Manufacturer Eaton has introduced the latest version of its Intelligent Power Manager software. The updated software includes compatibility with the VMware vSphere 5.1 virtualization platform and a new load shedding capability designed to extend available battery backup time.
“When the power goes out, SMBs need to keep mission-critical workloads running,” says Hervé Tardy, Eaton’s vice president and general manager, power quality division. “Our latest software shreds virtual workloads to significantly increase available backup time without the need for additional hardware investments.”
End-users can set up Intelligent Power Manager’s load shedding feature by first assigning virtual machines (VM) with one of five priority levels. Each priority level can be configured with shutdown type as well as timing for the initiation of shutdown and suspend sequences.
Upon detection of a power outage, Eaton’s software will suspend or shutdown VMs as configured in each priority level. When VMware’s Distributed Power Manager is active, it will automatically consolidate the remaining active VMs before idling inactive servers. This process is designed to reduce uninterruptible power system (UPS) battery drain to extend the available backup time needed to carry out failover processes.†
The update improves upon Intelligent Power Manager software’s existing VMware integration. Like its predecessor models, it enables viewing, monitoring, and administration of physical and virtual servers. The latest model, however, also adds uninterruptible power systems (UPSs), power distribution units, to that list. The software solution also enables users to initiate automatic and transparent live migrations of virtual machines and can trigger VMware Site Recovery Manager’s disaster recovery and planned migration processes.
Additionally, Intelligent Power Manager software is certified VMware Ready, VMware’s highest level of endorsement. The software can be found on the VMware Solution Exchange. †
