Vertiv Rpdu Switched Outlet Level Monitoring EC 20A 120/208V WYE 5.7KW Vertical ( - VP7N20A2

Vertiv VP7N20A2 Switched Outlet-Level Monitoring Vertical PDU

Overview

The Vertiv VP7N20A2 is a 0U vertical rack PDU designed for three-phase power distribution in high-density data center and network closet environments. Rated at 20A with a 120/208V WYE input (NEMA L21-20P plug) and a 5.7kW capacity, it delivers 24 individually switched NEMA 5-20R outlets with per-outlet current, voltage, power, and temperature monitoring — the combination that lets operations teams catch an overloaded circuit before it becomes a downtime event. Its vertical form factor mounts inside the rack without consuming a single rack unit, preserving every U for active equipment.

Unlike basic metered PDUs, the VP7N20A2 gives you outlet-level switching control over all 24 receptacles. That means remote power cycling of a locked-up server without dispatching a technician — a real operational lever in multi-tenant colocation or remote edge deployments where truck rolls are expensive.

Key Features

• 24 Individually Switched NEMA 5-20R Outlets: Each of the 24 receptacles can be toggled on or off independently via the network interface. Remote power cycling of a hung device — no physical access required — is the primary reason integrators choose switched over metered PDUs in managed environments.
• Outlet-Level Current, Voltage, Power, and Temperature Monitoring: Granular telemetry per outlet means you can identify which device is drawing anomalously before it trips a breaker. Aggregate PDU-level monitoring alone won't catch a single rogue load hiding under the threshold.
• Three-Phase 20A / 5.7kW Input via NEMA L21-20P: Three-phase draw balances load across all legs of the facility's distribution panel, reducing neutral current and letting you deploy higher aggregate wattage per rack circuit versus single-phase equivalents. Verify your facility panel has a matching L21-20 breaker before ordering.
• 0U Vertical Mounting: The PDU mounts vertically inside the rack column, freeing every rack unit for servers, switches, and other active gear. Especially valuable in fully populated 42U or 48U racks where 1U or 2U horizontal PDUs would displace revenue-generating equipment.
• Dual RJ-45 Ethernet Ports: Two network ports support daisy-chaining multiple PDUs off a single IP address (confirm daisy-chain topology with Vertiv documentation for your firmware version), reducing switch port consumption in dense deployments.
• Daisy Chain Support: Chain additional Vertiv PDUs off the VP7N20A2's secondary Ethernet port to manage several units under a single management IP. Useful when a rack has more than one PDU and switch port density is constrained.
• Broad Protocol Stack — SNMP v1/v2c/v3, Modbus TCP, LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+: SNMP v3 with authentication and encryption satisfies most enterprise security audits. RADIUS and TACACS+ mean PDU authentication integrates with your existing AAA infrastructure rather than requiring a separate credential silo. Modbus TCP opens integration pathways to BMS and DCIM platforms that speak industrial protocols.
• IPv4 and IPv6 Dual Stack: Operates on both addressing schemes simultaneously, which matters in environments already running IPv6 or transitioning away from IPv4 — no firmware swap or separate SKU needed.
• LED Display and LED Indicators: Local status readout without requiring a laptop or network session — useful during initial commissioning or physical audits when the network interface may not yet be configured.
• USB Port: On-board USB supports firmware updates and local configuration, reducing dependence on network access for maintenance operations.
• 3-Meter Cord Length: The 3m (approximately 10 ft) input cable provides adequate reach from the rack to floor-mounted or overhead power distribution without requiring extension hardware in standard aisle configurations.
• Reset Button: Hardware reset accessible on the unit allows recovery from a misconfigured or unreachable network interface without requiring a full power cycle of connected loads.

Integration and Compatibility

The VP7N20A2 speaks rack PDU management protocols natively understood by major DCIM platforms: SNMP v1/v2c/v3 for NMS integration, Modbus TCP for BMS/DCIM interop, Syslog for centralized log aggregation, and NTP for synchronized timestamping across distributed monitoring systems. HTTP and HTTPS provide a web management interface; SSH secures CLI access. SMTP enables event-driven email alerting — configure threshold alerts per outlet so the operations team gets notified before a circuit reaches capacity rather than after.

LDAP, RADIUS, and TACACS+ integration means the PDU participates in enterprise identity management. For environments subject to access audits, this is not optional — shared local credentials on dozens of PDUs are an audit finding waiting to happen. Pair this unit with compatible Vertiv power infrastructure for a cohesive management ecosystem, or integrate into third-party DCIM environments via the open protocol stack.

The NEMA 5-20R outlet configuration targets standard 1U and 2U servers with 5-20P line cords. Verify that high-draw devices in the rack (GPUs, high-core-count servers) use 5-20P plugs or plan for appropriate cord adapters — the VP7N20A2 does not include C13/C19 IEC outlets. For environments standardized on IEC connectors, evaluate alternate Vertiv PDU models with IEC outlet configurations. Review your data center power distribution strategy to confirm outlet type compatibility before deploying at scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the input plug type on the VP7N20A2, and what circuit does it require?

A: The VP7N20A2 uses a NEMA L21-20P input plug, which requires a three-phase 20A circuit at 120/208V WYE configuration. Ensure your facility distribution panel has a matching L21-20 breaker position before installation.

Q: Can I remotely power cycle individual outlets on the VP7N20A2?

A: Yes. The VP7N20A2 is a switched PDU — each of the 24 NEMA 5-20R outlets can be individually switched on or off via the network management interface, enabling remote power cycling of connected devices without physical access to the rack.

Q: What monitoring data is available per outlet?

A: The VP7N20A2 provides outlet-level monitoring of current, voltage, power, and temperature, giving operations teams granular visibility into individual device power consumption rather than just aggregate PDU-level totals.

Q: Does the VP7N20A2 support SNMP v3?

A: Yes. The VP7N20A2 supports SNMP v1, v2c, and v3, as well as RADIUS, TACACS+, LDAP, SSH, and HTTPS for secure enterprise-grade management and authentication integration.

Q: How does daisy chaining work on the VP7N20A2?

A: The VP7N20A2 includes two RJ-45 Ethernet ports and supports daisy chaining, allowing multiple PDUs to be linked and managed under a single IP address to reduce switch port consumption in dense rack environments. Confirm specific daisy-chain topology limits with Vertiv documentation for your firmware version.

Q: What outlet type does the VP7N20A2 use, and are IEC C13/C19 outlets available?

A: The VP7N20A2 is equipped with 24 NEMA 5-20R outlets, which are compatible with standard NEMA 5-20P line cords. This unit does not include IEC C13 or C19 outlets. If your equipment uses IEC connectors, evaluate alternate Vertiv PDU configurations with IEC outlet types.

Marty Allison

The VP7N20A2 is the unit I spec when a customer needs outlet-level switching — not just monitoring — on a three-phase vertical PDU and has standardized on NEMA 5-20R line cords throughout the rack. The 5.7kW capacity at 20A three-phase via L21-20P is the spec that determines fit: if the facility isn't already provisioned with L21-20 three-phase circuits, this isn't a drop-in — that conversation needs to happen before procurement, not during installation.

Technical Highlights:

• Outlet-Level Switching (24 Outlets): Each of the 24 NEMA 5-20R outlets is independently controllable — remote power cycling without a truck roll is the practical payoff for managed colocation or distributed edge racks.
• SNMP v3 + RADIUS/TACACS+ Auth: Encrypted SNMP sessions plus enterprise AAA integration means the PDU fits cleanly into environments with access-control audits — no shared local passwords across a fleet of units.
• Dual Ethernet + Daisy Chain: Two RJ-45 ports allow multiple PDUs to share a single management IP, which saves switch ports in fully populated rows where every port counts.

Deployment Considerations:

• Confirm your distribution panel has available NEMA L21-20 three-phase 20A breaker positions before ordering — this isn't a plug-type most facilities have available by default outside of colocation and purpose-built data center environments.
• All 24 outlets are NEMA 5-20R (NEMA 5-20P cord required). If any equipment in the rack uses IEC C13 or C19 connectors — common with enterprise servers and network gear — plan for cord adapters or evaluate a Vertiv PDU with IEC outlet configurations instead.

This PDU is best suited to managed colocation racks, high-density enterprise server rooms, and remote-edge deployments where remote outlet-level switching eliminates the need for on-site intervention to recover from a locked-up device — exactly the scenario where the cost of a truck roll makes outlet-level switching pay for itself.