Rittal, a leading global provider of energy-efficient IT infrastructure, together with software manufacturer Microsoft are now involved in a cooperation aimed at improving the amount of power saved in the data centre. This is the first time that the monitoring of the IT infrastructure from the server enclosure, cooling, power distribution and supply has been integrated with the monitoring of the server itself. The server load and climate control requirement can thus be coordinated flexibly with one another.

This is made possible by the interplay of RiZone - Rittal's new management software for the IT infrastructure - with Microsoft's System Center Operations Manager (SCOM). RiZone is being exhibited for the first time at CeBIT 2009. The software monitors and controls the cooling from chillers, computer room air-conditioning (CRAC) systems, liquid cooling packages and free cooling, power supply (UPS, power distribution, etc.), the energy consumption and other physical parameters such as temperature, access or security of a data centre. The Microsoft System Center Operations Manager monitors the performance of the server and also provides an event display and event evaluations. Rittal and Microsoft have now decided to create a management pack to facilitate the sharing of data between IT infrastructure and servers. Rittal and Microsoft are unveiling the software solution to the public at CeBIT. It will be available from the summer of 2009 as an extension of RiZone.

"With the integration of RiZone and the System Center Operations Manager in the data centre, customers can monitor the consumption of all their devices. We are also creating further added value for our customers," says Ralph Haupter, Chief Operating Officer at Microsoft. "Companies will be able to save power immediately, and we are helping them to deal even more efficiently with their resources."

"Now, RiZone in conjunction with the Microsoft System Center Operations Manager represents an all-embracing solution making it easier for the customer to save power. We are bringing the IT infrastructure and the server world together for the first time. This is a very big step for Rittal", added Helmut Binder, Rittal's Executive Vice President IT.

RiZone is the consistent development of the overall infrastructure solution from RimatriX5 server enclosure, power supply, climate control, surveillance and monitoring. Previous monitoring solutions from Rittal had been limited to the infrastructure components. Rittal's RiZone represents the first commercial software for monitoring data centres that has a significantly extended performance range.




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Rittal

Since its foundation in 1961, Rittal GmbH & Co. KG, based in Herborn/Germany, has become a global player. Today, Rittal is one of the world's leading system suppliers for enclosure and housing technology, with over 10,000 standard products available for immediate delivery, and a sought-after solution provider in all areas of industry and mechanical engineering, as well as a trendsetter for all segments of the IT/telecoms market. Rittal stands for future-oriented and comprehensive solutions, service and consulting competence.

The Rittal spectrum covers the sectors of industrial enclosures, electronic packaging, system climate control, power distribution, IT solutions and communication systems.

Under the umbrella of "Rittal Together - Complete IT Competence" the service partnership of Rittal with subsidiaries Lampertz and Litcos offers a coordinated range of products, solutions and services for efficient, secure and environmentally-friendly data centres.

The leading software suppliers Eplan and Mind8, also Rittal subsidiaries, extend the Rittal product portfolio with engineering solutions for the industry.

In order to serve the world's market places optimally, 19 high-tech production locations supply 60 subsidiaries, 150 sales and logistics centres and more than 70 agencies around the globe. In Germany, 22 Rittal sales and logistics centres covering the whole country are catering for the customers' every need. With over 11,100 employees world-wide, Rittal International is the largest company of the Friedhelm Loh Group of Haiger, Germany. The group's workforce totals more than 12,200.