[CentOS] OT: Measure 2U Server Amp Usage

Wed Aug 2 01:55:04 UTC 2006
Karl R. Balsmeier <karl at klxsystems.net>

Hi,

Running a bunch of CentOS servers on 2U supermicro equipment, usually with
8 drives on Adaptec SmartRAID V or LSI Megaraid.

In designing a rack in a data center, the question arises as to how to
measure the amperage the server uses, prior to investing in power drops
that actually do that for you, even remotely, for about $260.00-300USD per
unit.  This number is the important one these days in determining
rack/datacenter design.

So the geek question is, "what do you use, from radio shack, or elsewhere,
to accomplish this one time measurement *before* you implement a design"?

Even deeper, is there an open-source equivalent to some of the
software-based solutions that purport to be able to give a reading on amp
usage.  Just curious if you have a similar server-type, (supermicro=very
popular), what your measurements have been.

-karlski