Vertiv VP7N20A3 Switched Outlet-Level Monitoring PDU, 20A 120V 24-Outlet Vertical
Overview
The Vertiv VP7N20A3 is a 0U vertical switched PDU designed for high-density rack environments where outlet-level power control and real-time monitoring are non-negotiable. With 24 NEMA 5-20R outlets, a 20A/120V input on a NEMA 5-20P plug, and per-outlet switching capability, this unit gives data center and IT teams granular remote power management — eliminating the need for physical access to cycle a hung server or isolate a misbehaving load. Pair it with rack power distribution units from the broader Vertiv power management catalog for a cohesive infrastructure stack.
Key Features
- 24 Switched NEMA 5-20R Outlets: Each outlet can be individually toggled, sequenced, or rebooted remotely — critical for IT staff managing locked-up devices across multiple racks without dispatching on-site personnel. At 20A/120V input, the 1.9kW capacity distributes comfortably across mixed 1U server and networking loads without nuisance tripping.
- Outlet-Level Current, Voltage, and Power Monitoring: Real-time visibility into what each outlet is actually drawing — not just the circuit total — lets you catch overloads before they become outages, validate actual vs. rated device power consumption, and balance loads across PDUs with data instead of guesswork.
- Temperature Monitoring: Integrated environmental monitoring surfaces ambient rack temperature alongside power data in a single pane. For edge deployments or colocation cages without dedicated environmental sensors, this removes the need for a separate sensor unit.
- Dual Ethernet (RJ-45) Ports with Daisy-Chain: Two RJ-45 network ports support daisy-chaining multiple VP7N20A3 units on a single IP address — reducing management overhead and switch port consumption when you're running a multi-PDU rack. One IP managing an entire cabinet row is operationally meaningful at scale.
- Protocol Stack Depth (SNMP v1/v2c/v3, LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+, Modbus TCP): This isn't a basic HTTP-only PDU. SNMP v3 means encrypted, authenticated polling that integrates directly into DCIM platforms and NMS tools. LDAP/RADIUS/TACACS+ means PDU authentication ties into your existing directory — no per-device local credential management. Modbus TCP opens the door to BMS and SCADA integration for facilities teams who need power data in building management systems.
- HTTPS, SSH, IPv4/IPv6, NTP, and Syslog: Encrypted management sessions via HTTPS and SSH eliminate cleartext credential exposure on the management network. Syslog integration feeds power events — outlet cycles, overload alerts, auth attempts — directly into your SIEM or log aggregator. NTP sync ensures event timestamps are accurate and correlatable across systems.
- LED Display and Indicators: A front-facing LED display provides at-a-glance status without requiring a network session — useful during physical audits or when network access is restricted during an incident. LED indicators per outlet confirm switching state locally.
- Vertical 0U Form Factor with 3m Cord: Mounts in the rear vertical channel of standard racks without consuming any rack unit space. The 3-meter (approximately 9.8 ft) power cord reaches floor-mounted PDPs or overhead busways in typical data center row configurations without an extension cable.
- USB Port: Onboard USB supports firmware updates or configuration transfers from a local storage device — useful in air-gapped or restricted-network environments where OTA updates aren't permitted.
- Reset Button: Hardware reset capability provides a recovery path when the management network or firmware encounters an unresponsive state, without requiring a full power cycle of connected loads.
Integration and Compatibility
The VP7N20A3 supports SNMP v1, v2c, and v3 — making it compatible with virtually every DCIM platform, NMS, or infrastructure monitoring tool in commercial use today, including Vertiv's own management software. The Modbus TCP support extends compatibility to building management and facilities automation systems that wouldn't typically speak SNMP. RADIUS and TACACS+ authentication integration fits naturally into enterprise network access control frameworks already governing switches and routers. IPv6 support future-proofs the deployment for environments transitioning away from IPv4-only management planes. For teams running a UPS and power infrastructure stack, pairing this PDU with compatible monitoring software gives a unified power chain view from utility input through outlet delivery. Review the Vertiv PDU selection guide to confirm this unit's 20A/120V single-phase rating aligns with your panel and branch circuit design before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many outlets does the VP7N20A3 have, and what outlet type?
A: The VP7N20A3 has 24 NEMA 5-20R outlets, each individually switched and monitored. The input plug is NEMA 5-20P at 20A/120V.
Q: Can multiple VP7N20A3 units be managed under a single IP address?
A: Yes. The dual RJ-45 Ethernet ports support daisy-chaining, allowing multiple units to share a single IP address — reducing switch port usage and simplifying management in multi-PDU rack deployments.
Q: What network protocols does the VP7N20A3 support for integration with DCIM or NMS platforms?
A: The VP7N20A3 supports SNMP v1/v2c/v3, HTTP, HTTPS, SSH, IPv4, IPv6, DHCP, NTP, SMTP, Syslog, LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+, RSTP, and Modbus TCP — covering integration with DCIM software, enterprise NMS tools, SIEM platforms, and building management systems.
Q: Does the VP7N20A3 monitor at the individual outlet level or only at the circuit level?
A: Outlet-level monitoring. The unit tracks current, voltage, power, and temperature per outlet — not just aggregate circuit readings — allowing precise load analysis and anomaly detection per connected device.
Q: What rack form factor does the VP7N20A3 use, and how much rack space does it consume?
A: The VP7N20A3 is a 0U vertical PDU that mounts in the rear vertical channel of a standard rack enclosure, consuming zero rack units of usable equipment space. The power cord is 3 meters (approximately 9.8 ft).
Q: Is the VP7N20A3 single-phase or three-phase?
A: Single-phase. The unit accepts 100–120V nominal input via a NEMA 5-20P plug at 20A, delivering a maximum of 1.9kW across its 24 outlets.
The VP7N20A3 is the unit I reach for when a colocation or enterprise data center team needs outlet-level switched control without giving up a single rack unit of usable space. The 0U vertical form factor is the right call for high-density deployments where every 1U counts, and the 20A/120V single-phase input at 1.9kW fits cleanly on a standard 20A branch circuit — no panel engineering surprises.
Technical Highlights:
- SNMP v3 with LDAP/RADIUS/TACACS+: This combination means the PDU integrates directly into enterprise authentication infrastructure — no local credential sprawl across 40 PDUs in a row. SNMP v3 encrypted polling satisfies security audit requirements that v1/v2c cannot.
- Outlet-Level Monitoring (Current, Voltage, Power, Temperature): Per-outlet granularity is operationally different from circuit-level monitoring. You can validate that a specific server is drawing what its nameplate claims, catch a failing PSU drawing abnormally before it fails, and produce per-tenant power reports in shared environments.
- Daisy-Chain via Dual RJ-45: In a 4-PDU cabinet, daisy-chaining saves 3 management switch ports and consolidates 4 IP addresses into 1 — a minor detail that becomes a significant operational simplification when managing hundreds of cabinets.
Deployment Considerations:
- The 20A/120V input requires a dedicated 20A branch circuit with a NEMA 5-20R receptacle at the panel — confirm your facility's branch circuit design before ordering, particularly in older data halls wired for 15A or 208V.
- Modbus TCP support is listed but SCADA/BMS integration will require configuration effort — it's not plug-and-play with most BMS platforms. Budget integration time if this is a facilities-managed deployment.
This unit fits best in North American colocation, enterprise IT, or edge compute deployments where outlet-level remote power cycling, per-outlet energy metering, and directory-integrated authentication are required — and where rack real estate is at a premium. It's not the right choice for 208V three-phase high-density compute rows; for those environments, look at Vertiv's three-phase switched PDU family.
