Vertiv VP7U20A2 Switched Outlet-Level Monitoring PDU
The Vertiv VP7U20A2 is a vertically mounted, switched rack PDU with outlet-level monitoring designed for data center and server room deployments where per-outlet power visibility and remote switching control are non-negotiable. Rated at 20A / 3600W on a C20 input plug, it provisions 24 outlets across a mix of C13 and C19 receptacles — enough to handle a full high-density cabinet without daisy-chaining or auxiliary strips. If you're managing mixed 1U/2U servers alongside blade chassis or UPS bypass loads, this is the configuration to reach for.
Key Features
- Outlet-Level Switched Control: Each of the 24 outlets can be individually switched on, off, or power-cycled remotely — meaning you can reboot a hung server in a remote cage without dispatching a technician. That's a direct reduction in emergency hands-and-eyes costs and mean time to recovery for locked devices.
- Outlet-Level Monitoring: Real-time current draw is tracked per outlet, not just at the PDU input. This lets you catch load creep on individual circuits before a breaker trips and correlate power consumption to specific servers for accurate chargeback or capacity planning.
- 24 Outlets — C13 + C19 Mix: The combination of C13 (standard server/networking gear) and C19 (high-draw devices like blade chassis, GPU servers, high-density switches) receptacles means a single PDU handles diverse cabinet populations without adapter cables that introduce failure points.
- 20A / 3600W Maximum Load: At 20A on a 120V or 208/230V circuit, the VP7U20A2 supports full cabinet density in modern virtualized environments. Running at 208V pushes effective capacity to 3600W — enough headroom for mid-density HPC or edge compute loads.
- Dual Gigabit RJ-45 (Ethernet) Ports: Two network ports support daisy-chain or redundant network topologies — useful in environments where PDU management network availability must match the uptime SLA of the equipment it manages.
- Front-Panel LCD Display: The integrated LCD provides local input voltage, current, and power readings without requiring a laptop or network connection — a practical time-saver during commissioning and physical audits.
- C20 Input Plug: The C20 coupler mates directly to C19 receptacles on enterprise UPS units (APC, Vertiv/Liebert, Eaton) without adapters, preserving the clean power path from UPS output to PDU input.
- Broad Protocol Support — SNMP v1/v2c/v3, Modbus TCP, LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+: Integration into existing DCIM platforms (via SNMP or Modbus TCP), Active Directory (LDAP), and AAA infrastructure (RADIUS/TACACS+) is available out of the box. You don't need a separate gateway appliance to bring PDU telemetry into your monitoring stack.
- IPv4/IPv6 Dual-Stack: Native IPv6 support means the VP7U20A2 fits into modern dual-stack data center networks without NAT workarounds or legacy addressing constraints.
- SSH + HTTPS + SMTP Alerting: Encrypted management (SSH/HTTPS) keeps PDU credentials off the wire. SMTP alerting pushes outlet-state and threshold events directly to operations email or ticketing integrations without polling.
- USB + Serial Console Port: The USB and RS-232 serial port provide out-of-band access for firmware updates or configuration recovery when the network path is down — a genuine insurance policy in lights-out facilities.
- Vertical 1U-Wide Form Factor: At 51mm wide × 1683mm deep, the VP7U20A2 mounts in the vertical channel of standard open-frame and enclosed cabinets, consuming zero horizontal rack units while keeping all 24 outlets accessible on the cabinet's power rail.
Integration & Compatibility
The VP7U20A2 integrates with Vertiv's power management and monitoring ecosystem and any intelligent PDU management platform that supports SNMP v1/v2c/v3 or Modbus TCP — the two dominant protocols in DCIM toolsets. RADIUS and TACACS+ authentication align with enterprise AAA policies, and LDAP/Active Directory integration centralizes user access control. NTP synchronization keeps event timestamps accurate for SIEM correlation. Syslog output feeds directly into log aggregators (Splunk, Graylog, etc.) without an agent. If your facility runs a managed network switching infrastructure with 802.1X port security, the dual RJ-45 ports can be individually assigned to management VLANs for network segmentation. For full cabinet power redundancy, pair this unit with a compatible UPS whose output includes a C19 receptacle — the VP7U20A2's C20 plug mates directly without adapters. Consult Vertiv's DCIM and monitoring software compatibility matrix for verified integrations with specific DCIM platforms before deployment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the maximum load the VP7U20A2 can handle?
A: The VP7U20A2 supports a maximum of 20A and 3600W. At 208V or 230V operation, the 3600W ceiling gives substantial headroom for high-density cabinet loads.
Q: What outlet types are on the VP7U20A2 and how many?
A: There are 24 total outlets in a mix of C13 and C19 receptacle types, accommodating both standard server power cords (C14 plugs) and high-draw devices that use C20 plugs.
Q: Can I remotely reboot individual outlets on the VP7U20A2?
A: Yes. The VP7U20A2 is a switched PDU with outlet-level control, so each outlet can be individually powered on, off, or cycled remotely via the web interface, SSH CLI, or SNMP.
Q: Does the VP7U20A2 support SNMP monitoring?
A: Yes — SNMP v1, v2c, and v3 are all supported. SNMP v3 provides authenticated, encrypted management sessions suitable for environments with strict network security policies.
Q: What network protocols does the VP7U20A2 support for management?
A: The VP7U20A2 supports DHCP, HTTP, HTTPS, IPv4, IPv6, LDAP, NTP, RADIUS, RSTP, SSH, SMTP, SNMP (v1/v2c/v3), Syslog, TACACS+, and Modbus TCP — covering most enterprise network management and authentication frameworks.
Q: Does the VP7U20A2 mount vertically in a standard rack cabinet?
A: Yes. The VP7U20A2 is designed for vertical mounting in standard rack cabinets. Its form factor (51mm wide × 1683mm deep) fits the vertical power channel of open-frame and enclosed cabinets, consuming no horizontal rack units.
I spec the VP7U20A2 when a customer needs true outlet-level switched control — not just monitoring — in a vertical-mount PDU that fits the 51mm power channel of a standard enclosed cabinet. The 20A / 3600W ceiling on a C20 input is the right match for mid-to-high-density cabinets running mixed server and networking loads at 208V or 230V, and the 24-outlet count typically covers a full 42U populated cabinet without a second strip.
Technical Highlights:
- Outlet-Level Switching (24 outlets): Individual on/off/cycle per outlet via SNMP, SSH, or HTTPS — eliminates truck rolls for locked or hung devices in remote or lights-out deployments.
- SNMP v3 + Modbus TCP: SNMP v3 provides encrypted, authenticated polling that satisfies most enterprise security audits without additional appliances; Modbus TCP opens the door to BMS and DCIM integrations that don't speak SNMP natively.
- Dual RJ-45 Management Ports: Two Ethernet ports let you daisy-chain PDU management across a cabinet stack or connect to redundant management VLANs — a meaningful availability difference in environments where PDU reachability must match server uptime SLAs.
Deployment Considerations:
- Verify your UPS output includes a C19 receptacle — the VP7U20A2's C20 input mates directly, but if your UPS terminates in a hardwired whip or L6-20 twist-lock, you'll need an appropriate adapter or pigtail before rack installation.
- The 1683mm depth means this unit spans nearly the full height of a standard 42U cabinet; confirm your cabinet's vertical power channel clearance and cable management layout before ordering, particularly in 800mm-deep cabinets with rear cable managers already installed.
The VP7U20A2 is the right call for enterprise data centers and colocation cages where per-outlet metering feeds chargeback models, and where remote outlet cycling must be available 24/7 without a site visit — specifically in multi-tenant deployments where you're managing power accountability down to the individual device.
