Hardware: DLI Remote Power Switch
This handy little device is a Remotely Controlled Power Distribution Unit or PDU. Think of it as a smart power strip… It has an ethernet connection and gets its own IP address. It has a total of 10 outlets, 8 of which are remotely controllable. Once networking is established, you can remotely log in to an embedded web server and turn power outlets on and off without having to be there physically.
But it gets better! The software built into the unit can also monitor ip addresses via ping and automatically cycle the power if the server stops responding. For safety sake, you can set how many times it needs to not respond before cycling. This means your downtime for a hung server goes from 10 to 15 minutes IF someone is at the datacenter, or possibly worse if someone isn’t or is busy with other issues… to a couple of minutes while the server reboots. This can definitely help your uptime SLA.
The only thing I wish this had that it doesn’t is the ability to have multiple logins and be able to limit those logins to controlling individual ports. That would come in handy for companies that colocate servers for others, or offer dedicated servers to their customers. It would let them offer the customer the ability to reboot their box (and only their box). When I asked about it, I was told it may be added in a future firmware upgrade. But I just checked the company’s website and the latest firmware doesn’t address this yet. This isn’t a major issue for us but I could see it being one for some, and it’s a nice selling point if they added it.
We’ve bought ours from http://www.datacenterhardware.com/ and wholeheartedly recommend them – tell Benjamin that Lagniappe Internet sent you if you do order from them (we get no commission or anything like that but a little good will never hurts).
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Robert Porter holds Oracle Certified Professional-Java 6, MCSE, A+, Net+, Project+, Security+, and multiple CIW certifications. He has been in the hosting industry for more than a decade and is founder of Lagniappe Internet L.L.C., a privately owned, completely debt free, hosting company based out of New Orleans. Robert's background includes 25+ years in programming, databases, networking and systems administration. |
