Add a Power Redundancy Solution without Sacrificing Rack Space

The task of keeping network downtime to an absolute minimum is probably the most significant challenge faced by any large network application. In data centers, web hosting facilities, product test labs and cloud computing applications, network outages inevitably result in missed opportunities, wasted resources, unnecessary expenses and unhappy customers.

An effective power redundancy solution is one of the most common measures employed to make certain that downtime is kept to a minimum and ensure that user access to vital data and services cannot be interrupted by a simple power outage. Although this is a relatively simple proposition when only dual power inlet devices are present at the facility, the task becomes much more challenging in applications that include a number of older, single power inlet devices.

When implementing a power redundancy solution in a facility that includes existing single power inlet devices, administrators are often faced with two major stumbling blocks: the cost of replacing single power inlet devices with dual power inlet devices and the inconvenience and delays associated with configuring those new dual power inlet devices to work with the rest of their network infrastructure.

Fortunately, an automatic power transfer switch, such as WTI’s PTS-14CM20-V Series Vertical Format Automatic Power Transfer Switch can drastically simplify the task of implementing an effective power fallback solution by eliminating the need to buy brand new dual power inlet devices to replace existing single outlet devices. In addition to sidestepping the hassles and expenses associated with replacing existing single inlet devices, the vertical format PTS-14CM20-V also saves rack space. This means that rather than juggling devices in the rack in an attempt to clear up space for a power transfer switch, the vertical format, PTS-14CM20-V can be easily mounted to a rear rack post or rack pocket without taking up valuable rack space.

This white paper will describe three common power redundancy solutions that rely on the low-cost, space saving vertical format PTS-14CM20-V Automatic Power Transfer Switch:

• Power Redundancy in Data Center Applications
• Power Redundancy in Web Hosting Facilities
• Power Redundancy in Test Labs
• Power Redundancy in the Cloud Hosting Industry

Power Redundancy in the Data Center

You don’t have to visit too many Data Centers before it becomes apparent that no two data centers are exactly alike. Yet despite their many differences, there are two factors that all data centers share in common: the need for an effective power redundancy solution and the need to conserve rack space whenever possible.

Fortunately, WTI’s PTS-14CM20-V Series Vertical Format Power Transfer Switches can serve both these needs. The vertical format PTS mounts to a rack post or rear rack pocket to provide single inlet network elements with reliable power redundancy without taking up a single unit of valuable rack space.

This allows data center administrators to provide power redundancy to single inlet devices such as servers, routers, firewalls and switches, eliminating the cost and hassles of replacing existing single inlet devices with expensive, new dual power inlet devices.

• Effective Power Redundancy for Single Inlet Servers, Routers, Firewalls and Switches
• Reliable, Seamless Automatic Power Switching
• Continuous Source Monitoring
• Robust Out-of-Phase Switching Capability
• LED Indicators Show Active Power Source
• Easy Installation; No Configuration Required
• Vertical Mounting: Zero U Mounting Brackets Included
• Available in both 120 and 240 VAC Formats
• Typical Switching Time: 8-12ms; 16ms max @ 60 Hz
• Twelve IEC C13 Outlets plus Two IEC C19 Outlets
• Switch Up to 20 Amps Total (16 Amps De-rated)

Power Redundancy in Web Hosting Facilities

A viable power redundancy solution is an essential element in any large web hosting application. Without effective power redundancy, even minor power disruptions can disrupt access to client web sites, resulting in a flood of calls to the hosting facility support group from unhappy customers, anxious to restore their web site before the interruption in service results in lost profits and sales opportunities.

One of the primary factors that often discourage web hosting facilities from implementing a power redundancy solution is the tremendous expense and inconvenience associated with replacing existing, single power inlet servers, routers and switches with new dual power inlet devices. WTI’s PTS-14CM20-V Series Vertical Format Power Transfer Switches provide an economical, trouble-saving solution for power redundancy by allowing web hosting facilities to keep their existing single power inlet servers, skip the costs and delays of installing new dual inlet devices and also save valuable rack space.

• Power Redundancy Solution for Single Inlet Servers, Routers, Switches and Firewalls
• Reliable, Seamless Automatic Power Switching; Typical Switching Time: 8-12ms; 16ms max @ 60 Hz
• Automatic Power Transfer for Rack-mount network devices with C19 power cords
• Continuous Source Monitoring with Robust Out-of-Phase Switching Capability
• LED Indicators Show Active Power Source
• Simple Installation; No Configuration Required
• Vertical Mounting: Includes Zero U Mounting Brackets
• 120 VAC and 240 VAC Formats Available

Power Redundancy in the Test Lab

When testing network elements and other electronic devices during product development, one ill-timed power outage can instantly invalidate the test process. A power failure during the test procedure can disable the device under test as well as interfere with the operation of various control devices, data recorders and other devices that are running the test, often resulting in the need to re-start the test procedure from step one.

In order to improve the reliability and accuracy of the test process, many test lab administrators turn to a power redundancy solution. A viable power redundancy solution helps to ensure that the device under test plus test elements such as load injectors, traffic generators, load balancers, test bed servers, data recorders and control devices are fully operational during the test procedure.

WTI’s PTS-14CM20-V Series Vertical Format Power Transfer Switches provide the perfect fit for test labs who need to implement an effective power redundancy solution, but lack the resources or time to replace existing single power inlet test equipment with new, dual power inlet devices.

• Power Redundancy for Single Power Inlet Test Devices, Data Recorders and Load Generators
• Reliable, Seamless Automatic Power Switching
• Continuous Source Monitoring
• Robust Out-of-Phase Switching Capability
• LED Indicators Show Active Power Source
• Easy Installation; No Configuration Required
• Vertical Mounting: Zero U Mounting Brackets Included
• Available in both 120 and 240 VAC Formats
• Typical Switching Time: 8-12ms; 16ms max @ 60 Hz
• Vertical Units Include Twelve IEC C13 Outlets plus Two IEC C19 Outlets

Power Redundancy in the Cloud Hosting Industry

In Cloud Hosting applications, redundancy is everything. In order to ensure that clients are always able to access data and services provided by the Cloud, it’s absolutely imperative to have a fallback option for every element in the hosting facility. This means that in addition to ensuring that data and services are backed up on redundant servers at redundant sites, each element in each redundant Cloud Hosting Facility must also be supported by a power redundancy solution.

In cases where the cloud hosting facility includes single power inlet network elements such as storage devices, application servers, management nodes, routers, distribution switches and cooling equipment, the expense and complications of replacing existing single inlet devices with new dual power inlet devices can present a huge challenge. One effective way to avoid this challenge, is to keep your existing single power inlet devices and rely on the effective power fallback capabilities provided by an automatic power transfer switch such as WTI’s PTS-14CM20-V Series Vertical Format Power Transfer Switches.

The PTS-14-CM20-V provides single inlet devices with effective, reliable power redundancy at a fraction of the cost of new dual power inlet devices without the hassles and confusion that come with deploying new devices in your cloud hosting facility.

• Automatic Power Transfer for Rack-mount network devices with C19 power cords
• Reliable, Seamless Automatic Power Switching; Continuous Source Monitoring
• Robust Out-of-Phase Switching Capability
• LED Indicators Show Active Power Source
• Easy Installation; No Configuration Necessary
• Vertical Mounting: Includes Zero U Mounting Brackets
• Available in both 120 and 240 VAC Formats
• Typical Switching Time: 8-12ms; 16ms max @ 60 Hz
• Twelve IEC C13 Outlets plus Two IEC C19 Outlets
• Switch Up to 20 Amps Total (16 Amps De-rated)

In data centers, web hosting facilities, test labs and cloud hosting facilities, an effective power redundancy solution ensures that simple power outages will not interrupt client access to valuable data, services and tools. By eliminating power outages as a possible source of downtime, a power redundancy solution helps to keep both users and customers happy by making certain that the services that they pay for are always available when needed.

WTI’s PTS-14CM20-V Series Vertical Format Power Transfer Switches take the sting out of the task of implementing an effective power redundancy solution by eliminating the expense and hassles of replacing existing single power inlet devices.