Avocent Power Manager Generates Higher Savings for High-Density Data Centers

Business Wire, Sept 17, 2007

Cyclades PM 42 combines three-phase power with DSView[R] 3 software for integrated remote management solution

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Avocent([R]) Corporation (Nasdaq: AVCT) today introduced the Cyclades PM 42 intelligent power distribution unit (IPDU) that provides switched, remotely manageable three-phase power to equipment racks in data centers allowing for more efficient use of power needed for IT to help businesses remain operational 24x7.

A recent survey by the Aperture Research Institute finds that more than 90 percent of data centers today deploy high-density equipment. As rack and server densities increase, substantially more power is required. Three-phase power provides a long-term solution for this problem because it can support growing power requirements as data centers become more densely populated. Three-phase power distribution devices are designed to accept a single three-phase input voltage then convert it to three single, split-phase power circuits. This is far more cost effective than running numerous single-phase circuits because an entire data center rack can be powered with a single circuit, or two circuits for redundancy.

"Employing a three-phase power strategy is essential for enterprises to adapt to the data center's ever-evolving power requirements, particularly in our current environment, where power requirements are continuing their steep climb and data center real estate is becoming increasingly scarce," said Ashish Moondra, product manager for power management devices at Avocent. "We designed the new Cyclades PM to grow with the enterprise data center, so it's something IT managers can install today and rely on for years."

Combined with Avocent DSView[R] 3 management software IT managers in the data center save time and money using the PM42 since they can remotely reboot or recycle power and monitor power currents. Automated monitoring allows IT managers to set thresholds that can, for example, turn off and lock power units if current goes beyond a set limit, preventing circuit breakers from crashing and bringing down servers. This "smart" metering capability allows businesses to stay "always on" and provides a major advancement over basic PDUs that can monitor power but lack the capability to actively control it.

The Cyclades PM 42 is specially designed for racks using more than 5kW of power because rack densities are requiring substantially more power, rising from a former average of 3kW or below, peaking at 20kW to 25kW. The Cyclades PM 42 also makes better use of scarce data center real estate. The PM 42 can deliver up to 8.6kW of power and provide 42 outlets that can support 42 one-unit (1U) servers within a rack. Up to three PM 42s can be used in tandem and managed as a single entity, enabling IT managers to manage a total of 126 outlets through a single IP address - nearly twice the number of outlets of most competitive managed offerings. The PM 42's compact size also enables it to be mounted within any rack, unlike wider power strips that can only be used on racks with a wide rear channel, giving it the flexibility to be implemented in any high-density data center environment.

Similar to existing Cyclades PM power products the new Cyclades PM 42 is easily and remotely accessible through DSView 3 software. DSView 3 software consolidates management of servers and embedded technologies via KVM switches, serial console managers, power managers, service processor managers, and even third-party tools into a single interface, providing a complete infrastructure management solution for IT managers. Rather than having to run a separate management appliance for power issues, IT managers can directly monitor and manage power through the main management platforms they are already using. The integration with DSView 3 software also enables the power managers to integrate with enterprise authentication, authorization and auditing (AAA) access servers to ensure data center security. By integrating system access, power control and security into a single platform, Avocent delivers easier management and faster problem solving to data centers of any size.

About Avocent Corporation

Avocent delivers IT infrastructure management solutions that reduce operating costs, simplify management and increase the availability of critical, "always on" IT environments via integrated, centralized in-band and out-of-band hardware and software. Through LANDesk, Avocent also is a leading provider of systems, security, and process management solutions. Additional information is available at: www.avocent.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements as defined within the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements regarding the development of new systems and management solutions and Avocent's growth and expansion into these and other new markets. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, risks associated with general economic conditions, risks attributable to future product demand, sales, and expenses, risks associated with product design efforts and the introduction of new products and technologies, and risk associated with obtaining and protecting intellectual property rights. Other factors that could cause operating and financial results to differ are described in Avocent's reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.