In the world of data center power management, staying a step ahead of cybersecurity threats, firmware vulnerabilities and operational inefficiencies is essential. At the same time, if you ask any data center professional whether they enjoy firmware updates for rack PDUs, don’t be surprised to hear a sigh, witness an eye roll or have the individual attempt to change the subject entirely.

Firmware updates are necessary, but they often feel like a tedious chore. Every network-connected device in a data center – from PDUs to cooling systems – runs on firmware that requires regular maintenance. These updates contain critical security patches, performance enhancements and bug fixes. Updates are often time-consuming with the typical data center featuring hundreds of devices from multiple vendors each requiring its own update process.

Data center professionals are challenged to find the best way to balance security and reliability with ease of execution. If you are looking to make PDU firmware updates simpler and less painful, read on to learn a few modern approaches that are changing the game.

The Old Way: Software Utilities and Manual Management

Most rack PDU manufacturers offer basic software tools for firmware updates. These applications can scan for networked PDUs, load the latest firmware package and push updates in bulk, reducing the need for manual intervention. Sounds great, right?

Well, not always.

There are a few downsides to traditional software-based updates:

• It is yet another program to manage: IT teams already juggle dozens of software tools, and adding another just for PDU firmware isn’t appealing.
• The organizational red tape: Getting new software approved through security and compliance teams can take months — if it gets approved at all.
• Maintenance overload: The firmware update tool itself needs updates, creating another cycle of maintenance.

This process is better than updating PDUs manually, but it still comes with inefficiencies that IT teams would much prefer to avoid.

The Smarter Way: Onboard PDU Intelligence for Automated Updates

Here is where the industry is evolving. What if PDUs could update themselves without requiring additional software?

It may sound too good to be true, but that is the idea behind intelligent rack power distribution, like the Panduit EL2P PDU. Now available worldwide, the EL2P has many features including:

• Built-in firmware scheduler: Instead of relying on external software, EL2P PDUs can be pointed to a local network storage device where firmware updates are stored.
• Automated updates: At scheduled intervals, the PDU checks for new firmware and updates itself without the need for manual intervention.
• Reduced IT overhead: Once the firmware package is in the right directory, the PDUs take care of the rest to make updates seamless and hands-off.

This shift toward autonomous firmware updates eliminates the frequent headaches associated with manual updates and offers IT teams additional time to focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine maintenance.

For the DCIM Fans: Firmware Updates through Data Center Management Software

For organizations already invested in data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software, firmware updates might be expected to seamlessly integrate into their management platform.

However, there’s a catch. Each PDU manufacturer has proprietary firmware along with a unique update process. To support firmware management, DCIM vendors must collaborate directly with OEMs, creating custom integrations. It is also good to note that some DCIMs claim to offer firmware management, but their capabilities may be limited to select vendors or device types. A best practice is to verify compatibility early in the decision-making process before assuming your DCIM will handle PDU firmware.

Panduit has partnered with HyperView, a full-featured cloud-based DCIM platform that natively supports firmware management for Panduit PDU and UPS systems. With automatic firmware notifications and streamlined execution, HyperView helps eliminate firmware guesswork.

As Panduit expands its ecosystem, future integrations with additional DCIM platforms are also in the works.

The Bottom Line: Smarter Firmware Management for Smarter Data Centers

Firmware updates will never be glamorous, but they don’t have to be painful either. The industry is shifting toward built-in intelligence, automation and seamless integrations to make firmware updates effortless. When you add the EL2P intelligent PDU from Panduit to your data center, it makes your firmware updates more secure, automated, efficient and one less thing to worry about. 

To learn more about the Panduit line of PDUs, visit www.panduit.com/pdu.