IT Power Consumption: EqualLogic Arrays

I'm slowly gathering data for my IT power consumption/cost project ... and here's my first 'victim', our EqualLogic Arrays.

I assumed these dudes would pull some juice considering each array has 14 drives spinning 24/7/365, but I was surprised by the results.

I attached a Kill-A-Watt meter to each Power Supply feed (yes, I did this on a live production array) and here are the results...

Left PS => 145W, Right PS => 152W for a total 297W... and if only one PS is connected the live side reads 285W

I was expecting close to 500W not  under 300W!  I'd say that's pretty green for a bad mama jama storage array ... same consumption as 3 100W light bulbs!  Impressive.

Since we have 2 EqualLogic arrays our total SAN storage eats up a mere 600W ... and that's 28 drives, 4 power supplies, and 4 big blower fans plus the onboard controllers and whatnot.

I don't know what it takes to be labeled "green", but I'd say these arrays are pretty green in my book.

Comments

[Dustin]

Here is some power consumption for ya:

http://www.technotesblog.com/general/microsoft-plans-on-packing-300-000-servers-in-container-farm/

[Joshua Gregory]

Jason,

I'd be interested to hear what you guys use for cooling that rack? If I recall, the rack is in a large room. Does it have it's own unit, or is it a part of the building HVAC? Do you do any humidity control?

Thanks!