“A picture is worth a thousand words” is an old English language adage, which brings in new perspective for a DCIM equipped with the 3D tool for Data Center visualization. For teams having to manage a data center remotely, the 2D and 3D visualization of their data center has become a matter of necessity, rather than of choice, especially when multiple data centers are involved.
A recent blog on this topic came up with a question “.. do 3D views have real value for the data center? ”. Come to think of it, the 3D view comes with a host of benefits, even beyond the advantages of computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
The human brain is able to respond much faster to a visual description in 3 dimensions rather than a string of messages in text. With the objective of equipping data center managers in making quick, yet fully informed decisions, DCIM developers saw the practical advantage of building 2D and 3D visual tools for effective Data Center Infra Management. Today, we have DCIMs with fully-integrated, browser-based 3D Modeling and management environments for Data centers. Built well, the tool is fast, reliable and also becomes the base for enhanced data center planning and analytics.
Whether for day-to-day Data center monitoring activities or for Asset management, the 3D view has become an indispensable tool for the Data center team.
3D View for effective Data Center Monitoring:
A 3 dimensional view of the data center on your browser, allows you to virtually walk through the Data center, even when you are miles away from the actual site. Zoom in, Zoom out, Rotate and examine an interactive, isometric view of your data center.
As one virtually walks through the racks, the user is allowed to ‘see’ live, the rack’s vital statistics such as temperatures, humidity, power loads on each Rack. If the key metrics on any rack, should breach preset threshold values, a visual alert notification, in the form of a change in color code for the affected rack or u-space alerts the user and helps him quickly isolate the area. This visual, accurately directs emergency response teams to the exact Row/Rack or u-space, to investigate and resolve the issue in its incipient stage, before the situation builds up into a major breakdown or failure, thus enhancing uptime and Data center resilience.
Overall, 3D in DCIM offers a comprehensive, real-time view into data center operations. Further on, one can use real-time data and forecasting to find, analyze, and resolve future problems. Get clear insights into all mission critical systems, such as real-time temperature mapping capability in 3 dimensions, for early identification of hot spots, forming anywhere across the room void.
3D View for Enhanced Data Center Asset Management:
The 3D picture conveys its meaning or essence more effectively than a wordy description does. With the 3D Rack elevation, one can virtually ‘open’ a rack and ‘see’ which IT asset is placed at which u-space. Rotate the Rack and view rear fascia of each IT device, with available power and LAN ports. View placement of other rack based facility devices like UPS or iPDU strips.
This visualization equips data center operators with the information required to make well informed, timely decisions. Activate 3D Reports to optimize asset placement based on the availability of U-Spaces, real-time power, ports, and more. This in-turn improves the longevity and availability of data center infrastructure. Get a quick insight into the spatial distribution of assets across the data center. For eg: distribution of Assets by manufacturer – in color codes across the data center, distribution of Assets by type, age, business groups, weight, u-space utilization, rated rack power, etc.,
Create, modify, move, and decommission assets from within the 3D environment. Create a virtual test model DC or ‘what-if’ Scenario in 3D. Test your virtual Data center for single points of failure, hot spots, power overloads, power trips, obstructions to air-flow, all across the 3 dimensions of the room void, before actually effecting changes on the ground.
Beyond managing an existing Data center, Planners also use the 3D simulation tool for planning relocation, expansions or building a whole new Data Center. The Data center model is first built and tested as a virtual model, based on rated power, rated heat loads and other associated metrics, to ensure a first time right design before execution.
DCIM driven 3D management for Data centers is here to stay and now, with AI influencing the operation and design of modern data centers, there is no looking back.