Vertiv Rpdu Rack Transfer Switch Switched Outlet Level Monitoring 20A 120V 1.9KW H - VA7N21A0

Vertiv VA7N21A0 Switched Rack Transfer Switch PDU with Outlet-Level Monitoring

Overview

The Vertiv VA7N21A0 is a 20A, 120V, 1.9kW horizontal 0U rack PDU that combines transfer-switch redundancy with outlet-level switching and per-outlet power monitoring — a combination that matters when you're protecting always-on infrastructure where a single circuit failure or a runaway load can bring down a rack. Designed for horizontal rack mounting, the VA7N21A0 fits across the top or bottom of a standard 19-inch rack without consuming valuable rack unit space, leaving that capacity for the equipment that needs it.

This unit is a dual-function device: it monitors input voltage, current, and power at the unit level and delivers individual outlet switching across its 6 NEMA 5-20R receptacles — giving operators the ability to remotely cycle specific loads without touching the rack. For data centers and edge deployments running mixed compute or security workloads, that remote reboot capability alone is worth the upgrade from a basic monitored PDU.

Key Features

• Outlet-Level Switching (6x NEMA 5-20R): Each of the 6 outlets can be individually switched on, off, or power-cycled via the network interface — no physical access required. In a remote edge cabinet or a co-lo cage, that means a locked-up NVR, encoder, or edge server gets rebooted without dispatching a technician.
• 20A / 120V / 1.9kW Input via NEMA 5-20P: The 20A input plug matches the 20A dedicated circuits that are standard in most equipment rooms and small data halls. The 1.9kW continuous load rating leaves adequate headroom when feeding mixed security compute — plan for 80% utilization (approximately 1.5kW) to stay within safe operating margin.
• Unit-Level Current, Voltage, and Power Monitoring: Real-time electrical monitoring at the PDU level lets you detect overloads before a breaker trips. Combined with SNMP v1/v2c/v3 alerting, you can set thresholds and receive proactive notifications rather than discovering a problem during a recording gap.
• LCD Display: The onboard LCD provides at-a-glance electrical readings directly at the rack — useful during initial commissioning or physical audits when you need to confirm load without opening a browser or SSH session.
• SNMP v1/v2c/v3, HTTPS, SSH, and RADIUS/TACACS+ Support: The management protocol stack covers enterprise authentication (RADIUS, TACACS+, LDAP) and encrypted transport (HTTPS, SSH, SNMPv3). That's the baseline requirement for deploying managed PDUs in environments with IT security policies — single-version SNMP or plain HTTP won't pass a network audit in most enterprise or government rack deployments.
• IPv4/IPv6 Dual-Stack, DHCP, NTP, Syslog, SMTP: The full network services stack means this unit integrates directly into existing network management infrastructure — time-synced logs via NTP, syslog forwarding to your SIEM, and email alerting via SMTP without requiring a separate management server.
• Modbus TCP: Modbus TCP support extends integration options to building management systems (BMS) and DCIM platforms that use Modbus as their primary protocol — relevant in physical security and industrial environments where BMS integration is required alongside IP network management.
• 0U Horizontal Mounting, 3-Meter Power Cord: The horizontal 0U form factor and 3-meter (approximately 10-foot) input cord give you placement flexibility within the rack and enough lead length to reach a floor-mounted PDU or wall outlet without a cord extension. Zero rack units consumed means no tradeoff against 1U servers or switches.
• Single RJ-45 Network Port + USB + Serial: One Ethernet management port, one USB port, and one serial port cover both in-band network management and out-of-band console access — useful when the network is down and you need local CLI access to diagnose a configuration issue.

Integration and Compatibility

The VA7N21A0 supports SNMP v1/v2c/v3, Modbus TCP, HTTP/HTTPS, and SSH — the protocol set supported by most enterprise DCIM tools, BMS platforms, and network management systems. The LDAP, RADIUS, and TACACS+ authentication support allows this unit to be provisioned into existing directory and AAA infrastructure without creating local credential sprawl across dozens of rack PDUs. IPv6 dual-stack ensures forward compatibility with network modernization initiatives.

For power management and UPS deployments, the VA7N21A0 works downstream of any standard 20A branch circuit or UPS output — pair it with a Vertiv UPS or compatible ATS upstream for full two-path redundancy at the rack level. Integrators building out network video recorder racks or edge compute deployments for physical security will find the per-outlet switching particularly useful for remote management of NVRs, encoders, and network switches without physical access. For broader Vertiv power infrastructure context, this unit fits into Vertiv's Geist-branded intelligent PDU line. See also rack PDU options across form factors and amperage ratings if the VA7N21A0's 20A/120V input doesn't match your circuit spec. Buyers sizing circuits for high-density racks should review a power planning guide before finalizing PDU selection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the input plug type on the VA7N21A0, and what circuit is required?

A: The VA7N21A0 uses a NEMA 5-20P input plug, which requires a dedicated 20A, 120V circuit. The unit is rated at 1.9kW maximum load. Best practice is to operate at no more than 80% of circuit capacity — approximately 1.5kW — for continuous loads.

Q: Can I switch individual outlets remotely on the VA7N21A0?

A: Yes. The VA7N21A0 provides outlet-level switching across all 6 NEMA 5-20R receptacles. Individual outlets can be turned on, off, or power-cycled remotely via the network management interface, which supports HTTPS and SSH access.

Q: What network protocols does the VA7N21A0 support?

A: The VA7N21A0 supports DHCP, HTTP, HTTPS, IPv4, IPv6, LDAP, NTP, RADIUS, RSTP, SSH, SMTP, SNMP (v1/v2c/v3), Syslog, TACACS+, and Modbus TCP — covering standard enterprise network management, authentication, and DCIM/BMS integration requirements.

Q: Does the VA7N21A0 support SNMPv3?

A: Yes. The VA7N21A0 supports SNMP v1, v2c, and v3. SNMPv3 provides encrypted, authenticated SNMP communication — the version required in most enterprise and government environments where unencrypted SNMP is not permitted on managed network segments.

Q: How much rack space does the VA7N21A0 occupy?

A: The VA7N21A0 is a 0U device with a horizontal mounting orientation. It mounts across the top or bottom of a standard 19-inch rack and consumes zero rack units, leaving all available 1U slots for active equipment.

Q: What authentication methods are supported for managing the VA7N21A0?

A: The VA7N21A0 supports LDAP, RADIUS, and TACACS+ for centralized authentication, in addition to local credentials. This allows the unit to be integrated into existing enterprise directory and AAA infrastructure rather than managed with standalone local accounts.

Marty Allison

The VA7N21A0 hits the sweet spot for physical security rack builds that need power redundancy and remote outlet control without burning a full 2U on a standalone ATS appliance. The combination of the 20A NEMA 5-20P input, 6x switched NEMA 5-20R outlets, and the full enterprise authentication stack — LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+ — means this unit can be provisioned into an enterprise environment and managed without creating a separate credential silo for the PDU layer.

Technical Highlights:

• SNMPv3 + TACACS+/RADIUS: Encrypted SNMP and centralized AAA authentication mean this PDU meets the management security baseline for enterprise and government deployments where plain SNMPv1/v2 is blocked at the firewall.
• Outlet-Level Switching, 6x NEMA 5-20R: Each outlet is independently switchable, so you can remotely cycle a locked-up NVR or IP encoder in a remote cabinet without a truck roll — meaningful when the nearest site is 45 minutes away.
• Modbus TCP: Direct integration with building management systems and DCIM platforms that speak Modbus is a differentiator over PDUs limited to SNMP-only management — relevant for any deployment where physical security and facilities management share infrastructure oversight.

Deployment Considerations:

• The NEMA 5-20P input requires a dedicated 20A circuit — confirm branch circuit availability before rack placement, especially in retrofit deployments where existing circuits may be 15A NEMA 5-15.
• The VA7N21A0 provides unit-level (not outlet-level) current and power monitoring; per-outlet metering is not indicated in the spec data, so if you need per-outlet energy data for billing or fine-grained capacity planning, verify this capability against the current firmware spec sheet before ordering.

This unit is a practical fit for physical security edge racks — video surveillance compute, NVR clusters, and access control head-end cabinets — where remote outlet switching eliminates the need for on-site power cycling and enterprise authentication integration keeps the deployment audit-ready.