iSensor Controller
Data Centre Environmental Monitoring
Protect your environment instantly with the dual-powered 1U iSensor Controller. This scalable hub monitors temperature and humidity across 24 sensor ports, utilising standard Ethernet cable (up to 100m range). Data is accessible globally via its internal webserver or seamlessly pushed to your management platform (DCIM/BMS) using SNMP.
Expand your monitoring capabilities with optional sensors for air particles, carbon dioxide and dry contacts.
Learn more about Environmental Monitoring by reading our Essential Guide to Environmental Monitoring in Data Centres.
Product Overview
About the iSensor Environmental Monitoring Controller
The iSensor Controller safeguards your critical infrastructure. It monitors temperature and humidity with precise, real-time data from up to 24 sensor points. This system maintains optimal operating conditions, acting as an essential early warning against potential hardware failure and downtime.
We engineered the iSensor for maximum resilience: it features dual-power redundancy and supports long-distance sensing. The unit integrates effortlessly into your existing network using industry-standard SNMP for compatibility with any DCIM, BMS, or management solution.
Why Environmental Monitoring Matters
In today’s densely packed IT environments, significant heat generation is a constant challenge. Therefore, robust monitoring is crucial for a multitude of reasons, including:
- Safeguarding Equipment: Proactively preventing damaging hotspots and premature hardware failure.
- Optimising Thermal Performance: Ensuring efficient cooling systems and balanced airflow distribution.
- Adhering to Optimal Conditions: Maintaining the environmental parameters recommended by ASHRAE standards.
- Conserving Resources: Minimising energy waste and avoiding over-cooling.
- Ensuring Operational Integrity: Meeting stringent compliance and audit requirements.
The iSensor Controller provides a scalable, centralised, and dependable solution for overseeing these vital environmental conditions throughout your entire rack or room infrastructure.
iSensor Key Advantages
High-Accuracy Temperature & Humidity Monitoring
The system uses up to 24 iSensor temperature and humidity probes, delivering precise environmental data across racks, aisles, and critical infrastructure. Probes connect via standard CAT5/6 cabling, allowing flexible placement up to 100 meters from the controller.
Dual Power Redundancy
Designed for unwavering reliability, the unit uses dual, independent 240V IEC C13 power inputs. Should one power feed be lost, monitoring seamlessly continues without interruption.
Intelligent Alerting & Thresholds
Take proactive control of your environment. Set custom high/low temperature and humidity thresholds for each sensor. Instant SNMP or email alerts notify you immediately, enabling swift action before issues escalate.
Web Interface & SNMP Integration
Like the iAccess Controller the integrated web interface simplifies configuration. For broader integration, SNMP connectivity links smoothly with key infrastructure, including BMS, DCIM, NMS, and remote monitoring tools.
Optional Environmental Inputs
Enhance monitoring capabilities by integrating the following advanced sensors:
- Particle Sensor: For precise measurement of airborne dust particles (PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10).
- CO2 & Climate Sensor: To track levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature, and relative humidity.
- VFC Interface Sensor: For seamless integration with door switches, alarm panels, and other dry-contact security systems.
Why Choose iSensor?
The iSensor Controller proactively protects your data centre infrastructure from overheating and sudden humidity changes. Its scalable design adapts as your system expands.
When thresholds are breached, iSensor instantly alerts you, preventing costly downtime. Gain clear environmental insight to optimise cooling performance and simplify compliance audits. Installation is simple, using standard Ethernet cabling, making iSensor ideal for remote monitoring and multi-site deployment.
Features & Benefits
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| 24 iSensor Ports for T&H Sensors | Each controller supports up to 24 Temperature & Humidity sensors, deployable across the data centre using standard CAT5/6 cabling (up to 100m distance per sensor). |
| Customisable T&H Alarms | Set individual high and low alarm thresholds for both temperature and humidity on each connected sensor, enabling precise environmental monitoring. |
| Flexible Monitoring & Configuration | Monitor and configure the iSensor Controller remotely over an Ethernet network via an internal web server or through standard SNMP registers. |
| Event Notifications (Email & SNMP) | Receive immediate alerts through email or SNMP traps when environmental thresholds are breached or contact statuses change, ensuring prompt awareness. |
| Optional Particle Sensors | Enhance air quality monitoring with optional sensors that detect and report dust particles in the data center environment. |
| Optional Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Sensors | Expand environmental insights by adding optional sensors to detect CO2 levels, in addition to temperature and humidity. |
| Optional Volt-Free Contact Sensors | Connect optional volt-free contact sensors to monitor and receive alerts for status changes from various external devices or systems. |
Specification
- 24 x iSensor Temperature/Humidity sensor ports.
- Optional sensors – Particle and VFC.
- Network 10/100Mbps (Auto).
- Configuration/monitoring options – Internal website and SNMP.
- Power – Dual 240V IEC C13 (Max 0.5A).
- LED – Power supply (A & B), Ethernet, iSensor Sensor status.
- Dimensions – 1RU x 155mm depth.
- Weight – 1.2Kg
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the iSensor Controller used for?
The iSensor Controller is a data centre environmental monitoring system designed to track temperature, humidity, and air quality conditions across server racks, rooms, or entire facilities. It provides real-time monitoring and early warning alerts to help prevent overheating, equipment failure, and unplanned downtime.
How many sensors can the iSensor Controller support?
Each iSensor Controller supports up to 24 sensors, allowing organisations to monitor multiple racks, aisles, or critical infrastructure zones from a single device. Sensors connect using standard CAT5/6 Ethernet cabling for flexible deployment. Available sensors include: Temperature & Humidity, Particle, Carbon Dioxide and VFC.
What environmental conditions can be monitored?
The system primarily monitors:
- Temperature
- Relative humidity
- Airborne particle levels (optional)
- Carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels (optional)
- Dry contact status from external devices (optional)
Optional sensors expand monitoring to provide a complete environmental overview of your data centre or server room.
How does the iSensor Controller alert users to issues?
Users can configure custom environmental thresholds for each sensor. If conditions exceed defined limits, the controller immediately sends alerts via:
- Email notifications
- SNMP traps
- Integration with DCIM, BMS, or NMS platforms
This enables rapid response before environmental risks impact IT equipment.
Can the iSensor Controller integrate with existing monitoring platforms?
Yes. The iSensor Controller integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure management systems using industry-standard SNMP protocols, allowing connection to DCIM, BMS, and network monitoring platforms without additional software.
Is the iSensor Controller suitable for remote or multi-site monitoring?
Yes. The built-in web interface allows secure remote access via a standard web browser, making the solution ideal for distributed data centres, edge locations, and remote IT rooms.
What happens if a power supply fails?
The iSensor Controller features dual independent power inputs. If one power source fails, the system continues operating without interruption, ensuring continuous environmental monitoring.
How far can sensors be installed from the iSensor Controller?
Sensors can typically be deployed up to 100 metres from the controller using standard Ethernet cabling, allowing flexible placement across racks or rooms without specialist wiring.
Why is environmental monitoring important in a data centre?
Environmental monitoring helps organisations:
- Prevent hardware overheating and failure
- Optimise cooling efficiency
- Reduce energy consumption
- Maintain compliance standards
- Avoid costly downtime
Continuous monitoring ensures optimal operating conditions for critical IT infrastructure.
Is the iSensor Controller scalable as my data centre grows?
Yes. The scalable architecture allows additional sensors and monitoring points to be added as infrastructure expands, making it suitable for both small server rooms and enterprise data centres.
Do I need DCIM software to use the iSensor Controller?
No. The iSensor Controller has a built-in web server allowing the device to be accessed directly as a standalone unit. However, there are some benefits with integrating the controller within a DCIM platform, such as Sensorium including:
- Centralised management and alerts from a single interface.
- Audit trail of events.
Can the iSensor Controller help reduce cooling costs?
The iSensor Controller does not lower cooling costs directly. Instead, it helps operators find local environmental issues. Operators can then fix these issues early. Consequently, this maintains uptime and improves efficiency.
Does the system support compliance and audit reporting?
The iSensor Controller monitors environmental conditions and triggers alerts when levels exceed set thresholds. You can receive these alerts via email or SNMP. Although iSensor does not store data itself, it sends information to third-party systems like Sensorium DCIM. These systems record the data to support compliance and audit reporting.