Data center infrastructure readiness is on the rise, but real-time optimization of capacity, efficiency and availability is still lacking

Columbus, Ohio [July 21, 2011] – Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR) and a global leader in maximizing availability, capacity and efficiency of critical infrastructure, today announced the results of a survey of more than 240 U.S. data center professionals from a variety of industries showing that data centers are progressing with initiatives to improve data center infrastructure management (DCIM), but still lack the critical insight required to improve availability, enhance efficiency and manage capacity.

The survey revealed that three factors—lack of visibility into system utilization, absence of documented efficiency strategies and lack of functionality within management systems—serve as the primary barriers preventing respondents from optimizing data center performance.

While virtualization is being used in the majority of the data centers—only eight percent had not virtualized at least some of their servers—44 percent still expect the number of physical servers in their primary data center to increase over the next three years.  In addition, only 2 percent believe all servers in the data center will be virtualized in the next three years.

Despite what could be considered ample capacity in many facilities—65 percent are using less than 70 percent of their computing capacity—more than half (57 percent) plan to add additional servers in the next three years, and 20 percent plan to add capacity by leasing additional space from a co-location or hosting facility.

Survey respondents identified an array of management tools they are using to help them deal with the increasing complexity brought on by virtualization and other changes. The most commonly used were facility monitoring (65 percent), equipment tracking (54 percent), and cooling management (53 percent). On the other end of the spectrum, tracking virtual machines and their dependencies on underlying hardware (28 percent) and IT capacity management (27 percent) were among the least used management tools. Less than a quarter (24 percent) of respondents has achieved any integration between virtual and physical management platforms.

“If you compare managing a data center to flying an airplane, what we are seeing now is that organizations are no longer willing to fly without instruments—as they have done for the past twenty years—but have not quite reached the point of automation,” said Blake Carlson, vice president of global IT markets, Avocent business of Emerson Network Power “That is definitely the direction the industry is headed but achieving that objective will require greater integration between IT and infrastructure systems, and between the physical and virtual layers of the data center.”

To view the survey report or learn more about Emerson Network Power’s DCIM strategy, please visit www.EmersonNetworkPower.com/DCIM.

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About Emerson Network Power

Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR), is the global leader in enabling Business-Critical Continuity™ from grid to chip for telecommunication networks, data centers, health care and industrial facilities. Emerson Network Power provides innovative solutions and expertise in areas including AC and DC power and precision cooling systems, embedded computing and power, integrated racks and enclosures, power switching and controls, infrastructure management, and connectivity. All 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 through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and tools and storage businesses. Sales in fiscal 2010 were $21 billion. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.