Data Center Journal

Volume 30 | February 2014

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28 | THE DATA CENTER JOURNAL www.datacenterjournal.com provide detailed information on your as- sets that you can use to determine where new devices should go without having to walk the data center floor. e man-hours saved will allow staff to work on other priorities that better meet the needs of the business. And, as a result of having all of your device information at your fingertips, you will no longer need to invest count- less hours surveying cabinets for device information during annual or semi-annual audits. While internal audits and meeting industry regulations were once costly and time consuming, DCIM allows audits to be performed in minutes by querying your DCIM database and creating publishable reports for stakeholders. Maintaining high availaBility Maintaining high availability is the mother of all data center commandments. While in the past over-provisioning al- lowed companies to meet this requirement, it oen did so to the detriment of other growth initiatives, and carried high costs and grave environmental consequences. A DCIM solution not only allows companies to use their resources more intelligently, it also allows them to provide an even higher level of availability and faster Mean Time To Restore (MTTR). For instance, a DCIM solution can provide a better understanding of all of the devices in your power chain through visual mappings that allow you to quickly recognize how everything is connected. at makes it easier to understand what devices will be impacted by routine main- tenance or equipment failure, and makes it easier and faster to pinpoint the source of a problem and bring devices back up during planned and unplanned events. How much of an impact does a DCIM solution provide when it comes to minimizing downtime? A recent industry report shows that 91% of U.S. data centers have experienced an unplanned outage in the past two years, with data centers losing over $7900 per minute of downtime. But for data centers with an active DCIM solu- tion, the average downtime duration was only 43 minutes vs 107 minutes for those without one. It's a savings that's too big to ignore. otheR Rois to ConsiDeR Beyond these common use cases, a high-value DCIM solution can also propel your data center past the age of over-pro- visioning by assisting operators with faster new application rollouts, accurate cus- tomer charge-backs, and vendor agnostic management, automation and integration, providing additional ongoing returns on the initial project investment. New application rollouts can be a major undertaking for organizations due to the increased frequency at which they are being requested nowadays. Behind those requests are oen revenue generating applications the company is relying upon and rightly hold deadlines for launch. DCIM solutions can help staff quickly and accurately provision the space and hardware required, ensuring a successful deployment. Providing accurate chargebacks was once a difficult task to accomplish. In the past, bills were split equally regardless of who consumed the most power. But with a DCIM solution, organizations are able to collect accurate information on power consumption for each device and bill the appropriate department or customer on a monthly basis, making it a much easier process that helps drive energy efficient behavior. Vendor agnostic management, automation and integration will provide several distinct advantages. It reduces the complexity of a DCIM deployment since the system can upload floor maps and equipment information without manual entry. It allows you to collect power, health, and environmental data on all devices regardless of make or model. And, it allows you the flexibility to add the right hardware for your needs instead of locking you in to a specific vendor. CReating the Data CenteR of toMoRRow Moving past the age of over-provi- sioning and into the energy and resource efficient data center of tomorrow through a DCIM solution is not a linear path. Instead it's a gradual, iterative process that allows organizations to tackle the most harrow- ing issues individually, and in a phased approach that minimizes any potential disruptions to day-to-day operations. Be- yond the initial capital investment, it also requires buy-in from groups and individu- als at all levels of the organization to make it a successful endeavor, and the resolve to continue to improve and build upon the success of the past. But, as you undoubt- edly see by now, the return on a DCIM solution has never been higher. n about the author: Michael Bord is a technology writer, ardent futurist, and member of Raritan's data center infrastructure management (DCIM) marketing team. Raritan's DCIM solution provides real-time information about your facilities, networks and IT equipment. It allows you to identify, locate, visualize, and manage all physical data center assets, quickly provision new equipment, and confidently plan capacity for future growth. And it provides real-time energy, power, and environmental management, helping you increase to operational efficiency. To learn more visit: www.raritandcim.com

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