Data Realty (now Aunalytics)
Data Centers

At its new multimillion dollar colocation data center on the 140-acre technology campus of Ignition Park in South Bend, Indiana, Data Realty (now Aunalytics) wanted to do more than just measure its customers’ power usage.  It wanted to go above and beyond for customers in order create efficiencies and prevent problems before they occurred. Data Realty looked to Packet Power for the solutions it needed.

The resulting partnership was a success. Since opening the northern Indiana data center, Data Realty has not experienced even one minor power disruption leading to server downtime. Even more, its partnership with Packet Power gave Data Realty the flexibility necessary to meet customers’ expanding needs while saving time and effort.

THE SMART WAY TO
MONITOR POWER

DATA REALTY’S FIRST CHALLENGE

THE PACKET POWER DECISION

Tom didn’t see anything on the market that met his exact needs. At a business partner’s suggestion, he reached out to Packet Power for guidance. Would it be possible to have Packet Power’s soft-ware run a subroutine, alerting Data Realty if a customer’s power usage on either circuit exceeded the recommended limits? Absolutely. Packet Power collaborated with Tom on the solution and gave Data Realty the tools necessary to achieve its goals.

Now, when a customer puts too much equipment on a circuit, Data Realty receives instant notification from Packet Power’s power monitoring systems. Data Realty is able to reach out to the customer and alert them to the problem, helping to prevent server downtime in the event of a failure scenario.

Tom explains that he takes seriously his responsibility to protect customers. His partnership with Packet Power allows him to do so. Because of Packet Power’s monitoring systems, Data Realty has never had a single customer have a piece of equipment turned off due to maintenance or failure.

DATA REALTY’S SECOND CHALLENGE—AND A SOLUTION FROM PACKET POWER

Data Realty also sought something more from a power monitoring system: the resources necessary to provide customers with added flexibility. Historically, customers had to reconfigure their equipment and switch cabinets as their needs changed. This was inconvenient and used time and valuable resources that could be better spent elsewhere.

Data Realty wanted to reduce the time spent reconfiguring cabinets to meet customers’ need for increased capacity. Packet Power allowed them to do so. Packet Power’s software lets Data Realty set thresholds for individual customers. The technology means that Data Realty can give customers bigger circuits than they currently need, but limit the number of amps they can use. When a customer’s needs increase, the limit can be easily increased—without having to move equipment. Tom comments, “It’s powerful and flexible. The visibility has made a huge difference.”

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR DATA REALTY AND PACKET POWER?

Data Realty is currently working with Packet Power to explore additional capabilities for Packet Power’s wireless infrastructure. They are looking to Packet Power to track temperatures and humidity throughout the facility. Because Packet Power’s monitoring system is cloud-based, it is much more flexible than traditional approaches.

When Data Realty needs to monitor temperature or humidity in a new part of the facility, there is no need to call an electrician. Tom can place one of Packet Power’s nodes in the proper location. The node immediately begins to share environmental information via a self-configuring wireless network, and Tom can access the information he needs to protect his customers and prevent problems.