Network considerations key when managing remote data centers
Console server infrastructure and supporting network systems can enable more control of remote data center systems.
By Max BurkhalterApril 9, 2012
A growing number of businesses are consolidating their IT infrastructure. Organizations are increasingly moving servers, network equipment and other data center hardware to a central headquarters, leaving minimal equipment at each branch office. This makes it much easier to run an efficient data center, but it also consolidates the IT team into a single facility. This poses a major problem because there usually is still some infrastructure at each remote office. When these systems go wrong, organizations need to send their IT workers to the various offices and deal with potential downtime while the problem is fixed. This issue can be resolved through advanced remote facility management capabilities, which are often built around the network, Computerworld reported.
Out-of-band management is one tool that can alleviate many remote data center management concerns, the news source said. When combined with console access tools, an out-of-band management system gives IT the same level of control over servers that they would have if they were there in person. Through a web-based application, an out-of-band management system lets IT see error codes and other problems with the server, giving them insight on how to fix problems. To accomplish this, organizations will usually dedicate a network card to the function, ensuring the necessary network access is in place to keep everything running.
Virtualizing infrastructure can also pay dividends when working with remote data center systems. According to the report, virtual server systems are designed to report operational conditions and problems to IT automatically. As a result, it is much easier to manage systems when they are virtualized, especially in a small scale remote facility, than it would be to deal with the same server as a traditional physical device. However, special care needs to be taken to optimize applications for virtual machines, as some systems work better in traditional form.
Console server infrastructure is a key consideration when dealing with remote data center management. By tapping into the network, server operating systems and well-placed monitoring equipment, a console server can recognize the conditions of data center infrastructure at any time. This allows IT to not only view how remote data centers are functioning, but also gives them the ability to control infrastructure through a central management platform or remote tools.
Perle’s wide range of 1 to 48 port Perle Console Servers provide data center managers and network administrators with secure remote management of any device with a serial console port. Plus, they are the only truly fault tolerant Console Servers on the market with the advanced security functionality needed to easily perform secure remote data center management and out-of-band management of IT assets from anywhere in the world.
Out-of-band management is one tool that can alleviate many remote data center management concerns, the news source said. When combined with console access tools, an out-of-band management system gives IT the same level of control over servers that they would have if they were there in person. Through a web-based application, an out-of-band management system lets IT see error codes and other problems with the server, giving them insight on how to fix problems. To accomplish this, organizations will usually dedicate a network card to the function, ensuring the necessary network access is in place to keep everything running.
Virtualizing infrastructure can also pay dividends when working with remote data center systems. According to the report, virtual server systems are designed to report operational conditions and problems to IT automatically. As a result, it is much easier to manage systems when they are virtualized, especially in a small scale remote facility, than it would be to deal with the same server as a traditional physical device. However, special care needs to be taken to optimize applications for virtual machines, as some systems work better in traditional form.
Console server infrastructure is a key consideration when dealing with remote data center management. By tapping into the network, server operating systems and well-placed monitoring equipment, a console server can recognize the conditions of data center infrastructure at any time. This allows IT to not only view how remote data centers are functioning, but also gives them the ability to control infrastructure through a central management platform or remote tools.
Perle’s wide range of 1 to 48 port Perle Console Servers provide data center managers and network administrators with secure remote management of any device with a serial console port. Plus, they are the only truly fault tolerant Console Servers on the market with the advanced security functionality needed to easily perform secure remote data center management and out-of-band management of IT assets from anywhere in the world.
