Remote Outdoor Cabinet Monitoring

Remote cabinets can include a range of server racks and outdoor enclosures that require remote condition monitoring on a 24/7 basis with automatic alerts and notifications when the measured environmental data goes outside of preset thresholds. These alerts are sent using built-in modems using the GSM/LTE network. Measured conditions depend upon the sensor connected to the base monitoring unit and data reported to a central dashboard to give a single pane of glass overview. Typical measurements include temperature, humidity, water ingress, air quality (dust, particles, VOC and NOx gasses), AC/DC power, smoke, vibration and data from third-party devices including UPS, DC rectifiers, battery sets, and generators. Our systems can be supplied with remote reboot devices to reduce the need for site engineer attendance when a connected IT load requires rebooting. Other monitoring solutions available include Narrowband IoT devices, supplied with a 3 or 5 year Vodafone Narrowband SIM package and with connected sensors for a range of conditions.

Remote Weatherproof Enclosure Monitoring

At Server Room Environments we supply a range of outdoor enclosures with paint finishes suited to the harsh conditions that such a cabinet can experience. Weatherproof outdoor enclosures can experience extreme variations in temperature and humidity and can be supplied with additional cooling fans and heating elements.

Adding remote environmental monitoring to outdoor enclosures and cabinets can monitor for these changes in both temperature and humidity, water ingress, door access and alerts from third-party systems using signal contacts or a protocol such as Modbus TCP/IP. This information can be used to drive automated alerts sent via an SMS card and built-on modem (either GSM/LTE or Narrowband).

Outdoor enclosures are designed to house and protect sensitive electronic and electrical devices. Such enclosures can be installed in remote areas to boost local connectivity to mobile networks, at roadside or trackside locations to house telecoms and signalling infrastructure, or in other remote locations to house CCTV camera or EV charger monitoring systems.

Remote Containerised Data Centres and Telecoms Cabinets

The environmental monitoring solutions we supply can include an Ethernet port for connection to a local IP-network (within for example a containerised data centre) and have an internal modem. The modem is used to send email and SMS text alerts to predetermined contact lists. Customers supply their own SIM cards apart from the Narrowband devices, which include an IoT Narrowband SIM as standard. The built-in modems can also provide connectivity to a manufacturer-specific remote monitoring portals via a VPN-connection.

Remote Reboot Control

Netio devices provide additional functionality in terms of remote reboot control. Outlet sockets can be individually controlled to remote devices. This can save on the costs of an engineer visiting. Netio devices can also be used to monitor temperature, humidity and power related factors.

IP Watchdog

The HW group IP Watchdog automatically detects network failures (via PING, web requests or heartbeats) and can power-cycle connected devices. This type of device is ideal for remote sites with routers, IP cameras and WiFi enabled devices to prevent the need for site engineer to visit site.

Remote Monitoring Portals

Both AKCP and HW group provide their own monitoring portals and mobile Apps to provide an overview of the monitored environmental parameters, the status of connected sensors and third-party devices. The portals also provide access to the data logged for graphing and reporting.

Digital Inputs (DI) and Digital Outputs (DO)

Device solutions can include digital inputs (isolated or non-isolated) which can be used to monitor third-party systems within the enclosures, containers and cabinets. Typical examples include door contacts, access control, fire suppression systems and fire alarm panels. The solutions can also include digital outputs that can be activated to open or close according to the logic and actions setup for a particular monitored solution.

Power Outage Backup

It is important to consider how to keep devices powered during power outages and momentary breaks in power. Some models have built-in battery backup and for others it will be necessary to provide power from an uninterruptible power supply even if there is a local standby power generator. The UPS will provide power to the devices as the generator starts and comes up to speed. The ARES 12 and Narrowband devices have their own internal batteries for short-duration power outages. The AKCP sensorProbe+ SPX models can be supplied with an internal UPS battery module.

Condition Based Monitoring

With an appropriate base monitoring device and plug-in sensors, we can provide conditioned-based monitoring of any asset, whether inside or outside a building. This can include not just the room and space, but also local assets including switchgear and distribution infrastructure. We can use signal contacts or virtual sensors to monitor third-party systems. Virtual sensors can use a range of protocols to log data from third-party devices and include SNMP GET, MQTT, Modbus TCP/IP and Modbus RTU. The logged data can be used to trigger automated alerts and actions to ensure system resilience and uptime.

For more information pn our remote weatherproof enclosure monitoring solutions please contact our Projects Team.