Load distribution across PSUs on a Dell PowerEdge

delldell-poweredgepower-distribution-unit

What does the current distribution look like on a Dell PowerEdge R630 (or any for that matter) when using 2 power supplies?

I assume it will either draw continually from both, distributing the load, or it will favour one over the other. If the later, how does it decide which and is there a way to tell while it's running which that is?

Context for the question is I have a rack load of R630s all with dual-PSU and I'm wondering if one PDU has the current capacity to feed the rack if the other one goes.

Note:
This is different to the previous question How do servers with redundant power supplies balance consumption? as it specifically asks about Dell R630s

Best Answer

I've found the specific answer to the distribution question now, so sharing here just in case others want it. According to the R630 Owner's Manual on page 99:

When two identical power supplies are installed, power supply redundancy (1+1 – with redundancy or 2+0 – without redundancy) is configured in system BIOS. In redundant mode, power is supplied to the system equally from both power supplies when Hot Spare is disabled. When Hot Spare is enabled, one of the PSUs will be put into standby when system utilization is low in order to maximize efficiency.

So in an R630, regardless of configuration, both PSUs will draw evenly except under very low utilisation where only one PSU will be used.

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