Packet Power Debuts Energy-Aware Cabling

Minneapolis-based startup Packet Power LLC has launched a suite of energy tracking products to help data center operators measure and manage the power use in their data centers. Packet Power offers a "smart power cable" that captures detailed power consumption data and transmits it wirelessly for analysis and reporting.

The company came out of stealth mode at last week's Green:Net 09 conference in San Francisco, where it was one of the participants in the Startup Launchpad, in which 10 companies made 4-minute pitches and were instantly judged by a panel of venture capitalists. You can watch the Green:Net Launchpad presentation by Packet Power founder and president Paul Bieganski on YouTube.

"Power consumption in data centers is skyrocketing and companies have come to realize that they have both an operational and environmental mandate to consume power more efficiently," said Bieganski. "Our Packet Power for Data Centers solution provides the information IT executives need to improve data center energy efficiency."

Packet Power says its products are in use in several major data centers, and expects to have volume shipments available in July. The company's smart cable gathers real-time power data, which can be viewed with Packet Power's reporting and analysis software. The system also tracks temperature, making it possible to identify data center hot spots.

Packet Power's technology requires data center operators to replace their existing cabling, and the company says it is still "working closely with providers of IT asset and facility management tools" to integrate the product into existing systems.