Recent research suggests that the cost of power and cooling in data centers is exceeding - or at least equal to - the cost of systems infrastructures (i.e., servers, storage, switches, and other network devices). That trend is hardly surprising, given the next generation technologies being deployed consume exponentially more power than their predecessors.
In today's cost-focused environment, that means the ability to reduce power and cooling costs is as important as deploying next generation infrastructures required to meet expanding requirements placed on data centers, like virtualization capabilities. What it creates is a major cost and operational issue that IT executives are having to address - not only are they under intense pressure to reduce expenses, but they have to ensure their infrastructures can support their business needs.
Part of Panduit's vision for a unified physical infrastructure involves optimizing power and cooling resources to not only cut costs, but to maximize the potential of a data center's physical footprint in providing additional capabilities without having to invest in additional resources.
Certainly, there is a focus on the servers and switches themselves, but, as Panduit's vice president of global marketing Vineeth Ram explained in a recent video interview, there is much more room for optimization in the cabinets and rooms that house the hardware, which is where the physical infrastructure comes into play.
By deploying UPI-based solutions, such as those developed by Panduit and its industry partners, data centers will achieve more efficient cool air and exhaust flow, better cable and pathway management, more effective monitoring of power consumption, and the availability of power when and where it is needed.
Naturally, as with any savings figures, much depends on case specific, but Ram estimates its UPI-based solutions can help reduce power and cooling costs by 20-25 percent. He adds that as more active capabilities (i.e., monitoring and intelligent network devices) are added, Panduit's approach can have an even more significant impact on the bottom line.
To hear more from Ram on power and cooling trends in data centers, including how Panduit's collaborates with its partners in the R&D phase to ensure customers are able to enjoy saving and operational efficiencies immediately when new products are released and deployed, watch the video here. For more on Panduit's UPI vision and its solutions for next generation data centers, visit the Smart Data Centers micro-site.
