What Is a PDU? Power Distribution Unit Explained
A PDU, or Power Distribution Unit, is a device designed to distribute electrical power from a source to multiple pieces of equipment. PDUs are particularly important in data centers, server rooms, network closets, telecommunications facilities, laboratories, and other environments where many devices require dependable power. A rack PDU may supply electricity to servers, network switches, storage systems, and other equipment installed inside a cabinet. More advanced models can also measure energy consumption, generate alerts, monitor individual outlets, and provide remote power control. Unlike an ordinary household power strip, a PDU is designed for professional environments with much greater electrical and operational requirements. It therefore becomes an important part of reliable IT infrastructure.
Power distribution has become even more important as businesses deploy high-density servers, cloud infrastructure, edge computing systems, and increasingly power-intensive AI workloads. Modern racks may contain equipment that consumes far more electricity than traditional server environments, making accurate capacity planning and load balancing essential. Current high-capacity rack PDUs are being designed to support the growing electrical requirements of advanced computing environments, including models intended for higher-voltage and high-density installations. Intelligent PDUs can provide administrators with real-time information about voltage, current, power, and energy use. These capabilities help data center teams understand where power is being consumed and identify potential overloads before they interrupt important systems.
This guide explains what a PDU is, how a Power Distribution Unit works, the different PDU types, and how businesses use them. It covers basic, metered, monitored, switched, and automatic transfer switch PDUs, along with rack mounting, electrical capacity, outlet types, and power monitoring. You will also learn the differences between a PDU, UPS, and conventional power strip. The article examines data center power distribution, intelligent PDU features, remote management, load balancing, and important selection considerations. Current trends such as high-density computing and outlet-level monitoring are also discussed in practical language. Whether you manage one server rack or an entire data center, understanding PDUs can help you plan safer and more reliable power infrastructure.
What Is a PDU?
A Power Distribution Unit is an electrical device that takes power from an available source and distributes it to multiple connected devices. In an IT environment, the source may be a utility supply, uninterruptible power supply, generator-backed system, or another part of the facility’s electrical distribution infrastructure. The PDU then provides multiple receptacles that servers and other equipment can use. Vertiv describes the PDU as a device with multiple outlets that distributes power to servers and other IT equipment in data centers. Unlike a generator or UPS, the PDU normally does not create stored backup power. Its primary job is distributing available electricity safely and efficiently to downstream equipment.
A rack PDU, sometimes written as rPDU, is specifically designed for installation inside or alongside an equipment rack. Schneider Electric describes the rack PDU as the final link in the power-distribution chain that delivers mission-critical electricity to IT loads inside a server rack. Rack PDUs are available in vertical and horizontal designs depending on cabinet size, outlet requirements, and available mounting space. Vertical models are often called zero-U PDUs because they can mount along the side or rear of a rack without consuming traditional rack-unit space. Horizontal PDUs occupy one or more rack units. Choosing between the two arrangements depends on cabinet design, cable management, equipment density, and the number of outlets required.
PDUs are designed to handle significantly more demanding environments than ordinary consumer power strips. Data center models may support higher voltages, higher current ratings, single-phase or three-phase electricity, specialized connectors, and dozens of equipment outlets. They may use IEC C13 and C19 receptacles commonly found on enterprise IT equipment, along with regional outlet formats where appropriate. Some models include circuit breakers or branch-level protection to prevent unsafe electrical conditions. Their construction, electrical ratings, mounting systems, and compliance requirements are intended for professional infrastructure. This is why administrators should match equipment with appropriately rated PDUs rather than using office extension strips as substitutes inside critical server environments.
The PDU’s place in the electrical chain depends on facility design. A larger data center may receive utility electricity through switchgear, transformers, UPS systems, generators, and facility-level distribution equipment before power reaches individual racks. Vertiv describes floor PDUs as distributing power downstream toward rack PDUs, which then supply individual IT devices. Smaller server rooms may have a much simpler arrangement where a rack PDU plugs directly into a UPS or suitable electrical circuit. Regardless of scale, administrators need to understand the entire path because the reliability of each downstream device depends on upstream power availability. A properly selected PDU cannot compensate for an inadequate circuit or poorly designed facility electrical system.
The term PDU can describe several levels of equipment, so context matters. In large facilities, a floor-mounted PDU may distribute substantial electrical capacity across multiple racks, while a rack-mounted PDU serves equipment inside one cabinet. Intelligent rack PDUs add monitoring and sometimes control capabilities to that basic distribution function. Schneider Electric notes that basic PDUs provide standard power distribution, while more advanced models offer real-time monitoring and remote-access capabilities. Therefore, asking whether a facility “has a PDU” is not enough to understand its capabilities. Administrators need to know the PDU type, rating, location, monitoring features, outlet configuration, and how it fits into the wider power architecture.
How Does a Power Distribution Unit Work?
A PDU begins by receiving electricity through an input connection matched to the upstream power source. That source might be an electrical circuit, UPS output, generator-supported panel, or facility distribution system. Inside the unit, electricity is distributed across one or more groups of receptacles where IT equipment can be connected. Basic models perform this function with little additional intelligence. More sophisticated PDUs add meters, sensors, network interfaces, outlet controls, or environmental monitoring capabilities. Eaton describes rack PDUs as foundational components that transform available high-capacity power feeds into outlets suitable for connected IT equipment. The exact electrical architecture depends on voltage, phase configuration, amperage, and the requirements of the connected load.
Electric current must remain within the PDU’s rated capacity and the limits of the upstream circuit. Data center technicians therefore calculate expected loads before filling a rack with equipment. Servers may consume different amounts of electricity depending on processor activity, storage, cooling requirements, and installed accelerators. If the combined load becomes too high, protective devices may trip or electrical components may operate outside recommended limits. Metered and monitored PDUs make capacity management easier by showing actual power consumption instead of requiring teams to rely only on equipment nameplate ratings. This helps administrators determine whether sufficient headroom remains for additional servers and can reduce the risk of accidentally overloading circuits during future equipment installations.
In three-phase environments, the PDU also plays an important role in load balancing. Three-phase electrical systems can deliver large amounts of power efficiently, making them common in data centers and high-density installations. Administrators attempt to distribute equipment loads appropriately across available phases so one phase does not become overloaded while capacity remains unused on another. Modern PDUs may provide measurements that help teams understand phase-level consumption. Some rack PDU designs also use alternating or color-coded outlet arrangements to make phase balancing easier during server installation. Vertiv notes that alternating outlets can simplify both cable management and circuit or phase balancing in high-density racks. This becomes increasingly useful as rack power demand rises.
Intelligent PDUs add electronic monitoring to the electrical distribution process. Sensors measure parameters such as current, voltage, real power, apparent power, power factor, and accumulated energy consumption. Depending on the model, measurements may be available for the entire PDU, individual branch circuits, or each outlet. Data can be shown locally on a display or transmitted across a management network. Administrators can then view power conditions remotely, establish thresholds, and receive alerts when consumption approaches unsafe or undesirable limits. Vertiv’s monitored rack PDU platforms, for example, support real-time power measurements and remote alarming for multiple electrical parameters. Monitoring turns the PDU from passive distribution hardware into a useful source of operational data.
Switched PDUs add another layer by allowing authorized administrators to control power at individual outlets remotely. If a server or network appliance stops responding, technicians may be able to power-cycle its outlet without physically visiting the rack. Outlets can also be disabled when unused or sequenced during equipment startup to reduce sudden power demand. These features are particularly valuable in remote edge facilities and lights-out data centers where local staff may not always be available. Vertiv describes switched rPDUs as providing remote monitoring along with the ability to turn outlets on, turn them off, or reboot connected equipment. Because these controls can interrupt critical systems, access to switched PDU management interfaces should be protected carefully.
Main Types of Power Distribution Units
A basic PDU provides straightforward electrical distribution without advanced network monitoring or remote outlet control. It usually contains multiple receptacles connected to one or more protected electrical circuits. Basic units can be a practical choice when administrators already have other monitoring systems or simply need reliable rack-level distribution at a lower cost. They are available in many voltage, amperage, mounting, plug, and outlet configurations. Vertiv identifies basic rack PDUs as entry-level solutions intended to provide dependable power distribution for equipment inside racks and cabinets. Although simple, a basic PDU still needs appropriate electrical ratings, regulatory compliance, secure mounting, and correct connection to upstream power infrastructure.
A metered PDU adds a local display showing information about power consumption. Administrators can view electrical loading while standing at the rack, making it easier to understand remaining capacity and avoid overloads when equipment is added or moved. Depending on the product, measurements may include current, voltage, power, or other electrical values. Metered units are useful when organizations want greater visibility but do not need network-based remote monitoring. Vertiv notes that metered rack PDUs help technicians view power consumption locally and can support load balancing during deployments. They can also suit environments where administrators deliberately keep power-management infrastructure disconnected from wider networks for operational or security reasons.
A monitored PDU extends metering by making power information available remotely through a network interface. Administrators can check rack consumption without physically entering the data center and may receive alerts when predefined thresholds are exceeded. Monitoring may occur at the entire-unit level, branch circuit level, or individual outlet level depending on the PDU. This granularity can help identify which servers or devices consume the most electricity. Schneider Electric and Vertiv both describe advanced rack PDUs as supporting monitoring and remote access to help operators manage power and optimize energy use. Monitored PDUs are especially valuable in high-density environments where capacity can change substantially as infrastructure evolves.
A switched PDU combines monitoring capabilities with remote outlet control. Administrators can typically enable, disable, or reboot individual outlets through a secure management interface. This can reduce site visits when equipment at a remote facility becomes unresponsive. Outlet switching can also support controlled startup sequences and prevent unauthorized equipment from being powered through unused receptacles. Eaton describes switched PDUs as providing monitored-PDU functionality with additional individual outlet control. These capabilities make switched models popular in colocation sites, edge locations, remote offices, and larger data centers with many racks. However, administrators need strong access controls because an unauthorized outlet command could create an immediate service interruption.
An ATS PDU, or Automatic Transfer Switch PDU, can accept power from two separate AC sources and transfer the connected equipment between them when necessary. Eaton describes ATS PDUs as units with dual redundant inputs and an automatic transfer-switch function. This can be particularly useful for devices that have only one power supply but need greater upstream power redundancy. Equipment with dual power supplies can often connect directly to separate A and B power paths instead. ATS designs should still be selected according to the electrical characteristics and redundancy objectives of the facility. The five broad categories—basic, metered, monitored, switched, and ATS—therefore solve different combinations of distribution, visibility, control, and resilience requirements.
PDU vs. UPS vs. Power Strip
A PDU and UPS perform different functions, even though they frequently operate together. A UPS, or Uninterruptible Power Supply, provides temporary backup electricity when the normal power source fails and may also condition incoming power depending on its design. A PDU primarily distributes available electricity from an upstream source to multiple connected devices. During an outage, the UPS may carry critical equipment while generators start or while systems shut down safely. The PDU continues distributing whatever usable power is available upstream. Vertiv specifically distinguishes these roles by explaining that the UPS supports the load during outages while the PDU distributes power toward racks and connected IT equipment. One does not automatically replace the other.
A UPS commonly contains batteries or another energy-storage mechanism, whereas an ordinary PDU does not. This distinction affects both purpose and runtime. If utility electricity disappears and no UPS or generator exists upstream, a standard PDU cannot keep servers running simply because they are connected to it. Likewise, a UPS may have only a limited number of output connections and may rely on downstream PDUs to distribute power throughout larger equipment installations. In a small network closet, administrators might connect one rack PDU to a UPS. In a large data center, the electrical chain can be much more complex. Understanding each component’s role prevents the common misconception that every piece of rack-mounted power equipment provides battery backup.
A PDU and conventional power strip can look similar because both contain several electrical outlets. The major difference is that rack PDUs are designed for professional equipment environments and may support significantly higher capacities, specialized connectors, monitoring, management, and data center mounting requirements. Schneider Electric notes that the most basic PDUs can resemble large power strips, but advanced models provide capabilities such as real-time monitoring and remote access. Enterprise PDUs also come in electrical configurations appropriate for server infrastructure rather than household appliances. For this reason, appearance should not be used to determine whether two devices are interchangeable. Ratings, certification, input wiring, outlet design, and intended application matter much more.
Surge protection is another area where assumptions can create confusion. Many consumer power strips advertise surge suppression, while a basic data center PDU may focus specifically on distributing power and may not provide the same type of surge-protection functionality. Schneider Electric explicitly describes the most basic PDU category as large power distribution strips without overvoltage protection. Protection in enterprise facilities may instead be handled elsewhere within the electrical architecture. Administrators should therefore read the specifications rather than assuming that every PDU contains surge suppression because it looks like a power strip. Electrical protection should be designed across the full system, including upstream panels, UPS infrastructure, grounding, and other facility equipment.
The correct combination depends on the environment. A home office may use a quality surge protector or small UPS, while an enterprise server rack usually requires purpose-built power distribution matched to its circuit capacity and equipment connectors. Critical infrastructure may use UPS systems, redundant feeds, generators, transfer equipment, rack PDUs, and monitoring platforms together. Each layer solves a different part of the power-availability problem. The UPS provides continuity, the PDU distributes electricity, and monitoring systems help operators understand usage and potential risk. Instead of asking whether one device is “better,” businesses should determine which functions are needed. Reliable power architecture comes from combining appropriate components rather than expecting one piece of equipment to perform every electrical role.
Where Are PDUs Used and Why Do They Matter?
Data centers are the environment most strongly associated with Power Distribution Units. Each server rack can contain computing, storage, and networking devices that require multiple independent power connections. Rack PDUs provide organized outlets and allow administrators to manage electrical capacity within each cabinet. Large facilities may install thousands of rack PDUs across many server rows, making monitoring and standardization important operational concerns. Schneider Electric identifies data centers, colocation facilities, enterprise server rooms, and other high-density IT environments as common rack PDU applications. Without structured power distribution, administrators would have difficulty controlling load, planning capacity, tracing electrical connections, and maintaining reliable power delivery across such large numbers of devices.
Colocation facilities particularly benefit from intelligent PDUs because several customers may operate equipment inside the same broader data center environment. Providers may need accurate information about power consumption for capacity planning, customer allocation, efficiency management, and operational reporting. Outlet-level or rack-level measurements can provide much more visibility than measuring only at a facility’s main electrical input. Switched models can also support remote operations when tenants or technicians cannot immediately reach the equipment. Careful access permissions become important because administrators must prevent one customer from controlling another customer’s outlets. In this environment, the PDU becomes part of both the electrical infrastructure and the operational management system that supports shared data center services.
Enterprise server rooms and network closets use PDUs on a smaller scale but have similar requirements. A company may operate a few racks containing virtualization servers, storage appliances, firewalls, switches, phone systems, and backup equipment. Rack PDUs help organize power connections and can provide useful measurements when electrical capacity is limited. Monitored units allow central IT staff to supervise remote offices without traveling to every site. Switched outlets can sometimes help recover unresponsive equipment remotely. These capabilities become especially valuable when organizations operate dozens or hundreds of branches. Standardizing PDU models and electrical configurations across locations can also simplify documentation, spare-parts planning, and technician training.
Edge computing is another important PDU use case because processing equipment is increasingly being installed outside traditional centralized data centers. Retail stores, telecommunications facilities, manufacturing sites, healthcare locations, warehouses, and transportation infrastructure may contain small edge racks supporting local applications. These environments often have little or no dedicated IT staff, making remote power visibility valuable. A monitored or switched PDU can help administrators understand consumption and recover certain devices without dispatching a technician. Eaton specifically highlights remote management as an important PDU capability for distributed and edge infrastructure. As computing becomes more distributed, power-management tools that once belonged mainly in large data centers are becoming useful across smaller sites.
High-density computing and artificial intelligence are increasing the importance of PDU capacity. Modern accelerators and server platforms can consume substantial amounts of electricity within a relatively small rack footprint. This places greater pressure on upstream circuits, cooling infrastructure, connectors, cable management, and rack power distribution. Vertiv’s current monitored rPDU range includes high-capacity configurations designed for advanced compute and AI workloads, reflecting this shift toward greater rack density. Intelligent measurement becomes increasingly important because administrators need accurate information rather than estimates when racks operate close to infrastructure limits. PDUs therefore matter not only because they provide outlets, but because they help organizations understand and safely manage growing electrical demand.
How to Choose the Right PDU
Choosing the right PDU starts with electrical requirements. Administrators need to know the available input voltage, phase configuration, current rating, plug type, and upstream circuit capacity before selecting equipment. A PDU designed for a 120-volt single-phase environment cannot automatically be substituted for a 208-volt or 230-volt installation. Larger data centers may use three-phase power to deliver more capacity efficiently to high-density racks. Eaton currently lists rack PDU options across multiple single-phase and three-phase voltage configurations, illustrating how widely requirements can differ. Electrical selection should be performed by qualified personnel because incorrect voltage, connectors, or circuit loading can create equipment damage, downtime, and serious safety hazards.
The next consideration is total power capacity. Administrators should estimate how much electricity the rack’s existing equipment consumes and how much additional capacity may be required during its expected life. Actual consumption measurements are particularly useful because nameplate ratings can differ from normal operating loads. However, planning should preserve appropriate electrical headroom instead of filling the circuit completely under typical conditions. Metered or monitored PDUs can make future capacity decisions easier by showing real consumption. High-density servers may also require several connections and substantial current. Planning only for today’s hardware can lead to premature PDU replacement when additional servers or accelerators are installed later.
Outlet quantity and connector type are equally important. IT equipment commonly uses IEC C13 and C19 connections, but requirements differ according to server power supplies, regional standards, and rack design. A PDU should provide enough appropriate outlets for existing equipment while leaving reasonable expansion capacity. Administrators should also consider cable length and outlet positioning because poor layouts create difficult cable-management problems. Locking outlets or secure power cords can reduce the risk of accidental disconnection when technicians work inside crowded racks. Vertiv identifies locking outlets and alternating outlet arrangements as useful rack PDU features for maintaining connections and simplifying high-density cabling. Physical design can therefore affect reliability almost as much as electrical specifications.
Organizations should then decide how much monitoring and control they need. A small local server room may require only basic distribution or a local power meter. A large data center might benefit from remote rack monitoring and threshold alerts, while remote edge sites may justify switched outlets for power cycling. Outlet-level measurement can be useful when teams need detailed device consumption data, but it may add unnecessary cost where only rack-level capacity matters. Administrators should choose the simplest model that meets operational requirements without eliminating capabilities likely to become important soon. They should also examine whether the PDU integrates with existing monitoring, DCIM, or network-management platforms.
Finally, evaluate reliability, compliance, management security, warranty, environmental specifications, and vendor support. The PDU carries power to business-critical equipment, making product quality important even though the device may appear comparatively simple. Certifications should match the jurisdiction and facility requirements. Intelligent models should support secure management practices, including appropriate authentication and protected network access. Businesses should also consider replacement availability and whether firmware or management software will receive long-term support. Mounting style, temperature range, operating environment, and sensor options can matter in specialized facilities. PDU selection is therefore both an electrical and operational decision that should consider the expected lifecycle of the entire rack rather than only the initial installation.
Intelligent PDUs, Power Monitoring, and Future Trends
An intelligent PDU, also called a smart PDU, combines electrical distribution with digital monitoring and sometimes remote control. The exact definition varies between vendors, but monitored and switched rack PDUs generally fall into this broader category. These devices can make power information available through network interfaces instead of requiring technicians to inspect the rack manually. Vertiv describes smart PDUs as offering capabilities for monitoring, managing, and controlling power consumption beyond basic distribution. This visibility helps administrators identify overloaded circuits, understand energy trends, and plan future capacity. Smart PDUs can also feed information into broader data center infrastructure management systems where power, cooling, space, and equipment capacity are analyzed together.
Outlet-level monitoring provides especially detailed visibility. Instead of knowing only that an entire rack consumes a certain amount of power, administrators can see how individual connected devices contribute to the total. This information can help identify inefficient or underused equipment and support more accurate cost allocation. It can also help teams understand what happens to rack consumption after hardware upgrades or workload changes. Monitoring systems may record historical data so trends can be analyzed over days, months, or longer periods. Threshold alarms can warn operators when current or power approaches predefined limits. These features turn power distribution into a measurable operational system instead of an electrical resource that receives attention only after a breaker trips.
Remote switching adds operational control to that visibility. Administrators can power-cycle certain devices, disable unused outlets, and sometimes schedule outlet operation through management software. In a remote facility, this can avoid an expensive technician visit when a device requires a basic power reset. However, remote switching also increases cybersecurity importance because control of a PDU can directly interrupt connected equipment. Management networks should therefore be properly segmented, credentials protected, and administrative access limited. Firmware updates should be evaluated like updates for other infrastructure devices. As PDUs become more intelligent, organizations need to treat them as managed networked equipment rather than passive electrical accessories.
Environmental sensing is another capability increasingly associated with intelligent rack infrastructure. Some PDUs or connected management modules support temperature, humidity, door, airflow, or other sensors. This can give operators better visibility into conditions surrounding individual racks. High electrical loads often translate into higher cooling requirements, so correlating power and temperature information can help identify developing problems. Environmental alarms can alert administrators before conditions become severe enough to cause equipment throttling or failure. The PDU may therefore become a convenient platform for gathering rack-level operational information beyond electricity alone. Organizations should still determine which sensors provide meaningful operational value instead of collecting measurements that nobody routinely reviews.
The future of PDU technology is closely connected with high-density computing, AI infrastructure, edge deployments, and energy-efficiency management. New generations of servers can require substantially greater rack power, increasing interest in high-voltage and high-capacity distribution solutions. Current Vertiv products already highlight configurations intended for advanced computing and growing rack densities. Intelligent monitoring will become increasingly valuable as organizations try to understand power consumption at finer levels and make better capacity decisions. Future systems may integrate more deeply with automation, infrastructure-management software, and analytics platforms. Yet the PDU’s fundamental responsibility will remain unchanged: deliver appropriate power reliably to the equipment that depends on it.
Conclusion
A PDU, or Power Distribution Unit, is a device that distributes electrical power to multiple pieces of equipment. In data centers and server rooms, rack PDUs commonly provide power to servers, network switches, storage systems, and other devices installed inside cabinets. They can receive electricity from utility circuits, UPS systems, generators, or larger facility distribution infrastructure. Basic units focus primarily on distribution, while advanced models provide metering, remote monitoring, alarms, and outlet control. Although a PDU may resemble a sophisticated power strip, professional rack models are designed around the electrical capacity, mounting, connectors, and management requirements of enterprise IT. Their role makes them an essential part of structured power infrastructure.
Understanding how a PDU works also requires understanding its place in the wider power chain. The device does not normally generate electricity or provide stored backup energy. Instead, it distributes the electricity available from upstream systems to downstream equipment. A UPS may provide temporary power during an outage, while the PDU continues distributing that power to connected devices. In larger facilities, floor-level distribution systems can feed multiple rack PDUs across the data center. The rack PDU then becomes the final distribution point before power reaches individual servers. Maintaining appropriate circuit capacity, redundancy, connectors, and load balance throughout this chain is essential for dependable operation.
The major types of PDU include basic, metered, monitored, switched, and automatic transfer switch models. Basic units provide straightforward power distribution, while metered PDUs display electrical loading locally. Monitored PDUs add network-based visibility and alerts, and switched models allow authorized administrators to control individual outlets remotely. ATS PDUs can use two input power sources for greater redundancy in suitable applications. No type is automatically best for every organization. A local equipment rack may need only simple distribution, while a remote edge site or high-density data center may benefit significantly from intelligent monitoring and switching. Requirements should determine the feature set rather than purchasing complexity for its own sake.
Selecting a PDU requires careful attention to voltage, amperage, phase configuration, plug type, outlets, expected power consumption, redundancy, mounting style, and future expansion. Intelligent features add another decision layer involving monitoring granularity, management interfaces, alarms, switching, and system integration. Organizations should also consider regulatory compliance, product quality, environmental limits, firmware support, and management security. Because PDUs handle electricity for critical systems, installation and electrical planning should involve appropriately qualified personnel. A technically advanced PDU cannot correct an undersized upstream circuit or unsafe electrical design. Reliability comes from treating rack power as part of the complete facility architecture rather than selecting components independently.
As rack density increases, PDUs are becoming increasingly important sources of operational intelligence. Smart PDUs can show administrators where electricity is being consumed, whether capacity remains available, and when predefined thresholds are being approached. Outlet-level monitoring and remote switching provide even greater control in large or distributed environments. AI servers and other high-performance computing platforms are increasing power requirements further, creating demand for higher-capacity distribution and more accurate monitoring. Despite these developments, the basic PDU meaning remains simple: it is the equipment responsible for distributing electricity where IT devices need it. Choosing and managing that equipment correctly helps organizations support safer, more efficient, and more reliable computing infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does PDU stand for?
PDU stands for Power Distribution Unit. It is an electrical device used to distribute power from an upstream source to multiple connected pieces of equipment, particularly in data centers and server racks.
What is a rack PDU?
A rack PDU is a Power Distribution Unit designed to mount inside or alongside an IT equipment rack. It supplies electricity to servers, switches, storage devices, and other rack-mounted hardware.
What is the difference between a PDU and UPS?
A PDU distributes available electricity to multiple devices, while a UPS provides temporary backup power when the normal supply fails. The two are frequently used together, with a PDU distributing power supplied through a UPS.
What is an intelligent PDU?
An intelligent or smart PDU adds capabilities such as remote power monitoring, energy measurements, threshold alerts, environmental sensing, or outlet control. Monitored and switched rack PDUs are common intelligent PDU categories.
What is the difference between a PDU and a power strip?
Both devices distribute electricity to multiple outlets, but rack PDUs are designed for professional IT environments and can support higher capacities, specialized connectors, rack mounting, metering, remote monitoring, and management capabilities that ordinary consumer power strips typically lack.
