Dell Information Update Power Infrastructure Sizing Specifications and User Guide
Summary
This information update addresses proper power infrastructure sizing for Dell server deployments. It explains how to assess actual system power consumption based on configuration and workload rather than relying solely on power supply ratings. The document covers power capping features, online capacity planning tools, and accurate sizing of Power Distribution Units (PDUs) and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs). Target users are data center planners, facilities engineers, and IT infrastructure teams responsible for power provisioning and capacity planning in server deployments.
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Information Update: Power Infrastructure Sizing Properly sizing system power consumption benefits an efficient IT environment. If the power supply power rating for a system is used to calculate the cumulative power for an overall deployment, it provides a conservative assessment for many hardware configurations and can be less efficient and more costly. In an effort to gain optimal performance and to avoid costly over-provisioning, you need to understand how to assess power consumption of the system to adequately provision the facility. Power consumption is specific to the system configuration and to the workload expected of the hardware. If a system is assessed under a peak workload for a specific deployment, the assessment may result in a significantly different power consumption requirement than that of the power supply power rating. On-line capacity planning tools available from Dell may help to understand peak power consumption for a particular system configuration. Systems characterized while using the power capping features enabled from Dell system management software provide additional predictability for peak power consumption. Combined use of system and workload characterization with power capping can more accurately approximate the appropriate size of Power Distribution Units (PDUs), Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs), and other power infrastructure distribution equipment. Example: If a server power supply is rated at 1000W and the characterization results in 500W of power consumption for the configuration and workload, the 500W power value can be used for infrastructure sizing. Using system power capping at the 500W value also provides additional assurance that 500W can be used for sizing the infrastructure. When deploying 20 of the same configuration in a rack, the total load can be sized for 10KW. By contrast, if the power supply rated value or 1000W were used, the total load would be sized as 20KW. The power supply-rated approach requires additional power and cooling and results in an infrastructure that is utilized less than 50 percent. Using PDUs with circuit protection devices such as circuit breakers or fuses ensures that regulatory and safety guidance is met for a deployment.
June 2009
Page Summary Contents For Dell Information Update Power Infrastructure Sizing Specifications and User Guide
Manual Details
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Pages | 14 |
| File Size | 695.38 KB |
| Published | June 29, 2026 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How should I calculate the total power load requirement?
Calculate based on the specific system configuration and expected workload, not just the power supply's rated value.
What features help predict peak power consumption accurately?
Using Dell's online capacity planning tools or systems that have enabled power capping features provide added predictability.
What components must be used for safety compliance when deploying PDUs?
The PDU should use circuit protection devices such as circuit breakers or fuses to meet regulatory and safety guidance.
Why is basing sizing on the power supply rated value inefficient?
It requires unnecessary additional power and cooling, leading to infrastructure utilization that is less than 50%.