Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Relevance for Smaller Data Centers
An often asked question: Is DCIM overkill for data centers that have less than 1000 square feet white space or those with connected power less than 500 KW? This question comes up because of a commonly held myth that DCIM is only about power savings. The argument here...
Shocking Critical Infrastructure Failures
This was my first time at AFCOM’s Data Center World. Held in Las Vegas between 28th April and 2nd May, 2014 it was refreshingly different from other conferences as sponsor speakers could not advertise their wares during their speaking sessions. The sessions were aptly...
A New Fiscal, a New Web Site and new DCIM Features
We launched a new web site this month. The new content reflects the new capabilities of our DCIM Software, GFS Crane. We have extended monitoring to every critical infrastructure device supporting a data center, including DG sets. We have added multi-tenancy and we...
The Future Role of DCIM in the Cloud
As Cloud Computing becomes mainstream, we would see a changing role of Data Center Infrastructure Management software. While today’s DCIM Software is like an ERP for Data Centers, the Next Gen DCIM Software will be like Supply Chain Management to manage data centers...
Key Success Factors for DCIM Implementation
Having had a few successful DCIM implementations under our belt now, a few lessons to share: Baseline your existing Data Center: document what systems and procedures are being followed today. For example, how do I keep track of my assets today? Map out your desired...
What is DCIM?
As a DCIM software vendor, I am frequently asked this question, and I have a simple answer. DCIM is ERP for the Data Center Manager. Consider this. Like a manufacturing plant, a Data Center has lots of assets. Both ERP and DCIM help in Asset Management. Just as there...
Tale of Two Disasters
Last month witnessed two catastrophic Data Center disasters, presumably both designed to the highest standards of availability. The first was at RBS Data Center in Edinburgh. There was hint of a fatal human error caused by an inexperienced person while performing...
Going Beyond Virtualization
Virtualization was one of those pioneering efforts that changed the dynamics of computing and introduced significant operational and energy efficiency. There is however a misconception that Data Center energy efficiency measures stop with Virtualization. From server...
The New Generation Data Centers
There’s a pioneering effort going on in building sustainable data centers. Call them the New Generation Data Centers. Here are a few examples: Modular Data Center (MDC): portable, flexible and containerized (integrated with all components) to meet scalability...