Vertiv Rpdu Switched Outlet Level Monitoring EC 30A 240/415V WYE 17.2KW Horizontal - VP7N31A4

Vertiv VP7N31A4 Switched Outlet-Level Monitored 3-Phase Rack PDU

Overview

The Vertiv rack PDU VP7N31A4 is a horizontal, 3-phase switched PDU rated at 30A and 17.2kW — built for high-density data center rows and server rooms where per-outlet switching and live power monitoring are non-negotiable operational requirements. Unlike basic metered strips, the VP7N31A4 delivers individual outlet on/off control alongside real-time current, voltage, and power readings at the unit level, giving operations teams the visibility and control needed to manage load, respond to faults, and perform remote power cycling without dispatching anyone to the floor.

Designed for 3-phase power distribution environments running 200–240V or 346–415V WYE configurations at 50/60 Hz, this PDU pairs cleanly with international and domestic high-density rack builds. The NEMA L22-30P input plug and 3-meter cord provide enough reach for most raised-floor and overhead busway installations without an extension.

Key Features

• Outlet-Level Switching (12 Outlets): Each of the 12 receptacles — a mix of C13 and C19 couplers to accommodate both 1U servers and higher-draw blade chassis or storage arrays — can be switched independently. That means you can remotely cycle a hung server, sequence startup loads to avoid inrush spikes, or shed non-critical loads during a power event, all without touching the rack.
• 3-Phase Input at 30A / 17.2kW: Running 3-phase at 30A across a 200–240/346–415V WYE input gives you 17.2kW of usable capacity — enough headroom for a fully populated high-density rack without being forced into a second PDU. The WYE topology distributes load across all three phases, which helps keep phase balance tighter and reduces neutral current in the distribution panel.
• Real-Time Current, Voltage, and Power Monitoring: Live telemetry on all three parameters means you can catch phase imbalances, approach-to-threshold warnings, and energy consumption trends through the management interface rather than waiting for a breaker to trip. The onboard LCD gives local readout without needing a laptop or network connection on the floor.
• LCD Display: The front-panel LCD provides at-a-glance load data during physical inspections — useful during initial commissioning or when network access is temporarily unavailable. No fumbling for a terminal connection just to read current draw.
• SNMP v1/v2c/v3 + Modbus TCP: Native SNMP (all three versions) means the VP7N31A4 drops cleanly into any existing DCIM or NMS platform — Vertiv's own Trellis, third-party tools, or a homegrown monitoring stack. Modbus TCP broadens integration to building management systems (BMS) and industrial control platforms that don't speak SNMP. Both protocols run concurrently over the single RJ-45 Ethernet port.
• Enterprise Authentication Protocols: RADIUS, LDAP, and TACACS+ support means you can tie PDU access directly into your existing directory infrastructure rather than managing local accounts on every unit. In environments with dozens or hundreds of PDUs, centralized auth is the difference between a manageable fleet and a credential hygiene problem.
• IPv4 and IPv6 Dual-Stack: Full dual-stack networking ensures the PDU fits into both legacy IPv4 data center networks and modern IPv6-forward infrastructure without needing NAT workarounds or address translation layers.
• SSH + HTTPS Encrypted Management: All CLI and web-based management sessions run over encrypted channels. HTTP is available for lab use, but production deployments should enforce HTTPS and SSH to keep credentials and sensor data off the wire in plaintext — especially relevant when PDU management traffic shares a common OOB network with other infrastructure.
• Syslog + SMTP Alerting: Push event logs to a centralized syslog server and configure email alerts for threshold crossings or outlet state changes. That creates an audit trail and keeps on-call staff informed without requiring them to poll the interface.
• NTP Time Synchronization: Timestamps in logs and alerts sync to NTP, which matters for correlating PDU events with application logs, change windows, and incident timelines during post-incident reviews.
• Single RJ-45 + Serial + USB Connectivity: The combination of Ethernet (primary management), one serial port (console/out-of-band fallback), and one USB port covers the standard connectivity matrix for managed PDU deployments — serial is particularly valuable when the network path is down and you need direct access during a recovery.
• Horizontal 0U Form Factor: Mounting horizontally in the rack means this PDU doesn't consume any rack unit space in the vertical column — all 17.2kW of capacity without sacrificing a single U from your equipment slots. Standard in high-density 2- and 4-post rack environments where vertical real estate is at a premium.

Integration and Compatibility

The VP7N31A4 integrates with Vertiv power management platforms and third-party DCIM tools via SNMP v1/v2c/v3 and Modbus TCP. The supported protocol list — DHCP, HTTP, HTTPS, IPv4, IPv6, LDAP, NTP, RADIUS, RSTP, SSH, SMTP, SNMP (all versions), Syslog, TACACS+, and Modbus TCP — covers virtually every enterprise network management and building automation integration pattern in production today.

The C13 and C19 outlet mix accommodates standard IEC power cords used by the majority of rack-mount servers, switches, storage arrays, and KVM equipment. The NEMA L22-30P input is the standard 3-phase 30A locking plug for North American and compatible international deployments; confirm your PDU input receptacle or busway tap matches before ordering.

For environments running a managed network switch fabric in the same rack, the Ethernet port supports DHCP for quick IP provisioning or static assignment for production stability. RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol) support means the management port participates correctly in switched Ethernet topologies without creating bridge loops if connected to a managed switch infrastructure.

When deploying alongside UPS systems in a tiered power architecture, the PDU's per-outlet switching enables controlled load shedding and orderly shutdown sequencing that a UPS alone cannot provide — letting you protect both the UPS and the downstream equipment during extended outages or maintenance windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What input voltage and plug type does the VP7N31A4 require?

A: The VP7N31A4 uses a NEMA L22-30P input plug rated at 30A. It accepts 200–240V or 346–415V WYE 3-phase input at 50 or 60 Hz, making it compatible with both North American and international high-voltage 3-phase distribution systems.

Q: Does the VP7N31A4 support per-outlet switching, or is it switched at the unit level only?

A: The VP7N31A4 provides outlet-level switching across all 12 receptacles — each C13 and C19 outlet can be independently switched on or off via the management interface, enabling remote power cycling of individual devices without affecting other loads on the PDU.

Q: What network management protocols does the VP7N31A4 support?

A: It supports SNMP v1, v2c, and v3; Modbus TCP; HTTPS and HTTP; SSH; SMTP; Syslog; RADIUS; LDAP; TACACS+; NTP; DHCP; RSTP; IPv4; and IPv6. This covers integration with DCIM platforms, building management systems, and enterprise directory services.

Q: What outlet types are on the VP7N31A4 and how many are there?

A: The unit provides 12 AC outlets: a mix of IEC C13 (standard server/switch cords) and IEC C19 (higher-draw equipment such as blade chassis, high-density storage, or large UPS bypass connections). Exact per-outlet counts by type are not specified in the available evidence — verify with Vertiv's current datasheet for your specific load configuration.

Q: Does the VP7N31A4 take up rack unit space?

A: No. The VP7N31A4 is a horizontal 0U PDU — it mounts in the rack without occupying any standard rack unit (1.75-inch) slots, preserving all vertical space for computing and networking equipment.

Q: Can the VP7N31A4 integrate with existing enterprise authentication systems?

A: Yes. It natively supports RADIUS, LDAP, and TACACS+ for centralized user authentication, allowing you to manage PDU access credentials through your existing directory infrastructure rather than maintaining local accounts on each unit.

Marty Allison

The VP7N31A4 is the unit I reach for when a client needs genuine outlet-level control on a 3-phase circuit — not just metering, but the ability to switch individual C13 or C19 loads independently at 17.2kW total capacity. On a fully loaded high-density row, that distinction matters: you can cycle a single hung node at 3 AM without touching anything else in the rack, and the SNMP v3 integration means your NOC gets the alert and executes the cycle from the DCIM console without rolling a tech.

Technical Highlights:

• 30A / 17.2kW 3-Phase Capacity: Running WYE across 200–240V or 346–415V at 30A input delivers 17.2kW — sufficient for a fully populated high-density rack in a single PDU footprint, avoiding the cable and management overhead of a second unit.
• SNMP v1/v2c/v3 + Modbus TCP Dual Protocol: The combination means this PDU talks to both traditional IT monitoring stacks via SNMP and industrial/facilities BMS platforms via Modbus TCP simultaneously — no protocol translation layer needed in mixed-environment deployments.
• RADIUS / LDAP / TACACS+ Auth: At scale — 50, 100, 200 PDUs — locally managed credentials become an audit liability. Centralizing auth through LDAP or TACACS+ on this unit eliminates that exposure without requiring a gateway appliance.

Deployment Considerations:

• Confirm your distribution panel or busway has a NEMA L22-30P 30A receptacle available before the unit ships — this is a 3-phase locking connector, not a standard single-phase input, and field-fabricating an adapter after the fact adds delay and introduces a potential inspection issue.
• The single Ethernet management port means PDU management traffic shares a physical interface with any VLAN or OOB network you assign it to — plan your switch port configuration (dedicated OOB VLAN, 802.1Q tagging) before rack commissioning, not after.

Best fit: colocation operators and enterprise IT teams deploying or refreshing high-density compute rows where per-outlet accountability, remote power cycling, and DCIM integration are operational requirements — not nice-to-haves.