Vertiv VP6N30AN Monitored Outlet-Level Vertical rPDU, 30A 208V

Overview

The Vertiv VP6N30AN is a single-phase, 30A/208V vertical rack PDU built for data center operators who need outlet-level power visibility without deploying separate branch circuit monitors. With 36 C13 locking outlets, per-outlet current and power metering, and a full enterprise protocol stack — SNMP v3, HTTPS, LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+, Modbus TCP — it bridges the gap between simple metered strips and full intelligent PDUs at a fraction of the cost and complexity. If you're running a hot-aisle/cold-aisle deployment where per-server load tracking matters, this is the PDU tier to evaluate.

Designed for 0U vertical mounting in standard 2-post or 4-post cabinets, the VP6N30AN ships with a 3-meter input cord terminated in a NEMA L6-30P plug — compatible with 208V 30A single-phase branch circuits common in North American data centers. The black form factor keeps rack aesthetics clean, and the front-mounted LED display gives technicians an at-a-glance current readout without logging into the management interface.

Key Features

• 36 Locking C13 Outlets: IEC C13 locking retention prevents accidental disconnects on servers under live load — a critical detail in high-density racks where cable weight and vibration can pull standard C13 connectors loose. The count supports fully-populated 1U and 2U server rows without daisy-chaining.
• Outlet-Level Current, Power, Voltage, and Temperature Monitoring: Per-outlet metering means you can identify exactly which server is drawing a spike — not just that the PDU branch is over threshold. Voltage and temperature monitoring adds environmental telemetry without a separate sensor unit, though external temperature probes may expand coverage depending on your rack layout.
• NEMA L6-30P Input, 30A/208V, 4.9 kW: At 200–240V input with a 30A circuit, the VP6N30AN delivers up to 4.9 kW of usable capacity. Running at 80% of rated load (the safe continuous operating ceiling) gives you 3.9 kW — enough for 20–25 1U servers at typical idle draw, or 10–12 under moderate compute load.
• Dual RJ-45 Ethernet Ports: Two network ports allow daisy-chaining multiple PDUs on a single network drop, reducing switch port consumption in dense deployments. This also supports redundant or management-network segmentation depending on your topology.
• Daisy-Chain Support: Chain multiple VP6N30AN units together through the dual Ethernet ports to consolidate management under a single IP address. In large row deployments, this reduces management overhead and switch port usage — one managed node can represent an entire cabinet row.
• Enterprise Protocol Stack — SNMP v1/v2c/v3, LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+, Modbus TCP: SNMP v3 with authentication and encryption satisfies most enterprise security baselines without additional hardening. LDAP and RADIUS/TACACS+ integration means PDU access control slots into your existing directory infrastructure — no per-device local accounts to manage. Modbus TCP opens a path to building automation and DCIM systems that speak industrial protocols.
• SSH, HTTPS, IPv4/IPv6 Dual-Stack: Encrypted management-plane access (SSH + HTTPS) is the default, not an add-on. IPv6 readiness future-proofs deployments on networks transitioning away from IPv4 addressing.
• DHCP, NTP, Syslog, SMTP Integration: Automatic IP assignment via DHCP simplifies bulk deployment; NTP synchronization keeps log timestamps accurate for forensic analysis; Syslog forwarding to your SIEM and SMTP alerting to ops teams means power anomalies surface in your existing workflows without polling.
• LED Display with Reset Button: On-unit LED readout provides local current visibility — useful during physical commissioning or when network access is unavailable. The reset button allows management-module recovery without a full power cycle, reducing server impact during PDU firmware or configuration resets.
• 3-Meter Input Cord: The 3m cord length (approximately 10 feet) gives cable managers flexibility to route from floor-level power panels or top-of-rack PDPs to the PDU without extension hardware. Measure your panel-to-rack distance before ordering if your layout is tight.
• 50/60 Hz Dual-Frequency Input: Accepts both 50 Hz and 60 Hz supply, which matters for organizations with mixed infrastructure or global deployments where local utility frequency varies.

Integration and Compatibility

The VP6N30AN integrates with DCIM platforms and BMS systems through SNMP v1/v2c/v3 and Modbus TCP — two of the most widely supported PDU protocols across major DCIM vendors. LDAP, RADIUS, and TACACS+ integration covers enterprise AAA requirements. The dual RJ-45 ports support daisy-chaining for multi-PDU cabinet rows, and the IPv6 dual-stack ensures compatibility with modern network architectures. For power planning, pair this unit with a rack power distribution review to confirm your branch circuit supports 30A L6-30P terminations at 208V.

Vertiv's V6 monitoring platform is accessible via the onboard web interface (HTTPS), SSH CLI, and SNMP — three parallel access paths that most enterprise change-management workflows already accommodate. Review the Vertiv rPDU catalog to compare against higher-capacity or three-phase variants if your per-rack load exceeds 4.9 kW.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What input plug does the VP6N30AN use, and what circuit type does it require?

A: The VP6N30AN ships with a NEMA L6-30P plug on a 3-meter cord, requiring a 30A, 208V single-phase branch circuit. This is a standard 2-pole, 3-wire locking configuration common in North American data centers. Confirm your PDPs or RPPs are provisioned with L6-30P receptacles before ordering.

Q: How many outlets does the VP6N30AN have, and what outlet type?

A: The unit has 36 IEC C13 locking outlets. The locking mechanism retains standard C13 server cords and prevents accidental disconnects — critical in dense racks where cable tension is a factor.

Q: Does the VP6N30AN support SNMP v3?

A: Yes. The VP6N30AN supports SNMP v1, v2c, and v3. SNMP v3 includes authentication and encryption, satisfying most enterprise security baselines for in-band PDU management.

Q: Can multiple VP6N30AN units be managed from a single IP address?

A: Yes. The dual RJ-45 Ethernet ports support daisy-chaining, allowing multiple units to be linked together and managed under a single network address. This reduces switch port usage in high-density row deployments.

Q: What monitoring parameters does the VP6N30AN track?

A: The VP6N30AN monitors current, power, voltage, and temperature at the outlet level. This provides per-server load visibility and environmental telemetry from a single device.

Q: Does the VP6N30AN support directory-based authentication (LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+)?

A: Yes. The VP6N30AN supports LDAP, RADIUS, and TACACS+ for authentication and access control, allowing it to integrate with existing enterprise directory infrastructure without managing local PDU accounts.

James Everett

I spec the VP6N30AN for any dense compute row where branch-circuit-level monitoring isn't granular enough — specifically, the outlet-level current and power metering gives ops teams the visibility to do live load balancing across servers without pulling up IPMI or iLO on individual nodes. At 30A/208V with a 4.9 kW capacity on a NEMA L6-30P feed, the math works cleanly for a half-populated 42U rack running 1U servers at 200–250W each.

Technical Highlights:

• 36 Locking C13 Outlets: Locking retention is underrated — in vibration-prone environments or high-density rows where cable management is tight, a pulled C13 on a production server is a preventable incident. These aren't just cosmetically locking; they hold under cable weight.
• SNMP v3 + TACACS+: Most enterprise security teams will flag a PDU that only offers SNMP v1/v2c or local auth. SNMP v3 encryption and TACACS+ AAA integration means this unit can pass a security audit without a compensating control worksheet.
• Dual RJ-45 Daisy-Chain: In a 10-cabinet row each with two PDUs, daisy-chaining drops your PDU management overhead from 20 managed IPs to 10 — or fewer, depending on chain depth. That's a real operational reduction for teams managing hundreds of rack units.

Deployment Considerations:

• The 3-meter cord is generous for most floor-to-rack runs, but measure your panel-to-rack distance if you're routing overhead or across a hot-aisle containment gap — 3m can be tight in some pod layouts.
• The 4.9 kW capacity is the theoretical maximum at 30A/208V. Plan to operate at 80% (3.9 kW) continuous per NEC guidelines — size your per-rack load accordingly before committing to this PDU tier versus a higher-amperage 3-phase unit.

The VP6N30AN is the right call for colocation operators or enterprise IT teams deploying uniform compute rows at 208V where per-server accountability, enterprise AAA, and DCIM integration via SNMP and Modbus TCP are non-negotiable requirements.