How to choose DCIM, a data center infrastructure management tool?

DCIM (Data Center Infrastructure Management) is a data center infrastructure management that combines IT (information technology) and equipment management to centrally monitor key data center equipment, perform capacity planning and other centralized management. Through software, hardware and sensors, DCIM provides an independent management platform to monitor and manage data center IT equipment and infrastructure in real time.

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There are many DCIM developers, and the technology is changing with each passing day. The development of IT has also promoted the continuous advancement of DCIM technology. This article will give us some references for the work of DCIM in enterprise data centers.

The deployment of enterprise DCIM has brought significant changes to business processes and company organizational charts. Deploying DCIM in enterprise data centers is a very valuable investment.

There seem to be more and more DCIM tools. In the next two years, data centers around the world will use DCIM tools to better troubleshoot and manage energy conservation. Market research companies predict that in 2016, corporate spending on DCIM will reach $1.8 billion. As more and more companies use DCIM to manage data centers, the market is becoming more and more mixed, and many unreliable developers are also involved. So, how should companies avoid making the wrong choice?

Start small and simple. A DCIM system can solve a specific problem - reducing the power consumption of servers, which in turn will reduce the possibility of hardware failure.

A simple initial deployment can better control the complexity of the project. Collecting performance data of designated servers and devices will increase the transparency of the project and prevent the project from getting out of control. Plan the development of the project from a measurable indicator; more importantly, if the project involves many development directions, doing so can avoid many detours.

Set realistic goals. Most of the early data center infrastructure management tools consisted of software packages for various systems and devices. Integrating such a bunch of tools is a complex task and will take a lot of time. The introduction of DCIM will greatly simplify these tasks.

Expand the scope of management. Data center infrastructure management tools have integrated traditional functions and systems. When implementing DCIM, data center managers need to identify all affected departments. The deployment of DCIM also requires cross-functional cooperation. In the early stage, it may be just a simple technology delivery, such as teaching other departments to adapt, but in the later stage, to integrate into this DCIM system, a cross-functional project manager is needed who can promote and drive the project.

Solve potential failures in the latent stage. Integrate equipment and IT management and simplify. You need to develop a plan and find out the causes of potential problems. Some potential problems cannot be solved by a single person. You need to coordinate the work of the team and develop a new organizational model that combines its functions with the development of the team's work.

This integration doesn’t mean abandoning your existing toolset. Standalone monitoring and management tools have their value and offer many specialized control and reporting capabilities. These systems will help companies collect and consolidate more usage information, but it’s still important to analyze the overall data through DCIM.

Make sure the project has actual operators. Often in DCIM deployment projects, you will encounter the appointment of a manager or cross-functional team to own, deploy, support, maintain and maximize DCIM. This leader must have the ability to complete the entire project.

Choosing Data Center Infrastructure Management Tools

Screen out the five most suitable DCIM suppliers. With the increase in the number of suppliers and the development of the market, more than 50 companies provide DCIM systems. The focus of these suppliers is biased. You should gradually reduce the scope of selection and use the elimination method to screen. In addition, these suppliers often have service systems that provide additional functions, which should be carefully considered.

Pay attention to the continuous development of suppliers. Although the DCIM market is active, the suppliers are not growing steadily. Some businesses with backward technology and insufficient business support may go bankrupt. Therefore, when choosing a supplier, you need to consider the capital and operation and maintenance system behind it, rather than just comparing prices and services. Some suppliers like to use some pretexts to confuse customers.

The importance of an open platform. The DCIM system will eventually be integrated with other tools in the rack, connected to existing management systems, applications and databases. It is very important whether DCIM uses a standard interface. First, communication is convenient. Secondly, it must support at least the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). The original design of network switches and routers all adopted the SNMP protocol, which collects management data from various devices. The DCIM platform should support standard protocols for exchanging management information systems, not just the vendor's own special protocols.