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Remotely Manage the Servers
and Devices in your Branch Offices
by 42U
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 Power Management
- 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 Power Management
- 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
About 42U
42U focuses on providing Facilities and Data
Center Managers with objective and trusted independent
information on
Data Center Power and
Data
Center Cooling best practices along with
KVM over
IP and
Remote
Power lights out management to help them reduce
their organization's power consumption. Our
Data Center Management
website has helped millions of IT professionals globally
who search for best practices and technologies to help
them make their computer environment more efficient.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0
Unported License.
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