Four questions to help you understand what DCIM is?

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Question 1. What is DCIM?

DCIM stands for Data Center Infrastructure Management. DCIM has become a hot topic in the field of data center management in the past two years. It aims to use a unified platform to manage key infrastructure such as UPS, air conditioners and IT infrastructure such as servers, and maximize the operational efficiency and reliability of data centers through data analysis and aggregation.

The concept of DCIM originated abroad, and different organizations have different definitions of DCIM, but the common idea is that DCIM tools can build a bridge between critical infrastructure and IT equipment, thereby helping operators manage data centers.

Gartner defines DCIM as:

Data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools 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]).

Data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools monitor, manage, and control the usage and energy consumption levels of all IT-related equipment (such as servers, storage, and switches) and infrastructure-related equipment (such as PDUs and precision air conditioners) in the data center.

The 451 Group defines DCIM as:

A datacenter infrastructure management system collects and manages information about a datacenter's assets, resource use and operational status. This information is then distributed, integrated, analyzed and applied in ways that help managers meet business and service-oriented goals and optimize the datacenter's performance.

The data center infrastructure system continuously collects and manages the assets, resources, and operating status of various equipment in the data center, and then analyzes and integrates them into useful data to help data center managers manage the data center and optimize performance.

Question 2. What are the major DCIM manufacturers at home and abroad?

Foreign manufacturers with DCIM solutions include Schneider Electric, Emerson, CA Technologies, CommScope, Siemens, Raritan, Datcent, Panduit, etc. At the same time, Intel is also an active advocate of DCIM and has licensed its Node Manager technology to Fieldview Solutions, iTRACS, JouleX, PowerAssure, Modius, CiRBA, Viridity and other manufacturers, which has received market response and support.

The main domestic manufacturers are Huawei and Shenzhen Gongji Technology Co., Ltd. In addition, some domestic manufacturers of data center dynamic environment monitoring systems have also launched DCIM solutions.

Question 3. What important values ​​does DCIM provide to IT companies?

DCIM mainly provides the following important values ​​to IT companies:

1. Provides continuous re-optimization of data center power, cooling, and physical space usage, which can help save money for expanding existing data centers or building new ones.

2. Integrate IT and data center facilities management. This helps to narrow the distance between IT managers and facilities managers, providing them with information and analysis, and bringing these two interrelated positions back together.

3. Achieve greater energy efficiency. The energy cost savings alone are reason enough for companies to consider purchasing DCIM tools, not to mention that these tools also provide other benefits that may be more difficult to quantify, such as improved workflows.

4. Model and/or simulate data centers so IT managers and facilities managers can analyze “what-if” scenarios.

5. Enhance resource and asset management by showing how resources/assets are related.

Question 4: What are the common misunderstandings in selecting and deploying DCIM solutions?

Through research, we found that end users tend to have the following three types of misunderstandings when evaluating and deploying DCIM solutions:

One is choosing the wrong solution. There are many DCIM vendors and solutions on the market (+WeChat to follow the online world), and the number is growing. These DCIM solutions look the same and different, which often confuses users. In any case, when choosing a specific DCIM solution, users should examine whether the DCIM solution has certain basic characteristics, such as scalability, modularity, standardization, prefabrication, open communication architecture, etc.

The second is the use of inadequate or mismatched processes. End users should plan, create and support the DCIM solution implementation process and daily operation process from a long-term perspective.

Third, lack of necessary attention and unclear responsibilities will also lead to the tool suite selected by users failing to provide the original design functions properly. In fact, the data center facilities department, IT department and management team should all participate in the evaluation phase. They must reach a consensus on the needs, goals and implementation plans of the enterprise organization and designate the person in charge of each process.