DCIM software for data center challenges

In their last DCIM Magic Quadrant report, industry experts at Gartner define DCIM as “tools (that) monitor, measure, manage and/or control data center utilization and energy consumption of all IT-related equipment (such as servers, storage, and network switches) and facility infrastructure components (such as power distribution units (PDUs) and computer room air conditioners (CRACs).” The report goes on to make clear DCIM primarily covers “the equipment that provides the power, cooling, and physical security necessary to keep the IT systems up and running.”

DCIM goes beyond basic device monitoring to enable data center operators to understand what’s happening in their environments, including power and cooling device status. The idea is to help managers prevent problems and to aid in planning for future requirements and optimum equipment placement.

As detailed in a blog post by our colleague, Kevin Brown, customers faced some challenges with traditional DCIM tools, including long deployment times and a high degree of complexity in terms of use and maintenance, including software updates.

Data center management software generally falls into two main categories: monitoring/automation and planning/implementation.  The first category deals with monitoring and automation of the IT room and facility power, environmental control, and security. It helps ensure the data center is operating as designed and provides user-configurable thresholds for alarms on physical devices, including heat, ventilation, and air conditioning. It also reports on real-time, average, and peak power use, and measures power usage effectiveness (PUE).  Planning and implementation software focuses on helping IT managers facilitate data center changes, deploy new equipment for peak efficiency, and track assets. It supports “what-if” scenarios to help with planning and reduce the total cost of ownership.

DCIM helps customers with four key pain points: 

• Preventing downtime.
• Lack of remote monitoring and management.
• Managing equipment from multiple vendors.
• Dealing with a large number of sites with limited or no IT staff.

There isn’t just one solution for protecting your IT infrastructure from security risks. Your approach should be multi-layered.

Physical security is the first line of defense. Your assets may be remote, so to avoid data loss and prevent downtime, you need a way to keep an eye on them at all times. Equipping them with high-quality, integrated video surveillance systems enables remote, real-time monitoring, so you can watch out for unusual activity and badged rack-access control helps mitigate unauthorized access. And we can’t ignore the threat of environmental factors like temperature, humidity, smoke, and water, which pose a significant threat to the company’s IT infrastructure.

Then there is the logical layer. DCIM solutions such as secure, cloud-based, end-to-end monitoring software centralize the management of appliances deployed across various locations, enabling always-on-site monitoring to prevent failure and resolve issues quickly.

Consider both cybersecurity and physical security as equally important parts of the equation to avoid downtime and disruption.

As data centers increasingly become standardized and modular, the need to assemble a suite of DCIM solutions will be reduced as some functions become implemented as firmware within data center modules and other DCIM functions, such as analytics, become available via cloud services. It is important to recognize this trend now and assure that the kinds of solutions implemented now will seamlessly carry over into next-generation data centers without dramatically changing data center operating practices and processes. Although the exact methods and standards used in future data centers are not yet determined, it is possible to identify a number of key characteristics that tools selected today must have in order to be prepared for the future and be effective today:

• Scalable, modular, flexible system.
• Open communication architecture.
• Standardized, pre-engineered design.
• Active vendor support structure.

Choosing DCIM tools today with these characteristics ensures that business processes, data, and methods will be in line with the expected evolution of DCIM.

DCIM solutions are often sought by data center managers to fill a gap in their operational processes, such as:

• Inventory/asset management.
• System configuration.
• Alarm integration.
• Reporting for management or other stakeholders.

Choosing DCIM tools today with these characteristics ensures that business processes, data, and methods will be in line with the expected evolution of DCIM.

DCIM’s functions, tools, and effects span across both facilities and IT — two realms that have traditionally been isolated or segregated from each other. Management can be another “silo” in the organization and should seek buy-in from those who will be required to implement and operate the DCIM system. All sides should be involved in the early evaluation phase to ensure everyone’s needs and expectations are met.

1. Involve IT, facilities, and management from the start of the evaluation phase.
2. Obtain “buy-in” from all sides on the need for DCIM.
3. Agree on DCIM requirements and goals.
4. Work with the vendor to understand the specific requirements needed to achieve goals.
5. Obtain management commitment to provide necessary resources.
6. Name specific owners for processes and procedures.
7. Leverage a vendor to develop the required knowledge on how to operate and maintain the system.

DCIM's effectiveness relies on facilities, IT, and management being involved in the evaluation stage to agree on needs, goals, and implementation plans, as well as determining ownership for all processes.