Remote - Summer 2012 - (Page 6)

Feature Article Jefferie K. Mitchell, Technical Communications Manager Geist DCiM Remote Monitoring in Data Centers Progresses With Emerging DCiM Systems An NMS and BMS can work hand-in-hand or as standalone systems based on the deployment. Traditionally both a BMS and an NMS are implemented in a data center to monitor and control their respective areas (i.e., facilities and IT). Each system is completely separate and run by different teams, both with their own set of priorities and concerns. However, monitoring these critical systems with two separate systems poses a number of problems, the biggest being that it limits visualization into the holistic environment of a data center. For example, many times smaller companies might implement either an NMS or a BMS as their primary form of monitoring critical systems and have the latter system communicate up to it based on the expertise of the data center manager. This blending of systems causes blind spots in the overall picture of the facility operations and capabilities. The forced communication can run into a number of problems such as missed critical data, user error when reviewing data and communication errors. Larger companies or companies whose business it is to run data centers (e.g., colocation sites) are more likely to have full departments or divisions for an NMS and BMS. While dedicating full teams of people to each system can be effective, it can also cause knowledge gaps in data center management due to implementing two separate systems with different communication protocols, insufficient human communication between teams and overlooked critical data points. In recent years, the emergence of Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCiM) systems has begun to close the gap between these two traditionally disparate systems. This new technology collects data from both NMS and BMS resources for a more comprehensive view of the data center and the complex interactions between IT and facilities. DCiM is a broadly defined term that blankets a large industry of products, services and features. A comprehensive DCiM solution should tie information together from both facilities and IT departments to provide a holistic view into data center management. A DCiM system specializes in alarm management and the aggregation of data across multiple sites via multiple communication protocols. Although it can act as a stand-alone system, a DCiM system is designed as a proactive monitoring addition meant to complement a BMS or NMS and does not purport to handle full scale building controls. Examples of DCiM system features include: • Gather, trend, alarm and report on live data from both IT and facilities based equipment • Model environments and carry out “what if” scenarios • Measure and project capacity in cooling, space, network, and power • Automate provisioning of assets (where new assets should be placed) • Identify underutilized assets (stranded power capacity, space, CPU processor, storage, etc.) • Automate business process including change management control • Provide visualization tool sets to to distill important information • Control and automate various elements to reduce power consumption NMS and BMS Interaction Network Management Systems (NMS) and Building Management Systems (BMS) are critical to maintaining uptime in data centers. While both systems monitor important points in the data center, they each have specific purposes with different objectives. Recently, the emergence of data center infrastructure management (DCiM) systems have allowed data center managers to gain a more comprehensive picture of the interaction between these two traditionally disparate systems. As a result, DCiM systems have caused remote monitoring to become more commonplace than ever before. As remote monitoring for data centers becomes the standard rather than the exception, it opens a large opportunity for new technology. In order to understand how DCiM systems have emerged and the purpose they fill, it is important to understand what an NMS and BMS refer to, the role each play in data center management, and the gaps they leave in managing the critical infrastructure of a data center. Traditionally, NMSs allow users to globally manage IT assets across an enterprise. An NMS is responsible for network performance, routers, bandwidth, throughput and other devices on the network. An NMS also allows key views into IT assets including: • Processor utilization • Memory allocation and utilization • Storage capacity • Services and performance • Nameplate data An NMS provides historical information, real-time data and visualization tools to allow IT managers to manage and control all aspects of the IT infrastructure more effectively. A BMS is designed for building automation and control. BMSs tend to control processes like chilled water systems, HVAC systems, lighting, etc. They are focused and designed with control and automation as the primary function; but monitoring, while inherent in the systems, often receives less attention. Many of these systems can handle information regarding power but either have a limited capacity, or an expensive growth path to adequately illuminate the entire power chain from utility to outlet. Since a BMS is focused on control, the systems and services that are required are sophisticated and specialized and can be extremely expensive when compared with a DCiM system. A BMS generally does not support SNMP natively so it has a hard time communicating with any IT related gear. A BMS will allow for some amount of historical trending, but the reporting of this data is typically used to explain why an incident occurred rather than to help predict and prevent when an incident will occur. Similarly, the alarming functionality of these systems is usually reactive to a problem that has occurred rather than functioning as a warning system to a potential problem. 6 www.RemoteMagazine.com Network Management Systems (NMS) DCiM Systems Emerging in Data Centers Building Management Systems (BMS) http://www.RemoteMagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Remote - Summer 2012

Remote - Summer 2012
Remote Monitoring in Data Centers Progresses with Emerging DCiM Systems
Multi-Tenant Power Metering and Management
Addressing Cyber Security Vulnerabilities in the Power Grid Infrastructure
Unbreakable SCADA Security: Protecting Hydrocarbon Facilities And Pipeline Networks
Building Networks in Pakistan’s Extreme Environments Puts Remote Management to the Test
In the Flow - Water Treatment & Distribution at Super-Rimiez Plant
SCADA
Networking
Security
Onsite Power
Environmental Monitoring
Industry News
Reducing Maintenance and Energy Costs of Substations with Automation

Remote - Summer 2012