 "Schneider Electric, Intel Unveil Integrated Software DCIM And Server Access Solution")
Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, announced the first datacentre infrastructure management (DCIM) software solution that provides server access without the need for additional hardware. This new product module for StruxureWare Data Center Operation is the result of leveraging Intel Virtual Gateway technology to provide full server lifecycle access and power cycling for remote management.
“Intel and Schneider Electric are bridging facilities and IT by offering vKVM [virtual keyboard video mouse] and DCIM in one integrated product suite,” says Jennifer Koppy, research manager for IDC’s Datacenter Trends & Strategies team. “Virtualisation and cloud computing disaggregate IT from physical systems and make adding new workloads as easy as deploying a virtual machine. The connection between facilities and IT - enabled by StruxureWare for Data Centers - is critical because these new workloads affect power, cooling and connectivity, and have an overall impact on efficiency and capacity.”
In combining DCIM and software KVM technology, Server Access allows IT managers, datacentre managers/operators and facility managers to launch, manage, troubleshoot and control servers directly from the DCIM software, providing a comprehensive “single pane of glass” solution from the facility down to the server level, including a physical model for the location of servers, which enables identification of potential issues such as power or cooling impact.
“Virtual Gateway is an extension of Intel’s Data Center Manager (DCM) software, and provides important technological advances for our middleware,” says Jeff Klaus, general manager of Intel Data Center Solutions. “The joint effort with Schneider Electric broadens the use of our technology and will help datacentres eliminate unnecessary hardware spend.”
KVM (keyboard video mouse) switches provide remote access to servers, and can control multiple servers. However, by utilising software KVM technology and eliminating the need for hardware, Server Access can reduce technology costs by up to 50 percent.
“By partnering with Intel to provide an integrated software KVM and DCIM approach for managing the datacentre, we’re continuing to bridge the gap between IT and facilities,” says Soeren Jensen, vice president of Enterprise Management and Software for Schneider Electric. “As the first DCIM vendor to offer software-only server access capabilities, we view Server Access as an important component to improving energy efficiency in datacentres and facilities.”