Dell Information Update Power Infrastructure Sizing Specifications User Guide
Summary
This update addresses power infrastructure sizing for Dell server deployments. It explains assessing actual power consumption based on configuration and workload versus power supply ratings. Covers capacity planning tools, power capping features, and sizing PDUs and UPSs accurately. Includes examples comparing approaches. Intended for data center planners and infrastructure architects.
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527920SC.fm Page 1 Friday, June 26, 2009 1:51 PM
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 User Guide
Manual Details
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Pages | 14 |
| File Size | 695.49 KB |
| Published | June 29, 2026 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How should I accurately estimate peak system power consumption for facility planning?
Use dedicated online capacity planning tools and combine workload characterization with enabled power capping features for greater accuracy.
Why is using the PSU's rated wattage insufficient for infrastructure sizing?
It provides a conservative assessment, leading to expensive over-provisioning and underutilizing the infrastructure (potentially less than 50%).
What method ensures compliance with safety standards during deployment?
Use Power Distribution Units (PDUs) equipped with circuit protection devices like circuit breakers or fuses.
How can I improve power sizing efficiency over using only peak workload figures?
By combining system and workload characterization while utilizing 'power capping' features, you get a more precise approximation of the required capacity for PDUs and UPSs.