Power is one of the major costs associated with server collocation especially today with many corporations moving to blade servers. Selecting power saving equipment will help ensure you control your power costs in the facility you have selected. Therefore it's best to choose power-efficient equipment and work with your selected provider prior to purchasing equipment to make sure that you buy the right equipment with the right power requirements.

Today with the high cost of power it is common for co-location providers to meter power on a per client basis. In addition to the amount of power you use, one of your primary considerations should be back up power such as batteries and generators in case of a power failure, and temperature control and monitoring to ensure your equipment does not overheat.

Prior to co-locating, you must understand the power needs of your equipment. Is your equipment 110 V with standard plug connectors or does your equipment require special voltages, amperages or outlets? If you utilize blade servers they usually require 204 V or pull more amps than most data center racks are equipped to handle. In addition, these types of servers generate an tremendous amount of heat that must be removed from the facility.