Practical Use of Temperature Monitoring Devices
NetPing devices for temperature monitoring in a server room and implementation of other functionality use different modern techniques and protocols. The simplest method of watching temperature readings is using a built-in web interface. For example, at the page «Thermo sensors», it is possible to watch the readings of connected temperature sensors for a server room in a real-time mode:
NetPing devices have a greater potential in the field of integration in different monitoring systems, automated systems and software products. Such broad scope of use is ensured by using an SNMP protocol, which is supported by any NetPing device. According to this, on the basis of NetPing devices, it is possible to analyze, for example, graphs of air temperature outside in different time intervals:
More detailed information with examples of integrating NetPing devices with the goal to organize temperature monitoring can be found in the articles of the company's blog on the links listed below:
- «Tracking Opening/Closing Doors Using NetPing and PRTG Network Monitor»;
- «Monitoring NetPing Devices from a Cell Phone»
NetPing devices have one more advantage – they support URL-encoded commands (HTTP API). The interface of URL-encoded commands can be used for integrating with web-applications without using an SNMP protocol. For example, it is possible to organize a working place of an engineer with output of data of a temperature in a server room to the monitor in a real-time mode:
More detailed information about the examples of integrating NetPing devices by using an interface of URL-encoded commands can be found in the articles of the company's blog on the links given below:
- «Example of Collecting Information from NetPing Devices in a Form of an Excel Table»;
- «Example of Integrating NetPing Devices with a Service xively.com»;
- «Example of NetPing Devices Integration with the Service thethings.io»;
- «Example of NetPing Integration with the Service IoT dweet.io»
Devices for Temperature Monitoring in a Server Room
To prevent emergencies in the operation of the server equipment, the company NetPing global Ltd. developed a series of inexpensive and functional devices for monitoring temperature via the Ethernet/Internet network. NetPing devices allow getting the information about a status of sensors remotely. In addition, they instantly send e-mail, syslog, SNMP trap, SMS-notifications about triggering sensors to maintenance staff any time of night and day. Deployment of NetPing devices is not difficult and does not need any specific knowledge. The only thing necessary to do is to connect temperature sensors to a NetPing device, and connect a NetPing device to the data transfer network. At this point, a basic configuration of a NetPing device for temperature monitoring is finished!
UniPing v3 – is a device for remote monitoring and watching the microclimate in a switching box with equipment. Sensors of temperature and humidity allow controlling operation conditions of the equipment 24 hours a day. Special features of a device are a compact plastic body, which is convenient to install in the limited space of switching boxes; a possibility to use an additional switching expansion card NetPing Connection board v2 for convenient connection of different sensors. In certain cases, UniPing v3 can automatically fulfill necessary actions to restore optimal operation conditions for equipment. For example, turn on a backup air conditioner, when the temperature level is exceeded.
UniPing server solution v3 – is a new device for remote monitoring of a server room, which allows to control sensors in a server room and watch operating conditions of IT equipment. Having installed UniPing server solution v3 in a server room, you can always be sure that operation conditions of your equipment are optimal!
Usually, UniPing server solution v3 is used to:
- monitor physical conditions of operation of server equipment;
- restrict access to boxes with IT equipment;
- notify persons in charge about emergencies;
- remotely control air conditioners, ventilation systems and microclimate control systems, including the automated regulation mode
UniPing server solution v4/SMS is a top monitoring system in the series of devices for remote monitoring and watching a microclimate in server rooms and data centers. A device supports connecting of up to eight temperature sensors and four humidity sensors simultaneously! It has a built-in GSM modem for sending SMS notifications and controlling a temperature monitoring device using SMS commands.
Usually, UniPing server solution v4/SMS is used to:
- monitor physical conditions of server equipment operation;
- restrict access to server rooms and boxes with IT equipment;
- notify persons in charge about emergencies via e-mail, syslog, SNMP trap and SMS notifications;
- remotely control air conditioners, ventilation systems and climate control systems, including the automatic control mode
Comparison of Temperature Monitoring Devices in a Server Room
| Functionality | UniPing server solution v4/SMS | UniPing server solution v3 | UniPing v3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Static IP and MAC address | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| User software update | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ethernet port | 2 x 10/100 BASE-TX | 2 x 10/100 BASE-TX | 1 x 10/100 BASE-TX |
| Fanless execution | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power plug type: | Euro plug | Euro plug | DJK-02 2.1 mm |
| E-mail notifications | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NTP time synchronisation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Embedded logfile | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| «Logic» module support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SMS notifications | Yes | Using NetPing SMS | Using NetPing SMS |
| Controlling via SNMP | Yes, SNMP v1 | Yes, SNMP v1 | Yes, SNMP v1 |
| SNMP TRAP notifications | Yes, SNMP v1 | Yes, SNMP v1 | Yes, SNMP v1 |
| Syslog notifications | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Telnet support | No | No | No |
| Size of a device | 430 x 143 x 44 | 430 x 180 x 44 | 75 x 120 x 40 |
| Size of a package | 515 x 253 x 62 | 515 x 253 x 62 | 225 x 90 x 80 |
| Power supply | 110В .. 230V | 110В .. 230V | 12V DC |
| Temperature range | 0°C .. 40°C | 0°C .. 40°C | 0°C .. 40°C |
| Weight | 1700 g. | 1800 g. | 368 g. |
| 220 V occurence sensor | Up to 8 sensors | Up to 8 sensors | Up to 16 sensors |
| Door sensor | Up to 8 sensors | Up to 8 sensors | Up to 16 sensors |
| Glass break sensor | Up to 8 sensors | Up to 8 sensors | Up to 16 sensors |
| Humidity sensor | Up to 4 humidity sensors 1-wire | Up to 4 humidity sensors 1-wire | Yes |
| IO lines | 8 | 8 | 16 |
| IR extension module IRC-TR v2 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Leakage sensor | Up to 8 sensors | Up to 8 sensors | Up to 16 sensors |
| RS-232 port | No | No | Yes |
| RS-485 port | No | No | Yes |
| Shock sensor | Up to 8 sensors | Up to 8 sensors | Up to 16 sensors |
| Smoke sensor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature sensor | Up to 8 sensors | Up to 8 sensors | Up to 8 sensors |
| POE power supply | No | No | No |
| Embedded batery for a notification system | No | No | No |
| SMS commands support | Yes | No | No |
| URL-encoded commands support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1-wire sensors support | Yes | Yes | No |
| Own power consumption | 5 Wt | 5 Wt | 3 Wt |
| Motion sensor | Up to 8 sensors | Up to 8 sensors | Up to 16 sensors |
| Alarm sirene | Yes | Yes | Yes, 18 alarms when there is NetPing Relay board |
| Controlled socket NetPing AC/DIN | Up to 8 sockets | Up to 8 sockets | Up to 16 sockets |
What Is the Aim of Temperature Monitoring in Server Rooms?
It is not a secret that organising temperature monitoring in a server room is a key necessity in supporting a stable work of server equipment and all IT infrastructure in general. Controlling a temperature in a server room allows preventing a failure of server equipment if issues with a cooling system arise, which in turn decreases a probability of IT services downtime, which can bear huge losses to companies in the modern world of informational technologies.
Monitoring of server rooms with the aim to control climatic parameters must be implemented continuously around the clock during the entire lifetime of server rooms and data centers. When an air conditioning system fails, during the first 10 minutes an operation temperature of server equipment can reach critical exponents. In this case, even if server equipment does not fail, then its lifetime in such unfavourable conditions will be decreased rapidly.
A temperature in a server room must be controlled in several points of presence, installing corresponding temperature sensors for this in a server room. Recommended points for installing temperature sensors in a server room are hot points in server racks and closets, at the conditioned air outlet, in a corner of a room for controlling an average temperature, outside for estimating the load at the air conditioning system. It is not recommended to install one air temperature sensor in a server room because such monitoring provides a minimal accuracy of current temperature values, which in turn can increase the time for maintenance staff to react to emergencies.
The important factor is a correct adjustment of a system of remote monitoring of temperature sensors. For accomplishing this, it is recommended to measure temperature during several days before starting operation of the system and determine basic parameters of the environment. Afterwards, it is possible to to determine normal conditions for server equipment operation on the basis of graphs of temperature rise and fall, which depend on the time intervals of switching on and switching off a conditioning system indoors. In addition, it is possible to detect the fact that a registered temperature in a server room is a little higher than a temperature at a thermostat of an air conditioner. At the basis of the information, obtained when determining basic parameters of the environment, it is possible to set correct thresholds for triggering temperature sensors, thus minimizing false notifications from a system of controlling a temperature in a server room.
