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a full DCIM solution should also include the fundamental capability of tracking assets. 2) The second requirement is data


handling. The broad expansion of DCIM brings with it a data explosion. If you’re really measuring and tracking all aspects of a data center, there’s just too much for anyone to absorb. Most data center equipment is now network-attached and IP-addressable. Air conditioners and UPS systems can deliver as many as 256 data points. Newer computing hardware can spit out mountains of measurements on internal temperatures, airflow, fan speed, and processor utilization. That volume of data is more than you should ever need, or care about, unless you’re a manufacturer gathering a history on wear, performance, and energy efficiency over time. For the average user much of it will be meaningless. However, your DCIM system will need to capture it all in order to avoid missing the parameters that do matter to you.


Choosing Quality Data How do you deal with such large


volumes of data gathered every hour of every day? Turning all that data into information is what really distinguishes an OK DCIM solution from a good one. To be useful as a management tool, all of the physical, electrical, mechanical, and operational aspects need to be integrated and do the following: • Alert you to potential problems before they occur by graphically highlighting indicative anomalies and changes in operating parameters. • Demonstrate the ability to quickly and easily “drill down” to get more detail about any condition, which should be presented in clear graphic format down to the raw data. That’s a challenging programming


task to be sure. With the variety of equipment types and manufacturers that make up a modern data center, just showing pretty 3D pictures and bringing up alarms after problems have already occurred is not enough. What’s important is whether the information necessary to manage operations is all there in the first place. Only then can consideration be given to whether displaying it in 3D adds understanding


and makes it quicker for users to grasp the meaning and take action.


Getting More for Your Dollar Once you determine that a DCIM


system covers the basics, there are three other aspects to make up a robust DCIM system. One is whether you can run “what-if” scenarios to see the effects of adding equipment or see what happens if something in the infrastructure fails. This can be a great help in planning where to locate new hardware. Some systems even have computational fluid dynamics (CFD) integration. A properly constructed CFD model interpreted by someone with solid knowledge of airflow and the CFD system can be a valuable addition. However, CFD is a prime example of “garbage in, garbage out” (GIGO). A CFD model can be constructed to show just about anything as being good or bad, so when it’s part of a DCIM implementation, it must be validated against actual field conditions on a regular basis. The system must also be able


to grow and adapt to future needs. There is always new hardware and a continuous flow of new methods and techniques for modernizing data center infrastructure, so a robust DCIM solution should be able to integrate your future needs. Ideally, this can be done with a modular solution that requires you to buy only the pieces you need at the outset and to grow in a coordinated manner as your requirements change. Finally there’s the initial creation of the fundamental information,


database, graphics, and support required to maintain it going forward. Many DCIM systems fall into disuse because personnel were not available to keep them up-to-date.


How to Make Your Choice It is becoming impractical to run


even a small data center without some form of DCIM. Simply relying on alarms and sporadic readings from equipment display panels is insufficient. Ask yourself how much you need to monitor and what resources are going to be necessary to implement and maintain the level of control you want. If basic monitoring is necessary, it might still be good to look at something that can do more than you initially require; your needs will probably increase over time. But if you know you need a full, robust DCIM tool for use in managing a major operation, what may be most important—after ensuring all necessary interfaces are available—is the way data is translated into information and displayed.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR Robert McFarlane has spent more than 35 years in communications consulting, has experience in every segment of the data center industry, and was a pioneer in developing the field of building cable design. McFarlane also teaches the data center facilities course in the Marist College Institute for Data Center Professional program, is a data center power and cooling expert, and is a corresponding member of ASHRAE TC9.9, which publishes a wide range of industry guidelines.


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