Power Distribution Unit

What Does Power Distribution Unit Mean?

A power distribution unit (PDU) is a type of electrical component that distributes and manages electricity supply to computers, servers and networking devices within a data center environment.

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It provides a central unit to control and distribute electricity across the data center components.

Power distribution units are also known as main distribution units (MDU).

Techopedia Explains Power Distribution Unit

A power distribution unit is an electrical device that has multiple sources of integrated power outputs. Each power output socket can be connected with a computing or networking device directly. There are two types of PDUs: floor mounted and rack mounted.

A PDU has the ability to manage and distribute large amounts of electricity and usually is directly installed in the rack. PDUs generally have the ability to be connected and accessed over the network or remotely, and provide data and statistics on the power usage effectiveness (PUE).

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…