Enhancing Data Center Reliability and Efficiency with Moxa Industrial Solutions

Overview

‍As data centers scale rapidly to meet the demands of our digital economy, facility managers face increasing pressure to reduce downtime, improve energy efficiency, and secure critical infrastructure. A major hurdle lies in bridging the gap between IT systems and diverse Operational Technology (OT) devices, many of which use legacy protocols like Modbus RTU. With harsh operating environments and rising cybersecurity threats, maintaining reliable facility networks has never been more critical.

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Challenge

‍Data center infrastructure (DCI) relies on seamless coordination between electrical and environmental subsystems such as UPSs, PDUs, ATSs, circuit breakers, and temperature sensors. However, operators face several challenges:

• Harsh conditions like high EMI, temperature, and vibration in power rooms.
• Incompatibility between OT protocols (e.g., Modbus RTU) and IT systems.
• The need for real-time data transmission to EPMS, BMS, and DCIM platforms.
• Increasing cybersecurity vulnerabilities at the device level.
• Complexity in scaling and managing large, distributed networks.

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Solution

‍Moxa offers an industrial-grade portfolio purpose-built for these challenges—connecting legacy OT devices with Ethernet-based control systems and enabling a unified, secure, and resilient network.

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Key Technologies Deployed:

• Protocol Gateways (e.g., MGate MB3170/3660): Seamlessly convert Modbus RTU to TCP, enabling integration of legacy equipment with modern EMS/DCIM platforms.
• Industrial Ethernet Switches (e.g., EDS, MDS): Support network redundancy (Turbo Ring, Turbo Chain, PRP/HSR) with sub-20ms recovery times.
• Remote I/Os and Serial Device Servers (ioLogik, NPort): Enable data collection across diverse interfaces.
• Embedded Cybersecurity: Built-in security aligned with IEC 62443 standards—TLS, SNMPv3, access control, and Moxa’s proprietary MOS OS.
• MXview Network Management Software: Provides real-time network visibility, device monitoring, and fast troubleshooting.

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Results

‍By deploying Moxa’s DCI-ready solutions, data centers benefit from:

• Improved PUE through real-time integration of power and environmental data.
• Increased Uptime thanks to rugged hardware, dual power inputs, and redundant networking.
• IT/OT Convergence that eliminates data silos and enables centralized monitoring.
• Scalability and Flexibility via modular design, Ethernet cascading, and high-port density gateways.
• Stronger Cybersecurity Posture with device-level protection and network segmentation.

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Real-World Applications

• A global semiconductor manufacturer in Taiwan used MGate MB3660 gateways to monitor UPS and temperature sensors in EMI-heavy fabrication facilities.
• A U.S.-based systems integrator connected low-voltage switchgears to an EMS using Moxa NPort, MGate, and ioLogik devices, simplifying configuration with MXconfig tools.
• An international energy management firm deployed MGate MB3170 to convert data from Modbus RTU-based PDUs to TCP, enabling centralized EMS integration across dozens of devices.

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