Console management can help in consolidated data centers
By Donna DonnawitzOctober 17, 2012
Data center consolidation has been rising fast as an industry trend. The concept is simple - using virtualization and advanced network capabilities, IT leaders can optimize server utilization rates and keep more data in less hardware. The equipment takes up much less physical space, consolidating monolithic data centers into a single efficient facility.
Getting started with consolidation
If you want to get a good start on a consolidation process, it is vital that you plan effectively. A recent Network World report explained that the first step in any successful consolidation project is to figure out what you want to get out of the process. Once you have that primary goal as a vision, you can begin working on the procedures necessary to make the solution work.
If you want to consolidate your data center effectively, you have to know what you have in your various facilities. The report explained that everything from employee knowledge and expertise to the equipment in all data centers involved in the project needs to be evaluated as part of a consolidation effort.
The next step is, once again, strategic. The news source said you have to go from knowing who and what you have available in the consolidation process to creating a detailed strategy that will help you smoothly transition everything to the central facility.
With these early steps handled well, the consolidation project is off to a good start and you are ready to begin thinking about what the final data center will really look like.
Considering console management
One thing you will probably realize once you take a close look at your new consolidated data center is that it is much more complex than your previous facilities. What's more, the data center will probably need more power, have more temperature issues and demand a higher efficiency rate. Without a dedicated effort to make the consolidated data center as efficient as possible, you could find yourself dealing with escalating energy costs and maintenance problems.
Console server systems can help. Using the network, you can connect everything from the lighting system to chiller technologies and, of course, the actual servers, to a console management platform that allows you to control everything about the facility remotely. This lets you manage the data center much more efficiently than if you had to be physically present to make changes, helping to alleviate some of the complexity challenges that come with consolidated architectures.
Perle’s wide range of 1 to 48 port Perle Console Servers provide data center managers and network administrators with secure remote management of any device with a serial console port. Plus, they are the only truly fault tolerant Console Servers on the market with the advanced security functionality needed to easily perform secure remote data center management and out-of-band management of IT assets from anywhere in the world.
Getting started with consolidation
If you want to get a good start on a consolidation process, it is vital that you plan effectively. A recent Network World report explained that the first step in any successful consolidation project is to figure out what you want to get out of the process. Once you have that primary goal as a vision, you can begin working on the procedures necessary to make the solution work.
If you want to consolidate your data center effectively, you have to know what you have in your various facilities. The report explained that everything from employee knowledge and expertise to the equipment in all data centers involved in the project needs to be evaluated as part of a consolidation effort.
The next step is, once again, strategic. The news source said you have to go from knowing who and what you have available in the consolidation process to creating a detailed strategy that will help you smoothly transition everything to the central facility.
With these early steps handled well, the consolidation project is off to a good start and you are ready to begin thinking about what the final data center will really look like.
Considering console management
One thing you will probably realize once you take a close look at your new consolidated data center is that it is much more complex than your previous facilities. What's more, the data center will probably need more power, have more temperature issues and demand a higher efficiency rate. Without a dedicated effort to make the consolidated data center as efficient as possible, you could find yourself dealing with escalating energy costs and maintenance problems.
Console server systems can help. Using the network, you can connect everything from the lighting system to chiller technologies and, of course, the actual servers, to a console management platform that allows you to control everything about the facility remotely. This lets you manage the data center much more efficiently than if you had to be physically present to make changes, helping to alleviate some of the complexity challenges that come with consolidated architectures.
Perle’s wide range of 1 to 48 port Perle Console Servers provide data center managers and network administrators with secure remote management of any device with a serial console port. Plus, they are the only truly fault tolerant Console Servers on the market with the advanced security functionality needed to easily perform secure remote data center management and out-of-band management of IT assets from anywhere in the world.
