What is the benefit of connecting both power supplies of a blade server to separate UPS units?

Connecting both power supplies of a blade server to separate UPS units offers significant advantages in terms of fault tolerance. When each power supply is connected to a different uninterruptible power supply (UPS), the server's reliability is enhanced. If one UPS fails or experiences an issue, the other UPS can continue to provide the necessary power to keep the server operational without interruption. This redundancy is crucial for maintaining uptime and ensuring that critical systems continue to run smoothly, which is especially important in environments where data loss or downtime can have severe consequences.

Additionally, this configuration supports high availability, which is a key factor in data center operations. In the event of maintenance or unexpected power disruptions, the blade server remains protected and functional, mitigating risks associated with single points of failure.

The other options do not directly relate to the primary advantage of the redundant power connection. Improved cooling systems and reduced energy consumption are more related to the general design and operation of the data center rather than specifically to power supply configurations. Decreased physical space requirements may also not be achieved by using separate UPS units, as having multiple power sources could potentially increase space utilization rather than decrease it.