Patent ID: 8427007

Claim:
A power distribution unit comprising: a housing having a length, a width and a depth with a front face of the housing extending across the width and along the length with the length being substantially greater than the width and the depth, and wherein the front face of the housing defines an opening to a docking space in an interior portion of the housing; a plurality of power outlets disposed on the front face of the housing; a management module having a processor configured to detect and manage current through at least one of the plurality of power outlets, the management module being further configured and arranged to fit within the docking space; a memory component contained within the housing and configured to store operational data for the power distribution unit; wherein the management module and the housing are configured and arranged such that the management module is removable from the docking space through the opening in the front face; a power input and power circuitry configured to distribute input power at the power input to each of the plurality of power outlets; and wherein the power distribution unit is configured to operate in a maintenance mode without power management by the management module in response to the management module being decoupled from the power distribution unit.