1. What are Eaton solutions for VxRail?
Eaton continues its innovation leadership with the release of Intelligent Power Manager (IPM) version 1.67 that now integrates with Dell EMC VxRail Hyperconverged Infrastructure. By utilizing an Eaton UPS (5P, 5PX, 9PX, 9PXM, 9SX or 93PM UPS product family) with Gigabit Network Card (version 1.7.5) and IPM (Gold license), you can now enable automated and graceful shutdown of VxRail clusters experiencing unplanned power events to safeguard data integrity. Further enhance the solution with these Eaton products: metered or managed rack PDUs, environmental monitoring sensors, enclosure and cable management options. 

2. How are Eaton solutions for VxRail unique in the market?
Existing solutions only had the capability of shutting down one or two nodes, leaving clusters exposed to power problems. Dell EMC and Eaton worked hand-in-hand to develop and extensively test an integrated solution from Eaton that utilizes VxRail APIs and existing functionality in place with VMware APIs so that Eaton IPM working with the Eaton UPS and Gigabit Network Card can gracefully shut down a VxRail cluster in the event of an unplanned power event to preserve data integrity. IPM is installed within the VxRail, eliminating the need for an external VM to host IPM for shutdown.

3. What is the typical or standard amount of UPS and rack PDUs needed for a 4-node VxRail solution?
A typical Eaton solution will consist of one UPS powered by the Gigabit Network Card, an IPM Gold license and possibly one rack PDU. For redundancy, you can have two UPS models each powered by a Gigabit Network Card, two rack PDUs and an IPM Gold license. The right UPS model is determined by the voltage and typical watts rating of the VxRail system, network switch and any other device included in the rack. Count the number of plugs that need to be connected to determine whether a rack PDU is needed. The IPM Gold license level is determined by the number of power devices, called nodes, to be supported.

4. What counts as a node when talking about IPM?
Nodes, when talking about IPM, are power devices like UPSs, rack PDUs and environmental sensors. The number of VxRail nodes is not calculated in the number of nodes IPM needs to support.
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5. Is Eaton an Advantage member of the Dell EMC Technology Connect Partner Program and
VMware Technology Alliance Program?
Yes. As an Advantage member of the Dell EMC Technology Connect Partner Program and VMware Technology Alliance Program, Eaton is proud to collaborate with Dell EMC and with VMware to deliver cohesive solutions to maintain business continuity.

Brisk Worldwide understands the necessity for data storage is growing by the day.  As the need for larger loads and greater capacity increase so does the need for efficient and economic power distribution. The Vertiv Geist family of Rack PDUs allows your space the flexibility of growth and the ability to stay ahead of the game.
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From basic Rack PDUs that offer reliable, space-saving and cost-effective power distribution at the rack to Intelligent rPDUs equipped with a network interface to monitoring, management and automated alerts, Vertiv Geist PDUs allow your data center to operate at peak performance and efficiency.

And recently, the newest member of the Vertiv Geist Power Distribution, UPDU, is offering businesses everywhere a more robust, versatile solution to meet their critical power needs.

Vertiv’s Geist Universal Power Distribution Unit

The newest member in the Vertiv Geist Power Distribution family is the UPDU.  The UPDU offers even more flexibility than other PDUs in that it mates to any geographically specific Facility Side Cable (FSC). This universal application can be deployed in every rack, in every data center around the world to improve consistency and simplify inventory management.

The UPDU is available in available in models in 11kW and 22kW max power load capacities, both horizontal and vertical configurations with a variety of receptacle count, monitoring level and management options.  Each location can select the FSC unique to their facility and the Vertiv Geist FSC is available in multiple global power configurations.

Features of Vertiv’s Geist UPDU

The Vertiv Geist UPDU offers more simplified monitoring and networking with the introduction of Vertiv Intellignece Director.

This software allows for quick deployments and a truly plug-and-play infrastructure.  With the ability to daisy-chain up to 50 units, access data from all downstream rPDU and UPS devices from one master rPDU, aggregate data grouping devices by rack or row and the ability of all downstream devices to self-configure the Vertiv Intelligence Director is a perfect pairing to the robust UPDU.

How to Choose Your UPDU Model

1. Select a UPDU model based on anticipated maximum rack and power usage.
2. Choose between a 2U Horizontal or 0U Vertical with a variety of monitoring, management, and outlet configuration options.
3. Install the same UPDU model in all racks and cabinets. The pivoting input adjusts from 0 to 90 degrees to simplify power cable routing.
4. Identify the facility power available for each location and select the FSC with the appropriate power configuration needed.

Ready to Simplify Your Data Center Environment?

Vertiv Geist offers rapid deployment of all racks and PDU equipment. The process is as simple as selecting your rack and adding your Power Distribution Units, we deliver it all in one shipment.  We offer a no-hassle installation process where everything is setup before shipment.  Taking the burden off for you and getting your data center space online quickly and correctly.  All of our equipment is backed by a 5-year warranty.

Try Vertiv’s rPDU finder here.

From the benefit of chain agility to global data center operation, improved power efficiency with input and outlet level power monitoring and decreased inventory management costs, the Vertiv Geist UPDU can bring your data center to the next level. Connect with Brisk Worldwide to learn more.

It was not long ago when there was a pervasive feeling that everything was moving to the Cloud, an unstoppable, inevitable flow of on-premise IT capacity towards huge, highly centralized service provider data centers.  But for many reasons, this hasn’t happened.  One big reason has to do with the growing need for compute capacity at the edge of networks, closer to users, be it humans or other machines.  Why is this needed?  Sending data over a network takes time and costs money…enough so that it is making more sense to deploy compute and storage at the edge rather than having all that data move to and from the cloud or some other remote data center.

The “Internet of Things” (IoT) phenomena itself is a big driver for needing edge computing capacity as more and more connected devices are generating and collecting data. With the cost of sensors and network connectivity being so low, the volume of data collected by local devices has exploded. Combine that with advances made in data analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence, and this data has become very valuable. The increasing value of device data is driving this IoT world where everything is connected and continuously collecting data. It’s now making more financial sense to process, clean, and store, at least, some of this data locally than it would be to send it all to a distant data center. Regardless of sensitivity to latency and cost, the fundamental driver for having compute at the edge of the network really comes down to the desire to benefit from digitization.  Adding compute and network connectivity to every “thing” and to virtually every aspect of our society is dramatically impacting society’s productivity, efficiency, and wellbeing.  Compute everywhere is our future.

Use cases for edge computing deployments has exploded as a result.  The digitization of industrial processes and manufacturing is certainly a key use case.  Brick and mortar retail’s deployment of local IT for providing in-store, immersive digital experiences is another.  Deployment of 5G mobile networks, however, may have the biggest impact on the growth of the edge computing market. 5G offers the promise of sub-millisecond latency, a speed necessary to make many of the world’s tech dreams a reality such as fully autonomous vehicles, robotic surgeries, virtual/augmented reality, and the real-time management of distributed energy sources. 5G will enable a world of incredibly high data speeds for huge numbers of users all while improving reliability and security in an energy efficient manner. 5G’s communication architecture requires the deployment of hundreds of thousands of mini communication clouds and antennae to make all of this come to fruition. So not only will 5G networks help drive the larger edge computing market by enabling edge applications to do even more, the deployment of 5G itself will be a significant edge computing application driving the overall market.

This “compute everywhere” trend has led us to a hybrid computing architecture where more and more organizations’ IT assets and data are spread across large centralized data centers, smaller regional data centers and very small local edge sites.  This highly distributed environment creates challenges for those deploying and managing the IT infrastructure.  And this complexity is exacerbated when you consider that each of the local edge sites require high availability to ensure uninterrupted operations and service. As IoT technologies and edge computing applications become a more integral part of the day-to-day business and/or customer experience, the edge IT infrastructure that houses the associated distributed IT equipment must be robust. The role of IT is no longer viewed as a cost center, rather it is tightly connected to the business strategy and to profit as a value creator, making resiliency even more imperative.

There are two unique attributes of local edge environments, in contrast with regional edge or centralized data centers, that make it challenging to achieve the necessary resiliency: (1) lack of IT and/or facilities staff on-site, and (2) having many sites, geographically dispersed.  These two things create issues such as:

• Complexity in selecting and configuring IT infrastructure components: mistakes can propagate across sites, you must choose parts that not only support the application but that also are compatible with the other parts and with each site’s local conditions
• Logistical/workforce challenges of deploying IT infrastructure to each site
• Operating and maintaining multiple sites from afar: having visibility to all sites and assets, troubleshooting problems without local trained staff, maintaining everything in a standardized efficient way, interpreting alarms and status notifications, knowing who is accessing the equipment, and so on.

Mitigating these challenges starts with partnering with a collaborative ecosystem of vendors, integrators, and service providers. Together using their expertise and tools, they can address configuration, integration, delivery, and operations/maintenance challenges. IT vendors should drive easy interoperability through reference designs, selectors, APIs, and certification programs.  Effective physical infrastructure vendors (racks, UPS, cooling, etc) simplify deployment & operations through easy-to-use configurators, reference designs, resilient infrastructure, and software management tools. Systems integrators will add tremendous value through the complete integration of your IT hardware, software, and physical infrastructure systems ideally before delivery to the site.  And, finally, managed service providers (MSPs) will operate & maintain edge infrastructure for you through management tools and digital services provided either by themselves or by the infrastructure vendor.

Software management is a critical part of the solution to solve edge challenges. The tools are necessary for giving visibility and control from afar. New cloud-based software suites have emerged that offer open APIs and take advantage of cloud, IoT, data analytics, and artificial intelligence technologies. These new tools are what connect members of the ecosystem together to the operations phase of edge IT deployments.  These new capabilities along with the MSPs who employ them essentially augment staffing for the end user by providing remote visibility and proactive control over all edge IT assets.

To paint the picture in very broad strokes, the ecosystem works together to simplify the design and deployment phases while providing both a physical and virtual workforce to ease management and maintenance burdens.  By working together, edge computing owners and operators will be capable of not just surviving in our new complex world of “compute everywhere” but should be well-positioned to thrive in whatever ways they serve their customers. To learn more about mitigating edge challenges through this integrated ecosystem, download our white paper “Integration isn’t just for the micro data center”.

Have you ever thought, "This crisp cold beer really reminds me of my uninterruptible power supply?" Well, the beer you drink and the UPS you use to power your data center are arguably of equal importance, and more of a science that one may think. Here are 9 ways the beer in your glass matches the UPS in your server room.

Introduction
The battery system in a UPS represents the heart of the power protection benefit. This key element performs two functions: (1) it delivers energy during a power outage, and (2) it stores energy efficiently for extended periods of time. That stored energy is instantaneously available when needed to support the critical load on the UPS. In order to perform the above functions reliably, the charge level of the battery must be maintained. At the same time, battery charging should be controlled to maximize system efficiency and, more importantly, to maximize the float service life of the battery system. 

Two types of battery charging schemes have traditionally been used for UPS battery systems. The older and more commonly known is the “float” charge, which involves applying a constant voltage charge to the battery continuously for purposes of maintaining full charge during day-to-day operation of the UPS. This works quite well in many conventional battery applications. However, battery life may not be optimal, due to overcharging, for batteries that are used very occasionally as in standby applications such as a UPS. In a UPS, the battery system may sit in float mode for many months, without ever experiencing a discharge. Float charging for long periods of time means that “trickle charge” energy is constantly forced into a battery which is effectively already full. This results in very gradual degradation of the lead plates (positive grid corrosion), and it can impact float service life.  

Standby applications are better suited for “opportunistic” charging schemes. The system Eaton® utilizes is called ABM technology, which is essentially a set of charger controls and automated battery tests. It is implemented in Eaton single-phase UPSs from 500 VA to 18 kVA and three-phase models from 10 kVA to 3.3 MVA. Opportunistic charging schemes like ABM allow for periods of time where the battery is being fully charged, and periods of time when the charger is disabled. This reduces the time that the battery is subject to grid corrosion when compared to a traditional float charger — a reduction in grid corrosion that yields a measurable increase in battery life for UPS applications.
 
ABM Operational Summary
As shown graphically in figure 1, ABM consists of three operating modes:

1. Charge Mode
2. Rest Mode
3. Test Mode

Charge Mode
The UPS enters the charge mode under any of the following conditions:

• Whenever the UPS is commanded to turn on
• After any utility power outage lasting longer than 15 seconds
• Whenever the battery is replaced (or the battery breaker is opened and re-closed)

 
In charge mode, constant voltage charging of the batteries is used to recharge a discharged battery after a power outage, or whenever the ABM process is restarted. Charge voltage target is set to the manufacturers’ float level, and charge current is greater than 0.1 C A. Constant voltage charging lasts only as long as it takes to bring the battery system up to a predetermined float level (there is a 100-hour maximum time limit). Once this level is reached, the UPS battery charger remains in constant voltage mode, maintaining a float level. The current is at trickle charge levels during this time, and a 24-hour clock is started. At the end of 24 hours of float charging, the UPS automatically performs a battery test (see figure 1) at two different load levels to verify that the battery is performing, and to collect data for comparison to previous and subsequent automatic battery tests. If the test fails, an alarm is activated on the UPS and also through the remote monitoring system that may be connected to the UPS. At the end of the test, the charger resumes constant voltage mode and remains in that state for an additional 24 hours.

Rest Mode
Rest mode begins at the end of charge mode; that is, after 48 hours of float charging, and after a successful battery test. In rest mode, the battery charger is completely turned off. The battery system receives no charge current during this mode, which lasts about 28 days. Then, the charge mode is repeated as described above. Since the battery clearly spends most of its time in rest mode, as a result, the following benefits are realized:

1. The battery is not subjected to constant forced charge current; therefore, overcharging is not possible.
2. Thermal runaway is not a concern with the charger off.
3. The battery system cannot be damaged by ripple currents, since the charger is off.
4. Positive grid corrosion is greatly reduced, allowing extended service life.

During rest mode, the open circuit battery voltage is monitored constantly, and battery charging is initiated if any of the following occur:

• A power outage lasting longer than 15 seconds
• The open circuit voltage (OCV) of the battery drops below a predetermined threshold after 10 days of rest mode (If OCV drops below the predetermined threshold during the first 10 days, an alarm is triggered)
• 28-day timer expires (end of rest mode)
• The battery is replaced, or the breaker is opened and re-closed

Test Mode
There are two other battery tests that are performed as a part of the ABM cycle. The first is meant to detect battery conditions which could lead to thermal runaway. The bulk charging period is timed and if the float voltage is not reached in a predetermined time, an alarm is triggered and the charger is shut down. The second test is performed after the charge cycle is completed (i.e., at the beginning of rest mode). The battery is discharged at about 15% load for up to 6 minutes, then at 50% load for 45 seconds.. Upon reaching this point, the battery voltage is measured. If the voltage is below a specified threshold, dependent on the load, then an alarm is signaled indicating the battery is nearing the end of its service life and should be replaced.

Other Modes
ABM may be disabled by the user or an Eaton field technician at any time. In this case, the UPS battery charger operates as a conventional float charger only. This is recommended when a wet cell or flooded electrolyte battery is used with the UPS. ABM is intended for use with VRLA batteries. As a result, wet batteries do not benefit from ABM controls.

Many observers express concern regarding the ability for the battery to maintain capacity if called upon to support the UPS near the end of its rest mode. In other words, how much battery capacity is available on day 27 of a 28-day rest mode? Using a 15-minute battery as an example, under this condition, the battery would provide all but about 30 seconds of its 15-minute backup time. This is proportionally true for other battery sizes, as well. The intent in selecting the 28 day rest period is to limit the loss of capacity to approximately 5%.

ABM Performance
The ABM process above describes the benefits of using a “opportunistic” charging scheme. Those benefits, specifically extended service life, are in fact substantiated by data and empirical testing performed by Eaton as well as other independent sources. Some of this testing is recent and some of it was performed as many as 25 years ago.

ABM is not a new battery management feature. In fact, Eaton has been using ABM in its UPS products for 27 years, and it has proven itself beneficial in the field for more than two decades.

Note that in figure 4, the curve identified as “23/23 days” represents a float charger, and ABM (as implemented today) is best represented by the curve labeled “12/23 days.” At an ideal 25°C (77°F), there is a theoretical increase of six years in battery service life reflected in this analysis.

The above information shows a clear benefit of cyclic charging in UPS applications, both in simulated and in actual performance tests. These results would not be expected with non-VRLA batteries or in applications such as motive power chargers where the battery is discharged/recharged daily and therefore not deployed in a standby application.

Summary
ABM is unique in the UPS industry, but similar opportunistic designs are utilized by battery manufacturers and battery charger designers worldwide. The criticality and cost of the battery subsystem of any UPS dictates that special consideration be given to battery longevity. Additionally, with environmental concerns relating to battery removal and disposal becoming more prevalent, it is desirable to reduce the frequency of battery replacements during the life of the UPS electronics. ABM offers a significant benefit over conventional “battery monitors” which don’t provide charging control, and “multi-stage chargers” which protect the battery, but do not provide useful extension of battery service life.

Over the past 27 years, ABM has proven itself in both large and small UPS products, from the desktop to the data center, and from the medical lab to the factory floor. Anywhere a UPS is installed, a battery system is depended upon to provide backup power protection for critical business processes and even for personnel safety. The battery is all too often ignored as a maintenance-free product, not requiring attention or inspection. This neglect, though common, can be costly and possibly disastrous. The ABM system, by its nature, helps to provide early detection of problem batteries and thus protect the battery from unnecessary failures like electrolyte dry out and thermal runaway, while functioning to extend the useful life of this key component of power quality.

Before purchasing a server cabinet or server rack it is important to understand the difference between the different products that are available.  This will ensure that you purchase exactly what you need.

Server Cabinets

Server Rack Cabinets such as the 42u Server Cabinet are generally nineteen inches wide by industry standards.  This product is mostly used to install servers, UPS ES, monitors or similar equipment.  Server rack cabinets, for the most part, are twenty four inches in width, and thirty six inches deep.  Some companies offer other measurement options to meet customers’ needs, however.  Server rack cabinets usually have a perforated front and rear.  This feature offers ventilation for the equipment being housed. This is crucial to providing a safe environment for this type of equipment which generates a good deal of heat.

Network Cabinets

Network cabinets or Network Racks are often confused for server cabinets.  However, there is a difference. Network cabinets are generally used for the storage of routers, patch panels, switches and a wide variety of networking equipment as well as networking accessories.  In most cases a network cabinet will be far shallower than a server rack cabinet, generally measuring in at less than thirty one inches deep.  Networking cabinets will sometimes have glass or a strong plastic front door. Network cabinets also generally do not have perforated enclosures.   The type of equipment generally housed in network cabinets does not generate the same amount of heat as that housed inside a server rack.
Because one product can not fulfill the needs of all office equipment storage, it may become necessary to do a thorough evaluation of the type of equipment being used, or that will be used, in order to make the most informed purchasing decision.  In many cases, office spaces will require the use of both a server rack and a networking cabinet in order to house the various equipment that will be used there.
It is important to note, that improperly housing heat generating equipment is dangerous.  This could cause damage to your equipment, or worse could become a fire hazard due to the temperatures which some servers can generate.  Good rack dealers will help you decide which product is best for you. Contact Brisk Worldwide to learn more!