Data center management gimmick or necessity

Much has changed since the first data centers were built. The original data center was constructed decades ago, with the concept dating back to the early stages of the computing industry. Today, the data center is the backbone for most activities, and more. 

The increasing thirst for knowledge and time reduction in every aspect of our lives has created a need for larger, faster, bigger and more powerful data centers. This, however, is in direct contradiction with the macro environment.

As our world suffers from global environment changes, and financial instability, the demand for storage space, speed, bandwidth and security increases. Added to that is the demand to cut the cost of space, power, and cooling to protect the environment, without compromising reliability. New market trends such as web services and cloud computing have also meant further changes and drastic measures to be taken to cope with all the emerging requirements.

Today's data center design and implementation is state of the art.  It requires knowledge in many disciplines, covering different areas of expertise.  As Computer Aided Design (CAD) has evolved from old-fashioned paper, so too has the data center. In today's world this means that the data center requires smart mechanisms to help manage it and assist organizations in staying on top of the game. Various solutions are currently available, starting with sophisticated software aided tools for design monitoring and control, to state of the art physical hardware that assists in the day–to-day operations of the data center. 

Some of the ways in which data centers meet the above requirements, include:

• The CPU's have evolved tremendously both in performance and power consumption, this allows for better integration of the servers which now have multiple CPU's and extremely large memory banks.
• Storage has reached maximum density performance and cost is almost unlimited.
• The backbones have reached GIGABIT and even TERABIT bandwidths.
• The routing engines are efficient and fast.
• New technologies have migrated into the switches and backbones, allowing them to have optimal integration.
• The port capacity per data center has reached new limits.
• Space is used more efficiently than ever before, allowing emerging UPS and PDU technologies, and new cooling technologies to have higher density structures within a given space.

It is almost impossible today to manage a modern data center without management tools. These tools are divided into hardware and software solutions. Starting with design and optimization of a modern data center, to monitoring, maintenance and alerts, and ends with state of the art analysis, control and management of all functions within the data center and the organization.

There many software and hardware solutions currently on the market that manage the various aspects of the data center. However, RiT's CenterMind concept is revolutionary combining all the requirements of the modern data center into one system.  

Does your infrastructure operate as a single system?

Recently, Data Center Pulse released its annual “Top 10” priorities for data center users. Amongst many priorities for the data center user, the list features “converged infrastructure intelligence”. Operators are expected to start treating their infrastructure as a single system. While Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) is part of this factor, Data Center Pulse reports that it is important to standardize connections and protocols to connect components.

Emerson Network Power also reported in its list of 10 Common Data Center Surprises*, that “IT and infrastructure systems still can work independently, but to truly leverage the full extent of their capabilities, integration is imperative.” David Kelly, from Liebert-ENP stated, “the data center is one of the most dynamic and critical operations in any business.” Surely then one would need a dynamic system that finally converges and integrates all the functions and systems into one?

RiT’s CenterMind™ does just that. It provides a single, comprehensive solution for managing diverse aspects of the data center – “as one single system”. It provides a holistic view of and access to one’s entire data center. Operators have a chance to have full command and control of the network connectivity, including: service status, asset utilization, environment and power management as well as up to date location of IP-based equipment.

Furthermore, RiT’s hardware line, which meets all the industry standards and protocols, offers a highly flexible topology. This enables hardware configuration to best meet your needs.


For further information on the RiT’s hardware line, click here.


* http://www.ecnmag.com/News/Feeds/2012/03/applications-power-emerson-network-power-addresses-10-common-data-cen/

Are Data Centers Becoming More “Power” Friendly?

A new research report by TechNavio on Global Next-Generation Data Center Market* has recently been released, which shows an increase of 19.7 percent in the overall market (this is as apposed to the 25.7% increase in DCIM equipment alone). The growth, it shows, is influenced by green data center initiatives to enhance power savings. As every data center manager knows, there are many facets that are involved in a data center, with many solutions on offer to help with those needs. What the market clearly demands however, is a solution that could ideally manage the power savings while providing all its other challenging requirements.

Fortunately RiT Technologies has already developed such a solution. The new CenterMind P+ is ideal for managing power consumption – even from remote locations. Meanwhile, the CenterMind software, offers a comprehensive set of tools to help manage and control every other aspect of the data center.  

The CenterMind P+ features management of a wide choice of power distribution units (PDUs) suited to a variety of data center and computer room requirements. It offers a solution to reduce power expenses while improving the green performance of the data center. Furthermore, it enables better provisioning and fast action to prevent disasters from occurring.

As data centers are responsible for a large part of the world’s carbon footprint, managing power has become an imperative. It is no longer a choice any longer. Even the likes of Facebook and Google are becoming more “green” friendly. It is not only useful, but could save your organizations much time, cost and effort in knowing  that there is a solution that combines all your needs in one.

For more information

Join Us in Mumbai

This year RiT Technologies is one of the Platinum Sponsors for the DatacenterDynamics Converged conference, taking place in Mumbai on May 25^th, 2012.

We are eagerly anticipating the presentation of our new CTO Dr. Erez Ben-Eshay who will discuss the micro versus macro approach to data center management. Discover the ultimate method to use to obtain the maximum returns from your infrastructure.

Preparations are also in full force to showcase our new DCIM, CenterMind™, at our stand. You will be able to view our comprehensive solutions for managing diverse aspects of the data center. 

BONUS: You may even win an iPad3 when you visit our stand! To participate in the lottery, attend our presentation and visit our stand at the exhibition hall.

Even if you do not take part in the lottery – just stop by and say hello.

We look forward to seeing you in Mumbai! 

Reducing Expenses – For Real

Everyone wants to do more for less money. It is a constant challenge to accomplish more, using less space and fewer expenses. A recent report by TechNavio* revealed that the data center infrastructure management software market is heading for about a 25.7% growth between 2011 and 2015. One of the key factors contributing to this growth, it states, is fuelled by an increasing need to reduce operating expenses. 

Without question there are many companies and providers claiming to be in the sector of DCIM, with many professing to reduce operating expenses. One may even presume the market is over-crowded. However, RiT’s new CenterMind™ clearly shows the difference of managing an entire system, over the ‘management’ of devices in the cabinet. 

A key strength of RiT’s CenterMind is the combination of hardware and software management. Many DCIM software providers work hard on integrating all the third party hardware to their software solutions. As the pioneers of managing the physical layer, RiT has a clear advantage. It brings its experiences of addressing various protocols used by every type of data center hardware and technology, covering all the bases including PDUs. It ensures compatibility and combines all the collective intelligence of every system into one place. 

In a world where many organizations are competing to be thought of as “the company” for reducing expenses, one has already proven itself. Whether it is in reducing downtime with faster problem identification and less human error; saving valuable time in installation; reducing energy consumption; or automating manual processes and making the IT department more efficient… CenterMind™ really can put your mind at rest. 

As a customer reported; “It is very hard to believe that we only need a few staff members now to manage more than 18,000 ports very effectively.” 

(*February 2012)

Introduction: Complete Interaction

Microsoft is adding another data center in Dublin, next to its existing one at a cost of 130 million, which will accommodate servers with power density of up to 1.3 kW per square meter. Apple recently announced that it paid $5.6 million to buy 160 acres of land for a future data center in Prineville. This is the same place that Facebook has a data center, which cost $210 million in the first phase of building what it claims, will be a ‘green’ IT facility.

Companies spend millions, if not billions of dollars on their data centers and more and more are claiming to become “green”. David Chernicoff, a veteran in the technology world, commented on his blog on ZDNet, “It’s not just what their product saves in the way of energy, but how their product interacts with the rest of the data center environment that will define its success at being an energy efficient device.”

RiT’s new CenterMind encapsulates Chernicoff’s comments perfectly. How many of these companies that are spending millions of dollars on their data centers are ensuring the products that go in, are interacting efficiently with each other? RiT’s solution focuses on the entire data center from a single, comprehensive management solution. It reveals all the systems’ and infrastructure’s interactions, giving a complete view of the entire infrastructure.

The CenterMind solution gives the IT management full command and control of the entire network. This includes not only environment and power management to make your data center properly ‘green’, but involves connectivity, service status, asset utilization, and up to date location of the IP-based equipment. As one of our customers commented, “With RiT’s solution, we have established a platform that smoothly integrates all our organizational networks into a single highly controllable unit.”

Keep a look out for the next few blog posts which will demonstrate the advantages and unique functionality that RiT’s solutions bring to a new phase in data center management.