APC-MGE Readies New Efficient UPS

APC-MGE’s newest energy-efficient UPS (uninterruptible power supply) system doesn’t make its official debut until Data Center World in Dallas in September. But company officials offered a sneak peak at the new Symmetra PX 250-500kW unit at its annual editors’ event Friday in West Kingston, Rhode Island, in which energy efficiency and green data centers were central themes.

The new unit fills a niche between the company’s existing Symmetra PX models (which range from 10 t0 80kW), and APC-MGE’s Symmetra MW series for use at 400kW to 1.6 megawatts. The PX 250-500kW unit operates at 96 percent efficiency at 50 percent load, compared to 92 percent for existing PX line. “These new UPS systems dramatically improve energy efficiency,” said Neil Rasmussen, chief technical officer and a co-founder of APC. Rasmussen said an improved inverter design is responsible for the improved efficiency in the new Symmetra units.

APC Daylight Savings Time Issues?

The Internet Storm Center says it has received reports today of Daylight Savings Time problems with some versions of APC power management software. Here’s what the ISC is reporting:

“I have a box running APC Powerchute 7.0.5.108 on Windows Server 2003 SP1 that was scheduled to shutdown and restart one of my systems at 3:00 AM today but didn’t do the shutdown until 4:00 AM. According to my staff, APC had reported that earlier editions of Powerchute had a DST issue, but 7.0.5 was corrected, yet this doesn’t appear to be correct. The W2K3 server did update the time correctly to the new DST at 2:00 AM this morning and is reflecting the correct Eastern DST. … Since then, I have checked other W2K3 boxes with this Powerchute version and found that the change actually advanced my scheduled shutdown time by one hour rather than actually correcting DST. So it looks like a problem exists with Powerchute.” … So those of you that are running Powerchute software may want to check your systems.

As with most DST problems, this isn’t an operational showstopper, but if you’re trouble-shooting these issues today, it’s one to add to the checklist.

APC, IBM Team on Modular Data Center

American Power Conversion (APCC) and IBM have jointly developed the Scalable Modular Data Center, a pre-engineered 500 or 1,000 square foot data center that can be rapidly deployed. The new offering, similar in concept to Sun Microsystems’ Project BlackBox, enables users to build a data center in nearly any working environment using IBM Global Services’ capabilities and APC’s InfraStruXure data center architecture.

“Organizations of all sizes are currently experiencing significant challenges as a result of energy-related expenses within their data centers,” said Rob Johnson, APC’s president and chief executive officer. “The strategic relationship between IBM and APC will produce a reliable, scalable modular data center that will provide power, cooling, racks, security and management capabilities that directly address those energy challenges. From our experience in marketing products to small- and medium-sized businesses, we designed this solution to specifically meet the customer’s need for flexible infrastructure that can install in virtually any environment and still support the cost-effective addition of components as a business grows.”

APC Offers $150,000 ‘Thermal Guarantee’

American Power Conversion (APCC) this week said it will provide up to $150,000 to repair or replace equipment in certified APC installations that are damaged by a “thermal event,” an increasing risk given the growing numbers of high density data center environments.

“There are many confusing and conflicting claims about the right approach to data center power and cooling, and this latest certification continues our history of providing not only innovative technology, but also maximum clarity and peace of mind to our customers,” said Aaron L. Davis, chief marketing officer at APC. “With APC’s new Thermal Guarantee, customers can rest assured that their hardware is protected by APC if damage results from a thermal event.”

Schneider Buys APC for $6.1 Billion

American Power Conversion (APC), one of the leading equipment suppliers to the data center industry, has agreed to be acquired by Schneider Electric SA for $6.1 billion, the companies said today. Schneider’s offer of $31 a share is a 30 percent premium to where APC shares were trading last week. Schneider, which is based in Paris, will sell bonds and $1.5 billion in new stock to help fund the deal.

“This transaction provides APC stockholders with an immediate and substantial cash premium for their investment in the company,” said Rob Johnson, APC’s president and chief executive officer. “Upon completion of the transaction, APC will become part of Schneider Electric, with greater resources to accomplish our long-term plans, which will be favorable for our employees, customers, business partners and suppliers worldwide. Both companies have a dedication to innovation and customer service that make our combined enterprise an even stronger, more competitive player in the industry.”

Johnson was named CEO on August 15 after APC announced that Rodger Dowdell, Jr. was retiring as President and CEO, effective immediately. On Sept. 11 a large shareholder, Matrix Asset Advisors, urged the board to sell the company. “We believe that a change in ownership structure, either through a private equity sale or a sale to a strategic buyer, is the best way to reap the efforts of your franchise development,” said Matrix in the letter, according to a Reuters summary. On September 22, the company announced that it was laying off 330 employees.