Patent ID: 8489667

Claim:
A method of remotely managing a power distribution system comprising in combination: A. with a power manager system running at least in part on a power manager computing system communicatingly connected to a communications network, monitoring at least one remotely located power distribution unit installed in a RETMA equipment rack having a network appliance stack-mounting area, the power distribution unit having: i. a power distribution unit housing mounted in a portion of the RETMA equipment rack externally of the network appliance stack-mounting area; ii. at least one power input disposed in the power distribution unit housing; iii. a first plurality of power outlet sockets disposed in the power distribution unit housing, at least one power outlet socket being connected to a first appliance installed in the rack and a second power outlet socket being connected to a second appliance installed in the rack; iv. power output control apparatus disposed in the power distribution unit housing and being controllably connected to the at least one power outlet socket and the second power outlet socket among said first plurality of power outlet sockets; and v. a network communications system (i) supporting a transfer-control protocol/Internet Protocol and (ii) communicatingly connected to the communications network; B. with the power manager system, creating one or more subsets of the power outlet sockets among the first plurality of power outlet sockets; C. with the power manager system, administratively restricting level of access by another user to one or more of the subsets of said power outlet sockets; D. with the power manager system, monitoring a subordinate power distribution unit through the power distribution unit, the subordinate power distribution unit comprising at least a second plurality of power outlet sockets; E. with the power manager system, creating one or more subsets of the power outlet sockets among the second plurality of power outlet sockets; and F. with the power manager system, establishing a power on sequence for one or more of the power outlet sockets in one or more of the subsets of the first plurality of power outlet sockets and a power on sequence for one or more of the power outlet sockets in one or more of the subsets of the second plurality of power outlet sockets.