Branch Office Remote Management
Remote system management is an
increasingly important issue facing many businesses
today. As corporate consolidation integrates additional
locations within the same infrastructure, IT
professionals face a more demanding environment. Recent
surveys show that as many as 95 percent of branch
offices operate without on-site IT personnel (1).
Additionally, other surveys indicate that while spending
on corporate IT staff still constitutes the largest
component of most IT budgets, it continues to
decline—from 42 percent in 2005 to 37 percent this past
year. (2) These trends require IT
professionals to do more with less and determine more
effective ways to perform critical tasks.
These changes in IT staffing often result in
non-technical personnel performing standard tasks, such
as data backup, patch management, and system
maintenance. Not only do these tasks detract from an
employee’s primary responsibilities, it is difficult to
assure that best practices and procedures are followed.
In addition, failure to perform these tasks could result
in vulnerabilities related to data loss and security.
In addressing the challenges and risks associated with
remote site management, many IT professionals are
implementing ‘intelligent’ management solutions. These
solutions provide systems administrators with remote,
bios-level access to all of their servers, network
devices, and other critical equipment.
Remote management solutions offer significant benefits, including:
-
Reducing downtime and allowing
administrators to bring equipment back online quickly
-
Decreasing operating costs
by eliminating or reducing the need for IT staff or
third-party service calls
-
Centralizing datacenter
control, improving security and providing easier and
more efficient processes to perform system
administration, maintenance, and upgrades
-
Improving physical site security
and monitoring, minimizing capital loss
due to vandalism or theft of equipment (3)
Remote management solutions generally
combine remote management, intelligent power, and environmental
monitoring. Below are example solutions from
Avocent and
Raritan
that enable IT professionals to easily integrate their
remote locations into their centralized management
process, as well as standalone solutions offered by
other vendors.
Integrated Remote Management
Solutions
Avocent
-
Remote Management: Avocent’s
DSView
3 software provides an integrated platform for managing
KVM switches,
service processor aggregation appliances, and serial
devices. Avocent’s
DSR
switches provide remote bios-level server and serial
device control, and its service processor aggregation
appliances, the
OnBoard and the
MergePoint, can be used to remotely manage devices with
integrated onboard technologies.
-
Power: Avocent’s Cyclades
AlterPath
PM intelligent power distribution units enable remote
power management and control of servers and network
devices. AlterPath PM devices can be used with DSR switches
and Cyclades console servers and integrate with DSView
3, combining system access and power control into a
single interface. These devices come in both 208 and
110 models, with many variations in number of outlets
and amperage available.
-
Console: Avocent’s Cyclades
ACS console
servers are available in single and dual power supply
options. When combined with integrated power management
and centralized administration, these devices provide
secure and consolidated out-of-band infrastructure management.
ACS console servers use a Linux operating system, are
accessible both in-band and out-of-band, and
have detailed logging capabilities and numerous security features.
Raritan
-
Remote Management:
Raritan’s
CommandCenter Secure Gateway Appliance provides
centralized management of servers and IT devices managed
by Raritan Dominion series switches and console servers,
as well as IT equipment with service processors and
embedded technologies. The CommandCenter can also integrate
remote power strips connected to Raritan Dominion products.
The CommandCenter features 128-bit encryption and third-party
authentication through Active Directory, TACACS+, LDAP,
and RADIUS, and provides strong password support.
-
Power: Raritan's remote
power switches enable the remote monitoring, reboot,
and shutdown of all connected devices. Using the Command
Center, they integrate with
Dominion
KX switches and SX console servers, as well as other
Raritan products, such as the
Paragon II
and IP Reach
switches. These devices feature relay-controlled
AC power receptacles, which allow administrators to
monitor variables such as voltage, power, and temperature.
-
Console: Raritan’s Dominion
SX and XRO devices provide out-of-band remote KVM access
and serial device control, power control, and feature
a modem for access if a network goes down.
Dominion XRO devices allow 1 digital and 1 local
user to control 1-3 servers and 4-8 serial devices and
integrate with the CommandCenter Secure Gateway Appliance.
Standalone Solutions
Centralized KVM Over IP Management –Minicom
Minicom’s KVM.net
device allows administrators to leverage their existing
investments by providing front-end out-of-band KVM over
IP management for mixed server environments.
KVM.net
provides secure, centralized management with a Linux-based
GUI, and is a scalable system that features automatic discovery
of all IP devices attached to the system. The device provides
authentication and authorization mechanisms for secure access
to servers, “non-blocking” access, and the capability to
group users and servers.
Environmental Monitoring—Netbotz
NetBotz provides robust standalone
environmental monitoring solutions. For smaller spaces
with limited future expandability needs, the
Netbotz 320
provides integrated environmental monitoring (temperature,
humidity, dew point, airflow, door, and audio) with a web
interface that provides immediate sensor readings, real-time
camera images, and immediate configuration. The
NetBotz 420
offers similar functions for small to medium-sized spaces
that require comprehensive monitoring with moderate expandability
potential. For larger spaces, the docked camera pods and
sensor pods of the
WallBotz
500 can be placed up to 340 feet from a base station,
allowing coverage of multiple rooms or cabinets. An add-on
CCTV adapter allows a CCTV camera to be used as well.
Intelligent Power—Server Technology
Server Technology’s
remote power
management solutions allow administrators to cycle power
to non-responsive systems from any location via a web interface.
These products also leverage leading advances in power distribution,
such as 3-Phase power, branch circuit protection, and intelligent
power-up sequencing.
Server Technology
also offers environmental monitoring devices that work with
its power solutions, such as onboard probes that integrate
with the
Power Tower XL, allowing administrators to view temperature,
humidity, water sensors, and dry contact closure sensors
from its Enterprise View software, the same interface used
to manage and monitor power.
Which of These Solutions Is Right For You?
42U provides complete remote
management solutions, including KVM over IP, intelligent
power, environmental monitoring,
rack cooling,
and rackmount solutions. The team at 42U specializes in
assessing needs, creating solutions, and supporting clients,
to ensure that IT professionals maximize their use of current
technologies to improve overall business performance. A
42U sales engineer can help you sort through potential remote
management solutions and select the one most appropriate
for your organization’s particular needs and environment.
References
(1) (2006) Gareiss, R. "Branch Office Support: A Distant
Reality", Network World,
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/branch/2006/1120branch1.html
(2) (2007) Rothberg, D. “Companies Will Spend More on The
Channel, Less on Staff in 2007”, eWeek,
http://www.esp.eweek.com/article/CIOs+Will+Spend+More+on+the+Channel+Less+on+Staff+
in+2007/198665_1.aspx
(3) (2005) Hack, T. "Optimizing Remote Site Equipment Configuration,
Monitoring, and Control." Remote Site and Equipment Management,
http://www.remotemagazine.com/images/EasternResearchJune2005.pdf
This article was written by Lauren Nowenstein, Technical
Writer, with guidance and input from DirectNET’s team of
Solutions Sales Engineers. If you would like to send us
feedback about this article, or have any questions, please
write to
us.
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