Learn how Server Technology® Improved Power Density for Cisco IT Labs

About Cisco
Cisco was founded in 1984 in San Francisco, CA by husband and wife Len Bosack and Sandy Lerner, who created the first multi-protocol router when they were seeking a means to communicate via email on the Stanford University campus. Today, Cisco is the world’s leading provider of networking hardware, software, and solutions that support digital security, converged infrastructure, cloud computing, mobility, and the Internet of Everything. Cisco’s mission is to shape the future of the Internet by creating unprecedented value and opportunity for their customers, employees, investors, and ecosystem partners and has become the worldwide leader in networking – transforming how people connect, communicate and collaborate

According to Cisco’s website, they have over 380 global sites doing business in 165 countries and 170 labs around the world. They employ over 70,000 people, have revenues in excess of $40B annually, and spend over $6B annually on research and development.

The Challenge
Historically, the Cisco IT labs relied on single phase power to their IT and networking equipment cabinets. But as time progressed, technology evolved along the lines of both speed and density. More network ports were put into the same amount of space, and network speeds went from megabits per second to hundreds of gigabytes per second. Single phase 208V power allowed for a maximum of only 5-6 kilowatts of load per cabinet. Equipment loads got commensurately larger. This led to the frequent tripping of circuit breakers within the labs.

‘Our deployments typically have an A & B side power feed, requiring 2 power strips per cabinet. Now if your power strips are 2 RUs wide (3.5′) each, that’s 4 RUs of valuable real estate inside the cabinet for power and cable management,’ says Mike. ‘The key challenge for us was to have enough power density in the smallest form factor possible.’