Emerson Electric Co. : Emerson Network Power Survey Shows Growing Importance of Data Center Infrastructure Management in North America

56 percent of data center managers surveyed rank monitoring and management among top concerns

Data center managers are valuing information about their IT network and infrastructure more than ever, according to a recent survey from Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE: EMR) and the global leader in maximizing availability, capacity and efficiency of critical infrastructure.

The biannual survey polled members of the Data Center Users' Group® (DCUG), an association of influential data center, IT and facility managers sponsored by Emerson Network Power. Topics covered included data center monitoring and management, power density and management, precision cooling, and energy efficiency.

According to the survey, 56 percent of the respondents listed adequate monitoring and data center management capabilities as their top concern. This also marks the highest percentage for the monitoring/management response in the history of the survey, which is now seven years running. In fact, in the five most recent surveys--conducted within the past three years--no other concern was weighted above 56 percent. In the spring 2012 survey, 52 percent of respondents listed availability among their top three concerns, ranking second in the survey, and 45 percent listed energy efficiency.

"Today's data center is an incredibly complex, dynamic environment and increasingly critical to the success of most businesses," said Bob Miller, vice president, Emerson Network Power's Liebert products business in North America, and a member of the Data Center Users' Group board of directors. "Businesses are consolidating and virtualizing servers and putting a premium on flexibility and scalability for their IT systems, and that requires a level of visibility into the data center infrastructure that only recently became possible."

Eighty-nine percent of those surveyed said they had implemented some server consolidation or virtualization in the past 18 months and 87 percent of those respondents indicated they expect to start another such project within a year.

The trend toward consolidation and virtualization is reflected in a sharp increase in average power density in the facilities of those surveyed. The average reported power density was 7.89 kW per rack, compared to just 6.0 kW per rack a year ago. DCUG members do not see that trend slowing, as respondents predicted densities of 12.17 kW per rack in just two years. Already, when asked what the maximum power density per rack was in their data centers, respondents indicated an average of 12.67 kW.

Additional results include:

• Fifty-six percent believe their existing data center capacity will suffice for three years or less.
• Thirty-one percent already have implemented wireless technologies in their data centers and another 21 percent are considering doing so.
• Seventy-six percent of the respondents who had consolidated and/or virtualized servers experienced some type of problem in the aftermath. Those problems included asset management, hot spots and power capacity.

Founded in 2003, the Data Center Users' Group contains approximately 1,000 members in North America, and the group meets semi-annually to collaboratively discuss best practices, share experiences and address the most relevant issues affecting the reliability, availability and cost of operation for critical installations. The group's membership comprises executives with a wide variety of IT and facilities management expertise from numerous companies and industries, including board member companies Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions, JPMorgan Chase and Meijer, among others.

About Emerson Network Power

Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR), delivers software, hardware and services that maximize availability, capacity and efficiency for data centers, healthcare and industrial facilities. A trusted industry leader in smart infrastructure technologies, Emerson Network Power provides innovative data center infrastructure management solutions that bridge the gap between IT and facility management and deliver efficiency and uncompromised availability regardless of capacity demands. Our solutions are supported globally by local Emerson Network Power service technicians. Learn more about Emerson Network Power products and services at www.EmersonNetworkPower.com.

About Emerson

Emerson (NYSE: EMR), based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets around the world. The company is comprised of five business segments: Process Management, Industrial Automation, Network Power, Climate Technologies, and Commercial & Residential Solutions. Sales in fiscal 2011 were $24.2 billion. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.

For Emerson
Monica Howald, 314-982-6233
monica.howald@fleishman.com

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