotlight-Data-Center-Excellence-Award<span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"><span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"></span></span> <p><img id="img-1418937730243" src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/InfoTech-Data-Cntr-Exc-14-resized-600.jpg" alt="InfoTech Data Cntr Exc 14 resized 600" border="0" height="282" width="322"></p> <p>Server Technology was recently awarded a TMC 2014 infoTech Spotlight Data Center Excellence Award for High Density Outlet Technology. The 2014 infoTECH Spotlight Data Center Excellence Award recognizes the most innovative and enterprising data center vendors who offer infrastructure or software, servers or cooling systems, cabling or management applications. </p> <span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"><span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"></span></span> <p>Server Technology was recognized for High Density Outlet Technology (HDOT), HDOT provides up to 42 C13’s in a 42U high by 1U wide device, the highest possible outlet density available in a network connected PDU. Manufactured with robust high temperature materials carrying a UL94 V-0 flame rating makes these outlets ideally suited for harsh data center environments. Additional features include high native cord retention that eliminates the need for custom and costly ancillary locking cord devices.</p> <span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"><span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"></span></span> <p>To order the HDOT PDU go to STIs new Build Your Own PDU configurator on servertech.com, where you can configure your own custom HDOT PDU.</p> <span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"><span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"></span></span> <p>Learn more at <a href="http://information.servertech.com/hdot?__hstc=233546881.9191db6d9273ae684d157f2e0a70d2d6.1399653544830.1418837126011.1418936647749.55&amp;__hssc=233546881.790.1418936572742&amp;__hsfp=3839407210">http://information.servertech.com/hdot</a></p> <span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"><span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"></span></span> <p><strong>About InfoTech Spotlight</strong></p> <span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"><span class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text"></span></span> <p>InfoTech Spotlight brings extensive daily content focused on information technology. Visitors will find free industry news, communities, channels, blogs, feature articles, videos, whitepapers and other resources. The site keeps readers informed about developments across topics including software, hardware, security and networking. InfoTech Spotlight is powered by TMCnet, the leading communications and technology site in the World attracting two million unique visitors monthly according to Webtrends. Please visit: <a href="http://it.tmcnet.com/">infoTECH Spotlight</a> for more information.</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186955/Server-Technology-Wins-a-TMC-2014-infoTECH-Spotlight-Data-Center-Excellence-Award&bvt=rss">Erik StabileThu, 18 Dec 2014 21:20:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:186955http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186835/Question-of-the-Month-How-Do-I-Ensure-Uptime-in-My-Data-Center#Comments0Question of the Month: How Do I Ensure Uptime in My Data Center?http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186835/Question-of-the-Month-How-Do-I-Ensure-Uptime-in-My-Data-Center<p><img src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/datacenter.jpg" border="0" alt="describe the image"></p> <p>Recently, a lot of customers have been asking us here at Server Technology about maximizing uptime. <br><br>Customers want to know: With the multitude of power-related challenges facing data centers today, like unplanned outages; increasing security threats; new, relatively untested technologies such as SDN; and the ongoing threat of natural disasters, is striving for constant uptime a realistic goal or a pipe dream? Many feel that they are fighting a losing battle against this slew of challenges. <br><br>Our response is that it’s easy to get frustrated with the increasing number of demands facing your data center. But it’s also easy to manage power effectively when you have access to a reliable data center power management solution that can provide the following features:</p> <p><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>• <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><strong>Real-time environmental alerts:</strong> Stay on top of environmental challenges like <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>heat&nbsp;spikes and condensation with advanced temperature and humidity <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>monitoring. <br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>• <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><strong>Capacity planning:</strong> See exactly how new infrastructure and technologies fit in <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>with your existing equipment. Capacity planning tools will let you see how much <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>power your equipment is using, and how much room you have left before <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>reaching your ceiling. <br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>• <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><strong>Power draw data:</strong> When downtime occurs, you need to be aware of it. Don’t let <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>servers&nbsp;and switches fail for extended periods of time without being noticed. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Gain advanced power draw information so that you can keep a close watch on <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>your facility at all times. <br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>• <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><strong>Remote management:</strong> Make critical power adjustments from any location with <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>remote management. You don’t have to be physically present in your data center <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>to oversee your equipment and make key changes.</p> <p><br>So, don’t get overwhelmed trying to maintain uptime. Get the right technology to ensure it. Server Technology, a leading provider of data center power management software, can help you ensure uptime in an unpredictable environment. <a href="http://www.servertech.com/spmdownloads/spm-5-demo/" title="Click here" target="_self">Click here</a> to request a demo today.</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186835/Question-of-the-Month-How-Do-I-Ensure-Uptime-in-My-Data-Center&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapThu, 11 Dec 2014 13:00:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:186835http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186803/Mitigate-Risk-With-a-Data-Center-Power-Monitoring-Solution#Comments0Mitigate Risk With a Data Center Power Monitoring Solutionhttp://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186803/Mitigate-Risk-With-a-Data-Center-Power-Monitoring-Solution<p><img src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/risk.png" border="0" alt="risk"></p> <p>Your job as a network professional is to expand your data center’s intelligence capabilities in a cost-effective and responsible way. It’s critical, therefore, that you mitigate the risk of over-extending your resources when adding new equipment.</p> <p>Power is one of the biggest challenges that could undermine your efforts to expand your data center’s capabilities, as it is expensive and can be damaging to your equipment if left unmonitored. Fortunately, you can easily control your facility’s electricity usage with a data center power monitoring solution that records and reports on the energy consumption for each component of your data center.</p> <p>Here are some of the problems that a data center power monitoring solution can help your business counter the following risks:</p> <p><b>Vendor misrepresentations: </b>When you invest in a new network device, you need to see whether the hardware actually delivers on its intended promises of efficiency and electricity consumption. A power monitoring solution will let you track a device’s electricity usage over time, so you can obtain quality efficiency metrics throughout the lifetime of a product. This data will come in handy for any negotiations with the vendor about product quality when it’s time to either upgrade your equipment or move on to another provider.</p> <p><b>Hardware failure: </b>Oftentimes, servers and switches leaving the factory are only, are given a spot-check for quality purposes, meaning that not every device will be thoroughly inspected. It’s not unheard of for a piece of hardware to fail any time after it is plugged in, which can lead to downtime. A power monitoring solution can alert you when a device fails, thus saving time, money and critical data.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Waste:</b> Idling or overused servers can waste money and drive up the cost of your monthly electricity bills.<b> </b>If a server starts hemorrhaging power, you need to know about it so you can respond accordingly.</p> <p>If you want to keep your data center performing optimally, you need to see how it is performing in real time. <strong><a href="http://www.servertech.com/solutions/sentry-power-manager-5">Click here</a></strong> to learn how Server Technology can help your business streamline power efficiencies with its data center power monitoring software.&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186803/Mitigate-Risk-With-a-Data-Center-Power-Monitoring-Solution&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapTue, 09 Dec 2014 14:00:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:186803http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186801/Monitor-Your-Network-s-Power-Consumption-Without-Any-Wires#Comments0Monitor Your Network's Power Consumption Without Any Wireshttp://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186801/Monitor-Your-Network-s-Power-Consumption-Without-Any-Wires<p><img id="img-1417807364551" src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/RF tag.jpg" border="0" alt="RF tag" width="333" height="299"></p> <p>You’re looking to install a new technology that will help you glean advanced insight into your data center’s energy consumption. But the thought of adding more wires does not seem all that appealing. After all, your data center already looks like a jungle.</p> <p>Fortunately, there is a solution: You can implement advanced, wireless data center power monitoring from Server Technology. It’s easy to install, and it’s clutter-free.</p> <p>Here’s how Server Technology’s wireless data center <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrJw5WX22dc">power monitoring solution</a></strong> works: Wireless RF tags are first inserted into serial cords and attach to power distribution units (PDU), which plug directly into racks located around the data center. The RF tags record each outlet’s energy consumption and then wirelessly transmit the information back to a central management platform, where the information can be accessed from any location.</p> <p>RF tags are also capable of wirelessly transmitting environmental information from your facility, so you can use it to track temperature and humidity levels without being physically present in your data center. <br> <br> Server Technology’s wire-free power monitoring solution can be used with both switched and smart PDUs, through the use of patented Per Inlet Power Sensing (PIPs) and Per Outlet Sensing features.</p> <p>Here are some of the benefits of a wireless power and environmental monitoring solution:</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Locate stranded power capacity <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Stay in compliance with regulatory power usage <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Reduce overall expenses <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gain peace of mind knowing that your facility is safe</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.servertech.com/solutions/wire_free_power_monitoring_with_server_tech_and_rf_code">Click here</a></strong> to learn more about how you can gain a whole new level of insight into your data center infrastructure’s power usage without having to add any clutter.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186801/Monitor-Your-Network-s-Power-Consumption-Without-Any-Wires&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapFri, 05 Dec 2014 19:09:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:186801http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186802/Power-Prices-Set-to-Surge-as-Temperatures-Plummet-in-New-England#Comments0Power Prices Set to Surge as Temperatures Plummet in New Englandhttp://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186802/Power-Prices-Set-to-Surge-as-Temperatures-Plummet-in-New-England<p><img src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/fracking.jpg" border="0" alt="fracking"></p> <p>Businesses and consumers across New England are preparing for a big spike in energy prices starting in January.</p> <p>What’s responsible for rising energy prices? The increase can be attributed to the recent western fracking boom, which initially drove down the price of natural gas and caused a large amount of people to invest in it. New England’s <strong><a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/11/05/361420484/new-england-electricity-prices-spike-as-gas-pipelines-lag">reliance on natural gas</a></strong> increased from 15 percent to 46 percent between 2000 and 2013.</p> <p>Unfortunately, there is an issue of supply and demand occurring now as there aren’t enough pipelines running back east to provide gas to all of the customers. As temperatures plummet with the onset of winter, a greater amount of strain is being placed on the already maxed-out pipes. Prices could therefore increase significantly once it comes time to reset rates in January. &nbsp;</p> <p>We are already beginning to see the problem unfold. In Boston, for example, utility provider NStar <strong><a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/11/07/nstar-raise-electric-rates-percent/pAFfYV5SjYJQHr1ISJPQkN/story.html">has already asked</a></strong> for a 29 percent increase for energy consumers.</p> <p>If your business is in the crosshairs for increased power rates, it’s imperative that you invest in a data center power monitoring solution that can keep a close watch on your energy consumption in real time. With data center power monitoring, you can stay under budget and keep your power consumption at a reasonable level—even if your local energy rates are unreasonable.</p> <p>Server Technology is one provider that offers advanced, wireless data center power monitoring solutions equipped with RF Code capabilities. Through the help of Server Technology, you can keep a close eye on your racks to make sure you are not wasting energy.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.servertech.com/solutions/sentry-power-manager-5">Click here</a></strong> to learn more about how Server Technology can help you combat rising energy prices in your data center today.&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186802/Power-Prices-Set-to-Surge-as-Temperatures-Plummet-in-New-England&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapWed, 03 Dec 2014 19:24:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:186802http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186671/Your-Data-Center-Is-Unlike-Any-Other-So-Build-a-Custom-PDU-Solution#Comments0Your Data Center Is Unlike Any Other—So Build a Custom PDU Solutionhttp://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186671/Your-Data-Center-Is-Unlike-Any-Other-So-Build-a-Custom-PDU-Solution<p><img id="img-1416596137164" src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/Microsoft Corp Data Center.jpg" border="0" alt="Microsoft Corp Data Center" width="266" height="190">(Image: Microsoft Corp)</p> <p>Imagine you’re looking for a new suit. Are you going to settle for any old set of threads from off of the rack? Or will you invest in a custom-tailored ensemble? Chances are likely that you’ll embrace the latter because the higher-quality materials and workmanship will improve the fit and your professional appearance as well as increase the durability of the finished product.</p> <p>Similarly, when you invest in a customized data center solution—such as a power distribution unit (PDU)—you are guaranteed a product with features that make it more valuable for your particular business’s needs. Just like your custom suit is unique for you, your data center power needs are one of a kind. What works for one organization might not work for yours, so you need a PDU that will conform to your exact specifications. &nbsp;</p> <p>Here at Server Technology, we make it easy to design your own PDU. You can choose your amperage type (one-phase, three-phase or three-phase alternating current), power input style, orientation type and outlet module. We even give you the option to choose your connectivity preference—be it IP-enabled or metered. Our build-your-own-PDU (BYOP) generator puts you in the driver’s seat and gives you the option to tell us exactly what you want. Then, we will tailor your PDU(s) to conform to the needs of your servers.</p> <p>It’s time to outfit your data center with a PDU solution that will help maximize efficiencies and mitigate frustration. <a href="http://www.servertech.com/products/build-your-own-pdu/">Click here</a> to learn how to build your own PDU today.&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186671/Your-Data-Center-Is-Unlike-Any-Other-So-Build-a-Custom-PDU-Solution&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapFri, 21 Nov 2014 18:26:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:186671http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186624/Reduce-the-Cost-of-Your-Network-Infrastructure-With-Cable-Length#Comments0Reduce the Cost of Your Network Infrastructure With Cable Lengthhttp://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186624/Reduce-the-Cost-of-Your-Network-Infrastructure-With-Cable-Length<p>In many ways, a data center should be seen and not heard in an organization. While the data center is one of the most critical parts of any company, it can also be seen as a financial burden to upper management. This is especially true in today’s cloud-driven market where business leaders are growing increasingly focused on outsourcing data operations to the cloud.</p> <p>So if you want to keep your data center on-premises, it’s important that you stay as far out of the financial red zone as possible. In assessing your strategies for reducing operational costs and reducing your network infrastructure, one of the easiest and safest things you can do is to shorten the length of your cables. There are a few upsides to doing this. First and foremost, shorter cables are less expensive and more efficient. You will reduce power loss and you will also improve airflow in your rack, which will decrease server temperatures. Cooler servers run faster, and are less prone to overheating and system failure.</p> <p>Using High-Density Outlet Technology (HDOT) from Server Technology is one of the best ways to reduce cable length in your cabinets. HDOT power distribution units (PDUs) attach directly to the top or side of a cabinet, which means instead of having to run cables several yards to an outlet, you will only need a few feet of wiring. HDOT PDUs are IP-enabled for remote power distribution and monitoring capabilities, and also come with real-time environmental monitoring to alert managers about fluctuating cabinet temperatures and humidity levels.</p> <p><a href="http://www.servertech.com/products/build-your-own-pdu/">Click here</a> to get started using Server Tech’s HDOT PDU technology today.&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186624/Reduce-the-Cost-of-Your-Network-Infrastructure-With-Cable-Length&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapTue, 18 Nov 2014 01:02:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:186624http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186571/Product-Spotlight-Meet-the-New-PRO2-PDU-From-Server-Technology#Comments0Product Spotlight: Meet the New PRO2 PDU From Server Technology http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186571/Product-Spotlight-Meet-the-New-PRO2-PDU-From-Server-Technology<p>Threats to data center uptime are on the rise, challenging operators to ensure continuous network availability. Businesses need to safeguard themselves against a whole host of environmental and security-related dangers, from an increasing number of cyber and physical threats to unexpected severe weather incidents. To address these concerns, Server Technology has responded with the latest version of its power distribution unit (PDU) platform; built with bleeding-edge PRO2 Architecture, it guarantees maximum rack availability no matter what difficulties arise. &nbsp;</p> <p>Built with redundant power and hot-swappable network cards, the PRO2 platform is capable of ensuring communication among rackmounted devices even in the event that a master power unit fails. It is, therefore, ideal for use in high-density or high-temperature environments, or for use with mission-critical applications that require advanced protection. PRO2 units can also be linked together in the event of an emergency, so that multiple units can continue communicating until service is restored.</p> <p>The new PRO2 platform, which Server Technology will use in all PDU models moving forward, goes above and beyond the company’s previous PDU offerings as it provides improved outlet types and enclosure sizes, as well as a sleeker design and stronger, more-reliable firmware. It contains more processing power and memory, too.</p> <p>PRO2 also integrates more easily with Server Technology’s Sentry Power Manager, as it now comes with more-advanced network capacity planning tools, better reporting capabilities and rack-level power measurements.</p> <p>This product is now available in single-phase 208/230V, three-phase 208V and three-phase 400/415V 20-30/16-32A switched POPS 30-outlet PDUs. <strong><a href="http://information.servertech.com/advances-in-power-and-environmental-monitoring-for-increasing-efficiency-in-the-data-center" title="Click here" target="_self">Click here</a></strong> for more information about how you can get started using the next generation of High-Density Outlet Technology from Server Technology today.&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186571/Product-Spotlight-Meet-the-New-PRO2-PDU-From-Server-Technology&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapFri, 14 Nov 2014 22:34:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:186571http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186568/Why-Choose-Server-Technology-for-Your-Data-Center-Power-Needs#Comments0Why Choose Server Technology for Your Data Center Power Needs?http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186568/Why-Choose-Server-Technology-for-Your-Data-Center-Power-Needs<p><img src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/server_technology_logo.jpg" border="0" alt="describe the image"></p> <p>Choosing a data center power management solution for your business is a big decision. Since power is one of the most critical components of a data center, the solution you choose will have a direct impact on your business. In many ways, it could mean the difference between success and failure for your company.&nbsp;</p> <p>Here at Server Technology, we understand the responsibility of providing your business with a first-class data center power management solution. Our customers agree that our solution provides outstanding benefits, as evidenced in our most recent customer survey, which found that 97 percent of them buy from us repeatedly.</p> <p>Here are some of the business initiatives we enable you to execute when you partner with us for your data center power management needs:</p> <p><b>Obtain high-quality products: </b>More than two-thirds of our customers indicated that quality was their top purchasing criterion for investing in Server Technology products. All of our rackmount power distribution units are built with Server Tech Quality Power Architecture (QPA), which means they are designed and manufactured with 100 percent <strong><a href="http://www.servertech.com/products/qualitypowerarchitecture/">product performance testing</a></strong>, making them risk-free and built for reliability and performance.</p> <p><b>Access expert support: </b>When you purchase products from Server Technology, you’ll gain more than just a high-quality product. You’ll <strong><a href="http://www.servertech.com/support">also gain access</a></strong> to a team of trained service engineers that can help you solve problems and overcome data center power challenges. How comprehensive is the support you will receive? An overwhelming 85 percent of our customers say our support is superior to the competition’s.</p> <p><b>Improve power density: </b>Are you trying to <strong><a href="http://www.servertech.com/company/customers/pdu_success_stories/high_density_solution_maximizes_rack_space/">increase density</a></strong> in your data center to save floor space and money? If so, we are ready to assist you. Some 74 percent of our customers were able to resolve all of their power-density challenges after purchasing our products.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://info.servertech.com/request-a-quote/?&amp;t=46759">Click here</a></strong> to request a quote and get started using Server Technology today.&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186568/Why-Choose-Server-Technology-for-Your-Data-Center-Power-Needs&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapWed, 12 Nov 2014 19:34:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:186568http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186492/How-PRO2-Came-to-Be#Comments0How PRO2 Came to Behttp://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186492/How-PRO2-Came-to-Be<p><img src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/STV-6501-_product_image.jpg" border="0" alt="STV 6501 product image"></p> <p>Sometimes if organizations are not careful they can be a victim of their own success.&nbsp; This was certainly true for Server Technology who driven by a large number of customer requests for custom PDU solutions focused on developing these solutions quickly and efficiently as a core competency. This kept us ahead of the market in many ways providing key solutions immediately needed in the market. It also pushed some other projects to the background.</p> <p>A decision was made to make a conscience split between our new technologies and our same but different engineering groups that had at their exposure a modular design that they could mold and piece together in multiple ways to produce custom solutions. Many of the new product features today like ST Eye (Bluetooth communications with Android and Apple App’s), higher temperature ratings, mechanical improvements, improved security, SNAP (plug and play PDU configuration), new PRO2 PDU, RF Code tag support, etc. are a result of this refocus.</p> <p>The new PRO2 architecture takes our existing features and combines them with new additional features driven by both customer demand and the goal of greater reliability and uptime. Some of these new PRO2 features include:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Multi-Linking of Units (1 IP for up to 4 units) <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Redundant Power from the Link Unit always ensuring uptime <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hot Swap network card replacement <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Highest density form factor <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shallow POPS enclosure (2.25 inches deep) <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Graphical interface with file system, new security features and alerts <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Branch Circuit Monitoring and alerts <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Higher temperature ratings</p> <p>The PRO2 product is truly a combination of our complete and total understanding of both our customer’s requirements and the data center cabinet power critical infrastructure environment.&nbsp; For more information on PRO2 watch the video on our <strong><a href="http://www.servertech.com" title="home page" target="_self">home page</a></strong>.</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186492/How-PRO2-Came-to-Be&bvt=rss">Calvin NicholsonWed, 05 Nov 2014 22:12:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:186492http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186464/Don-t-Get-Blindsided-By-a-Lack-of-Capacity-in-Your-Data-Center#Comments0Don't Get Blindsided By a Lack of Capacity in Your Data Centerhttp://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186464/Don-t-Get-Blindsided-By-a-Lack-of-Capacity-in-Your-Data-Center<p><img id="img-1415044564455" src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/clutter-360058_640.jpg" border="0" alt="clutter 360058 640" width="403" height="302"></p> <p>Stop and think about how a garage slowly fills up with “stuff.” Into the space initially slotted to protect your automobile, you introduce a new leaf blower, then a lawn mower, then bicycles, balls and bats, tools … the list goes on. The next thing you know, you’re parking your car in the driveway, and then, even worse, you run out of room for any new commodities.</p> <p>This exact same problem can occur in your data center if you are not careful—except, if it does happen, the costs and inconveniences (even risks) are much higher, as new sources of power and network storage capacity must be found. And, unlike in your garage, reaching capacity is much harder to spot, too. You might add a server here, or a network switch there, and pretty soon you’ve reached capacity without any prior warning—leaving you scrambling for a last-minute solution.</p> <p>Don’t be fooled into thinking that by virtualizing your servers you can overcome this problem. While increasing rack density is a great way to save money and reduce physical storage space in your facility, it can still require a large amount of power. The only way to prevent running into a big network capacity pinch is to keep a close watch on your business’s overall resource consumption. It’s critical to see how your business is using electricity in real time. Understand that every new network device and every component that your data center uses are all part of the same system.</p> <p>Monitoring storage availability is also important for scalability. If your business grows overnight and your data center needs to expand, you must oversee that with a complete understanding or your storage limitations.</p> <p>Server Technology’s data center power monitoring solution is a tool that you can use to gain crystal-clear visibility into your overall network capacity. <strong><a href="http://www.servertech.com/solutions/sentry-power-manager-5">Click here</a></strong> to learn more about how Server Technology can help protect your business.&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186464/Don-t-Get-Blindsided-By-a-Lack-of-Capacity-in-Your-Data-Center&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapTue, 04 Nov 2014 14:00:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:186464http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186462/Thoughts-on-Star-Trek-TNG-and-Data-Center-Density#Comments0Thoughts on Star Trek TNG and Data Center Densityhttp://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186462/Thoughts-on-Star-Trek-TNG-and-Data-Center-Density<p><img src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/Captain_Picard_Chair.jpg" border="0" alt="Captain Picard Chair"></p> <p>There is a <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui6g23ygov8" title="famous scene" target="_blank">famous scene</a></strong> in the classic Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) episode “The Neutral Zone” where Captain Jean-Luc Picard attempts to explain the value of a resource-based society to a man named Ralph Offenhouse. Offenhouse was cryogenically frozen in 1994 and wakes up aboard the USS Enterprise in 2364.</p> <p>“A lot has changed in the past 300 years,” explains Picard. “People are no longer obsessed with the accumulation of things. We’ve eliminated hunger, want and the <em>need</em> for possessions. We’ve grown out of our infancy.”</p> <p>Fans of the show know that Picard is referring, at least partially, to the use of replication technology aboard the Starship Enterprise, which is capable of dematerializing matter and rematerializing it into another form. In the show, replicators produce everything from food to machine parts. Just about anything that the crew of the Enterprise needs can be produced right on board the vessel, meaning that much of the struggles over resources that plagued humanity in the year 1994 no longer exist.</p> <p>Offenhouse, who is unfamiliar with the notion of a society that is free of want, refutes Picard’s statement by asserting that mankind’s struggle has never been about possessions, but about power. People want the power to control their lives and destinies. He can’t grasp the concept that his former struggles to protect his assets—like his home—are now meaningless. Life in the 24<sup>th</sup> century, after all, is about nothing more than improving and enriching yourself.&nbsp;</p> <p>So, what does all of this have to do with data center density? As a data center operator, you are going through the same struggles that Offenhouse faced onboard the Enterprise as far as protecting your assets goes. You have a whole data center to power, which requires expensive resources like electricity, and water for cooling. And as we approach the year 2015, these resources are starting to get scarce. The cost of electricity is rising. Most of the West is facing severe drought. And on top of all of this, you are facing unprecedented restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions.</p> <p>Someday, our society might evolve to the point where we can solve all of these problems through the use of technology like a replicator. But for now, the closest thing we have to a futuristic next-generation solution is virtualization. Just like a replicator can eliminate the need to store physical objects, the process of virtualization can help you vanquish a decent chunk of your bulky physical servers without sacrificing productivity. And by doing so, you can save money, increase floor space, help the environment and improve efficiencies in your facility.</p> <p>The time, therefore, has come to take control of your data center’s destiny. And you can easily accomplish this by virtualizing your servers and pairing them with a robust data center power monitoring solution that allows you to see exactly how your data center is using every amp of electricity.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.servertech.com/products/sentry-power-manager">Click here</a></strong> to learn more about how Server Technology can help your data center reach the final frontier. &nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186462/Thoughts-on-Star-Trek-TNG-and-Data-Center-Density&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapMon, 03 Nov 2014 18:26:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:186462http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186445/Introducing-PRO2-the-next-evolutionary-step-in-PDU-design#Comments0Introducing PRO2 the next evolutionary step in PDU designhttp://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186445/Introducing-PRO2-the-next-evolutionary-step-in-PDU-design<p><img id="img-1414784193828" src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/ENA-0761-22H-Beauty_RGB.jpg" border="0" alt="describe the image" width="480" height="320"></p> <p>The PRO2 platform continues STI’s more than 30 year tradition of customer driven power solutions development. PRO2 features a flexible hardware platform with more outlets, shallow form factor, a faster processor, improved firmware and security, more redundancy, more customization and additional resiliency built into the power distribution unit. PRO2 will initially be available in single-phase 208/230V, three-phase 208V, and three phase 400/415V 20-30/16-32A configurations of STI’s Switched and Switched POPS 30-outlet CDUs.&nbsp; Take a few minutes to read the <strong><a href="http://www.processor.com/article/16011/a-next-generation-platform-for-power-distribution-units" title="full article" target="_blank">full article</a></strong> in Processor to get more details.</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186445/Introducing-PRO2-the-next-evolutionary-step-in-PDU-design&bvt=rss">Sandi TerryFri, 31 Oct 2014 19:25:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:186445http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186420/Don-t-Underestimate-the-Importance-of-Calculating-Your-PUE#Comments0Don't Underestimate the Importance of Calculating Your PUEhttp://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186420/Don-t-Underestimate-the-Importance-of-Calculating-Your-PUE<p><img id="img-1414620206294" src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/pue.jpg" border="0" alt="describe the image" width="196" height="184"></p> <p>As a data center facilities operator, you know that the bottom line is one of the most important measures of your data center. If your IT equipment is costing more money than it is producing for your business, you need to change your game plan and create a more efficient data center.</p> <p>One of the best metrics that facility operators can use to calculate data center power efficiency and to better understand their power consumption is power usage effectiveness (PUE). This metric can be found by dividing the total amount of power flowing into a data center (through UPS, batteries and switching equipment) by the power of its IT equipment (typically including servers). PUE is a ratio, and the closer it gets to 1-to-1, the more efficient the facility. <br> <br> But as useful as this metric is for creating a more cost-effective data center, 34 percent of respondents in a recent <strong><a href="http://uptimeinstitute.com/images/stories/DataCenterSurvey_assets/uptime-institute-2013-data-center-survey.pdf">Uptime Institute</a></strong> survey of 1,000 data center facility operators claim they do not calculate PUE.</p> <p>So, why are so many operators neglecting to collect this critical metric? It could have a lot to do with not having the right technology to do so, as it requires taking physical energy measurements, and knowing all of the equipment that is powering a network. This is a difficult process, and could result in human error or miscalculations. <br> <br> With a solution that can automatically register and report your data center power usage, however, calculating your facility’s PUE is simple. In fact, you can stream critical power usage information right to your mobile device—so you can stay on top of your PUE without having to actually be around your data center.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.servertech.com/solutions/power-management">Click here</a></strong> to learn more about how Server Technology can make it easy to calculate the PUE for your data center.&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186420/Don-t-Underestimate-the-Importance-of-Calculating-Your-PUE&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapWed, 29 Oct 2014 21:47:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:186420http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186376/Now-is-the-Time-to-Invest-in-an-Energy-Efficiency-Program#Comments0Now is the Time to Invest in an Energy Efficiency Programhttp://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186376/Now-is-the-Time-to-Invest-in-an-Energy-Efficiency-Program<p><img id="img-1414426085415" src="http://classic-archived-site-118864.web10.hubspot.com/Portals/118864/images/Green_Energy.png" border="0" alt="Green Energy" width="249" height="249"></p> <p>Right now energy efficiency is a big issue for IT managers, as environmental concerns and the cost of power are increasing across the U.S. And with the upcoming international Climate Summit right around the corner, energy efficiency is on everyone’s mind as we look for ways of creating more responsible energy consumption.</p> <p>For U.S. businesses, there is still a lot of work to be done to become greener and more efficient. Right now, the majority of U.S. private and public enterprises still do not use energy efficiency programs in their data centers. And the U.S. <strong><a href="http://aceee.org/files/image/topics/iscorecard-graphic-full.jpg" title="ranks a lowly" target="_blank">ranks a lowly</a></strong> 13<sup>th</sup> in global energy efficiency. With the global energy demand expected to double by 2050, it is becoming increasingly important for IT managers to look for ways to conserve power usage.</p> <p>Are you ready to start making energy efficiency a priority in your data center? If so, a great place to start is by investing in a robust power distribution and monitoring solution. With such a solution, you can gain advanced insight into your data center’s power consumption and then identify inefficiencies. Additionally, a best-in-class power monitoring solution will give you the ability to benchmark improvements in efficiency. For example, with the right data center power visibility software, IT managers can look for over utilized or underutilized servers and redistribute power accordingly, wasting less energy. This is easily accomplished with smart and metered power distribution units.</p> <p>So, what are you doing to curb power inefficiencies in your data center? Tell us about your practices in the comments section below.&nbsp;</p> <img src="http://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=118864&k=14&bu=http://info.servertech.com/blog/&r=http://info.servertech.com/blog/bid/186376/Now-is-the-Time-to-Invest-in-an-Energy-Efficiency-Program&bvt=rss">Josh SchaapMon, 27 Oct 2014 15:55:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:186376