Data Centre Power Train Management Software for Capacity Planning

AKCP YouTube Video on the Power Train Feature

The AKCP Power Train in Your Datacentre

In a data centre, the power train (or power infrastructure) refers to the system that ensures a continuous and reliable supply of electricity to the IT equipment. This is also referred to as the critical power path. The path includes multiple components that work together to prevent power failures and downtime:

• Standby power generators
• Mains power supplies
• LV switchboards
• Sub-Distribution breaker panels and individual circuit breakers
• Static Transfer Switches / Automatic Transfer Switches
• Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) / energy storage systems
• Power distribution units (PDUs)
• Server cabinets

The Power Train feature within AKCPro Server Software provides a way to map the 3phase and single-phase power circuits and power assets within a data centres to provide advanced real-time power, enery and thermal management data.

Data Centre Power Train Software Modes

Mapping the train helps to identify the critical power path within the data centre and other essential and non-essential loads.

The Live View Mode provides an easy way to see the complete power train and assets, including live data from connected sensors and virtual sensors. The feature can also show the live power usage effectiveness (PUE) ratio and help to identify underutilised capacity and overloaded circuits.

In the Simulation View Mode, power sources can be power OFF/ON to see the effect on the power train, including breaker tripping. This can help to identify single failure points and weaknesses in the overall design (N, N+1, 2N, or 2N+1 Redundancy). Especially important for reviewing the data centre against industry standards for resilience and uptime (Uptime Industry Tier-ratings and BS EN50600 – European standard for data centre infrastructure, covering aspects of design, power, cooling systems, security, and sustainability).

AKCPro Server Software as a DCIM Solution

AKCPro Server software is a simple to use data centre infrastructure management (DCIM) package that provides data centre metrics including PUE. Downloaded from the AKCP website, the software can be used to simply collect and display data from a single ACKP sensorProbe+ and connected sensor, or be expanded to cover multiple units, in different geographic regions, with a multitude of connected units, sensors, converters data from third-party systems with input via Modbus TCP/IP, Modbus RTU, SNMP, MQTT and more.

AKCPro Server can be run as an on-premises installation, or the Cloud-based version can be used.

Monitoring

Fully SNMP compliant, AKCPro Server Virtual sensors can be used to integrate intelligent PDUs and UPS systems to collect live data for power train management.

Capacity Planning

Mapping the power train shows where there is underutilised power within a branch circuit and helps to identify server racks with available space and checks that there is sufficient power within the circuit for additional servers.

Thermal Risk Management

Including data from temperature & humidity sensors helps to identify data centre spaces and racks where there could be insufficient cooling and airflow, resulting in the risk of hot spots and potentially, fire hazards. The collected data helps data centre operators to meet the latest and relevant ASHRAE recommendations for data centre temperature optimisation.

Power Distribution and Efficient Energy

Efficient use of cooling, check for cold spots in your data centre. Areas that are over-cooled or underutilized. Improve your energy efficiency, reduce operational costs.

Realtime Insights Right Down to The Level of Your Rack PDUs

The software can generate 2D and 3D heatmaps, showing ∆T, ∆P, humidity levels, door and rack security, and power train assets.

Data Centre Virtualization

The 2D and 3D maps within AKCPro server software allow you to drill down to map from a world view to individual estate sites and then down to individual server rack levels. This feature helps to quickly identify problem areas.

The Importance of Power Train Mapping in a Data Centre

Data centres serve as the backbone of the IT infrastructure for any organisation, hosting mission-critical applications, cloud services, and enterprise operations. Ensuring a continuous and efficient power supply is one of the most vital aspects of data centre management. This is where power train mapping plays a crucial role.

Power train mapping is the process of designing, documenting, and analysing the entire power infrastructure of a data centre, from the utility grid to the IT equipment. It provides a clear visualisation of how power flows through the system, helping to optimize performance, ensure redundancy, and mitigate risks.

1. Ensuring Power Reliability and Redundancy: Power failures are among the most significant risks to data centre operations. A single power outage can result in downtime, leading to financial losses and reputational damage. Power train mapping helps identify potential single points of failure and ensures that redundancy is built into the system. By clearly defining power paths, administrators can implement N+1, 2N, or 2N+1 redundancy strategies, ensuring that backup power sources such as Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) and diesel generators are adequately provisioned. With a well-mapped power train, data centre operators can simulate different failure scenarios and verify that automatic transfer switches (ATS) and power distribution units (PDUs) function correctly to maintain power continuity. This proactive approach helps prevent unexpected outages and enhances operational resilience.
2. Optimising Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE): Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) is a key metric for assessing a data centre’s energy efficiency. Power train mapping helps identify inefficiencies in power distribution, allowing operators to streamline energy consumption and reduce wastage. By analyzing the entire power flow, from the main utility feed to IT loads, managers can pinpoint areas where energy losses occur, such as inefficient power conversion, over-provisioned UPS systems, or unnecessary cooling loads. Optimising the power train also enables the implementation of energy-saving strategies like advanced power management, intelligent PDUs, and dynamic load balancing. These enhancements not only reduce operational costs but also contribute to a data centre’s sustainability goals by minimizing its carbon footprint.
3. Improving Capacity Planning and Scalability: As data centre demands grow, power requirements increase accordingly. Power train mapping provides a comprehensive view of current power loads, helping operators assess whether the existing infrastructure can support future expansion. This is critical in capacity planning, as it ensures that new IT equipment, servers, and networking devices can be accommodated without overloading the power system. Accurate power mapping also assists in determining the best locations for additional power sources, such as extra PDUs or UPS units. Without proper planning, data centres risk encountering power bottlenecks that could hinder performance and scalability.
4. Enhancing Safety and Compliance: Data centres must adhere to strict regulatory standards and safety protocols related to electrical power distribution. Power train mapping aids compliance with industry standards such as ISO 50001 (Energy Management Systems) and Uptime Institute’s Tier Certifications. By maintaining a detailed map of the power infrastructure, data centre operators can ensure proper grounding, load balancing, and thermal management to prevent electrical hazards like overheating and short circuits. Regular power audits and assessments become more effective with a well-documented power train map. It helps in identifying any discrepancies, ensuring that all safety measures are in place, and maintaining compliance with evolving regulations.
5. Facilitating Faster Troubleshooting and Maintenance: When power-related issues arise, quick resolution is essential to prevent service disruptions. A comprehensive power train map enables IT and facility teams to pinpoint the source of a problem efficiently, reducing mean time to repair (MTTR). Instead of conducting time-consuming inspections across multiple power distribution points, technicians can refer to the power map to isolate faulty components such as a malfunctioning UPS, a tripped circuit breaker, or an overloaded power strip. Additionally, scheduled maintenance and upgrades become more streamlined when all power pathways are well-documented. This prevents accidental disruptions and ensures that power redundancy remains intact during servicing activities.

Free Power Monitoring Software Demo

Power train mapping is a fundamental practice in data centre management, offering numerous benefits such as improved reliability, efficiency, scalability, safety, and maintenance. As data centres continue to grow in complexity, a well-defined power mapping strategy ensures seamless operations and optimal energy usage. By investing in power train mapping, organisations can mitigate risks, enhance sustainability, and deliver uninterrupted digital services to their customers. In an era where uptime and energy efficiency are paramount, power train mapping is not just a best practice—it is a necessity.

Please contact our Projects Team for a free software demo. We can use Microsoft Teams or Google Meet to host a meeting and provide you with a free online demo of the AKCPro Server software and features that will help you to manage power within your critical facilities, raise resilience level, improve business continuity planning and energy efficiency.