A Streamlined Power Management Platform for Hyperconverged Infrastructure

Power management is a fundamental concern for any IT system: downtime for critical systems means costly and disruptive risks to the business. While enterprises can leverage battery-based backup systems to mitigate these risks, a battery-based solution can only last for so long, and data loss remains a possibility.

A comprehensive power management and disaster recovery (DR) strategy needs to not only optimize backup runtime as much as possible but also plan for additional steps such as migrating virtual machines (VMs). In this context, maintaining an effective power management strategy can become a time-consuming challenge—particularly when overseeing multiple locations reliant on custom DR scripts that require continuous updates.

Eaton Corporation, a Nutanix Technology Alliance Partner, provides solutions designed to enhance resilience, protect business continuity, simplify power monitoring, and automate DR protocols. As Nutanix continues our work enabling more flexible, scalable, and AI-ready data centers for our customers, Eaton will play a valuable role in extending these benefits to power management.

Elevated Power Management Capabilities from Eaton

Virtually every enterprise has some form of backup power solution in place, but simply relying on an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) can still result in data loss and costly operational disruptions during power outages. While some organizations turn to custom scripts to automate DR workflows for power resilience, these scripts require constant updates to remain effective as systems are updated, adding complexity and administrative overhead.

Eaton offers a streamlined approach for Nutanix customers through their portfolio of power management solutions which integrate directly with the Nutanix AHV hypervisor. Eaton’s software takes power management to the next level through comprehensive capabilities for monitoring, trending, alerting, reporting, and managing power, space, and cooling across one or more data center facilities. With Eaton solutions, Nutanix customers can:

• Receive proactive alerts for environmental and power issues, enabling a timely response.
• Maximize backup runtime during power outages by leveraging advanced load-shedding features.
• Automate disaster recovery protocols, such as migrating VMs, shutting down VMs, and restarting hosts as needed.
• Monitor and control power infrastructure across multiple locations through a unified interface.

Unlock new Strategies for Avoiding Unplanned Downtime

Eaton’s power management solution employs a UPS which not only has lithium-ion batteries but also a network management card with cybersecurity certifications (UL 2900-1 and IEC 62443-4-2). This universal rackmount power distribution unit (PDU) can power Nutanix systems while enabling granular management down to the outlet level. Eaton’s rack cooling solutions are ideal for low-density configurations. For medium-density setups, in-row cooling options provide targeted efficiency and temperature control.

Integrating Power Management with Nutanix HCI

Nutanix’s hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) solution delivers seamless scalability and simplified management by integrating four key elements: networking, virtualization, storage, and compute. With the integration of Eaton’s power management capabilities, this model is expanded to include a critical fifth element: power management.

Eaton’s Intelligent Power Manager (IPM) integrates with Nutanix AHV, enabling automations that respond to power or temperature issues. By leveraging the Nutanix Prism management console, IPM automates the deployment of Disaster Avoidance software as an open virtual appliance (OVA), enabling rapid, automated responses to power disruptions. 

These intelligent automations provide a robust foundation for a comprehensive power resilience strategy. For instance, automations can be programmed to migrate VMs from one location to another if a power outage lasts longer than a specified duration.

A Comprehensive Infrastructure Partner

Eaton’s advanced power management capabilities for Nutanix are supported by an extensive range of IT infrastructure products, including UPS systems, managed PDUs, server racks, and enclosures. With over 6,000 products available, Eaton offers Nutanix customers a convenient, one-stop shop for organizing and optimizing IT environments, from cable management to connectivity and cooling solutions.

Selecting the appropriate rack for a Nutanix system or other critical IT equipment is crucial for maintaining infrastructure health and performance. Eaton simplifies the process by sourcing high-quality components designed to minimize the risk of failure.

By installing the right combination of high-efficiency backup power, power distribution units, and other accessories, businesses can extend the operational lifespan of their equipment during power incidents while improving cost-effectiveness and reducing downtime.

Explore Eaton Power Management for Nutanix

Eaton’s solutions for Nutanix offer a comprehensive approach to optimizing power management for HCI. With a wide array of products and integration capabilities, Eaton helps Nutanix customers enhance system resilience, streamline operations, and ensure reliable power. 

To learn more about how Eaton’s power management solutions work with Nutanix, check out the Solution Brief here.

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