Validus backers banking on swing to DC

Data centres should convert or take Highway To Hell

By Kelly Fiveash • Get more from this author

Posted in Servers, 19th December 2007 16:20 GMT

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Validus Systems said yesterday that it will throw a large wad of cash at developing data centre power infrastructure that uses direct current (DC) in the hope of lowering power consumption.

It said in a statement that it had raised $10m from Oak Hill Venture Partners, and expects to begin punting its DC technology in late January next year.

The Connecticut-based power supply vendor claimed that its DC development cash splurge would help it develop and market its technology which it claims could improve data centre energy efficiency by up to 40 per cent.

Trumpeting DC power Validus said relying on alternating current (AC) straight off the main electricity grid was an energy-waster.

"Data centre efficiency is no longer just an IT issue - it's one of the most pressing concerns across all levels of business management," said Validus CEO Rudy Kraus.

The firm admitted that there were obvious limitations with pumping DC power from electricity plants, as it can only travel for about a mile before the energy supply begins to weaken.

To work around that problem, it said it has developed a technology that takes the AC power provided by utilities and converts it into DC. Validus then pumps the converted supply out to servers specifically designed to run on DC power.

It also said it has teamed up with Rackable Systems that touts servers with storage units that have a built-in DC power option. No word on any other tech partners joining the DC jamboree just yet, mind you. ®

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