Dynamic hierarchy

Another feature of Hierarchy Manager is the ability to assign devices or Node instances for discrete units of time. Instead of devices existing in either an assigned or unassigned state independent of time, a device can be assigned to one Node instance for a specific length of time, then assigned to another instance for another length of time.

With this time dimension, Hierarchy Manager can be used by organizations that require an ever-changing representation of their system. If one tenant moves out and another moves in, that change can be reflected in the hierarchy. Energy and power usage can be tracked for each tenant over time, and billing information can be collected, aggregated, and displayed in a report.

NOTE: If your hierarchy does not change over time you do not need to set the date ranges for the various devices or Node instances. In Power Monitoring Expert, these static hierarchies exist from the date when the system was first commissioned (system start), to the farthest date the system recognizes (end of time).

Replacing or reconfiguring a device can also be captured in a hierarchy. If a device requires replacement or reconfiguring, it can be unassigned from an instance on a specific date, and the new or reconfigured device assigned to the same instance. The entry for the unassigned device is grayed-out and italicized in the hierarchy if the End Date is the current date or earlier.

Dynamic hierarchies are established when you create or edit the properties of a Node instance that is associated with a device. For example, if Customer A is set to lease a rack from a data center, you can assign the racks and circuits to that customer on a specific date. When tenant A's lease expires, you can remove the assignment of the racks and circuits on the expiration date and reallocate them to tenant B.

See Creating a hierarchy for details on how to use the dynamic hierarchies function.