Power Distribution Unit (PDU)

A physical device with multiple outlets that connects electrical power to recipient devices.

PDUs can be simple, such as a mounted power strip, or more complex by having power filtering, UPS, load balancing, or intelligent monitoring incorporated in the device. The most basic PDU is a large power strip without surge protection. It is designed to provide standard electrical outlets for data center equipment and has no monitoring or remote access capabilities. The floor-mounted and rack-mounted PDUs can be more sophisticated, providing data that can be used for power usage effectiveness (PUE) calculations.