Short for
emergency power off; also referred to as an
EPO switch. A button or switch that shuts down the power in a room or
network of electrical circuits. Typically used in
data centers, where there are large amounts of computers using large amounts of electricity, the EPO is meant to be activated by a human only in emergency situations when it is necessary to cut the power if human life is in jeopardy or if there is the potential for major damage to the building or equipment (e.g., in the case of a fire or electrocution). The sudden loss of power will inevitably lead to the loss of some data, and the EPO is not meant to be used under normal circumstances.
