Eaton announced two new additions to its micro data centre and 9PX uninterruptible power supply series: the iCube 2.0 and the 9PX lithium-ion UPS.
Tailored to the needs and pain points of organisations looking to future-proof their data centre infrastructure, the new regional solutions enable businesses to achieve information and operational technology excellence while also positioning their enterprise for success during the ongoing energy transition.
“As the world transitions to renewable energy, pandemic-accelerated digitalisation has accelerated the rise of edge computing,” says Jimmy Yam, Eaton’s vice president for the electrical sector in East Asia.
“The continued advancement of technology is transforming the way data is processed, managed, and delivered. In this context, MDC and UPS solutions are increasingly important in bridging the edge computing divide and ensuring critical applications continue to run with minimal environmental impact “he asserts.
“With the continued use of remote work and the anticipated growth of digitalisation, the demand for fast and sustainable computing capacity will only grow. The introduction of the iCube 2.0 and 9PX Lithium-ion UPSs will contribute to meeting this demand while maintaining energy efficiency.”
iCube 2.0 is an enhanced micro data centre solution designed for energy-efficient edge computing excellence.
iCube 2.0 is an upgrade to Eaton’s previous MDC 1.0 solution. It is intended to address key challenges and common user pain points associated with edge deployments, such as space constraints and a lack of technical expertise required to design and deploy solutions from scratch.
In comparison to the first-generation MDC 1.0 solution, iCube 2.0 can be customised to accommodate a range of rack sizes. IT managers can choose from a variety of cabinet sizes available in iCube 2.0. This includes basic racks equipped with mission-critical equipment for small offices, as well as prefabricated multi-rack solutions for medium- to large-sized offices.
According to Eaton, this flexibility enables organisations to maximise the use of unit room space and scale deployments in response to changing operational requirements. Additionally, it translates into lower deployment and maintenance costs, resulting in increased cost effectiveness for organisations due to the lower total cost of ownership, according to the company.
Additionally, as an integrated and prefabricated plug-and-play solution, iCube 2.0 simplifies deployment for IT managers. It requires little maintenance and manpower due to its integrated intelligent management software system, which monitors all environmental parameters and provides automated alerts and predictive analytics for optimal performance.
At the same time, Eaton notes that the iCube 2.0’s class 8 seismic rating and best-in-class certifications enable it to be deployed safely in challenging environments that may be dusty, hot, humid, or even earthquake-prone.
Eaton’s enterprise-class 9PX UPS series has received a greener, more efficient lithium-ion (Li-ion) refresh compared to its previous VRLA-powered offerings.
With advancements in technology driving down production and deployment costs, Li-ion-powered UPS solutions have grown in popularity in recent years due to their smaller footprint, shorter charging cycle, longer lifespan, and lower total cost of ownership.
Eaton’s 9PX Li-ion UPS is Energy Star-certified and features lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, one of the safest and longest-lasting Li-ion solutions currently available on the market. It also features industry-leading energy efficiency of up to 94 percent in online mode.
Apart from reducing CO2 emissions, the UPS solution maximises floor space utilisation while minimising physical footprint and overall weight. Additionally, it includes intelligent battery management system (BMS) software and critical cybersecurity features that enable organisations to optimise energy and capacity management while also protecting against hackers.
Additionally, the 9PX Li-ion UPS is equipped with Eaton’s Intelligent Power Manager, which enables deep integration with VMware and HyperV virtual environments, increases infrastructure resiliency against adverse power and environmental events through disaster recovery automation, and enables advanced load shedding capabilities to extend the life of critical operational loads.
Along with lower energy and cooling costs and an eight to ten-year service life, Eaton’s 9PX Li-ion UPS reduces overall long-term TCO by eliminating the need for external battery modules and associated labour and shipping costs. This is especially true for organisations that face servicing challenges as a result of remote locations or large deployments, frequent power outages, or the operation of mission-critical applications that require zero downtime.
“Continuous power is required to keep applications or servers running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, especially in the era of edge computing; however, this can have a negative impact on the environment in the long run,” Yam explains.
“Attaining a balance between business growth and agility in a data-driven economy and sustainability goals is a challenge that organisations will increasingly face,” he says.
“However, with the right technology, partners, and strategy, businesses can successfully navigate these complex yet complementary priorities and emerge victorious.”
