Schneider Electric works with Intel

Schneider Electric has announced the first data centre 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 Datacentre Trends & Strategies team. “Virtualization 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, data centre 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 data centres eliminate unnecessary hardware spend.”

KVM (keyboard video mouse) switches provide remote access to servers, and can control multiple servers. However, by utilizing 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 data centre, 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 data centres and facilities.”

Data Center Operation: Server Access provides:

• Console access: Remotely control and manage IT devices through software KVM for lights out data centre management.
• One-to-many device control: View, configure and control multiple vendors’ IT devices through one console for secure and easy server management.
• Power cycling: Access servers remotely, whether they are turned on or off, for instant control and reboot.
• Physical location: Provides visibility to exactly where servers are placed within the data centre for an accurate inventory and overview.
• Software KVM: Reduce costs by eliminating the need for physical KVM switches in the data centre.
• In- and out-of-band management: Reach affected devices by accessing the server operating system through a primary network or utilize a secondary business-critical network accessed through the base management card.
• Multi-vendor device support: Provides support for multiple types of IT assets and hardware platforms.
• OS access: Connect to the operating system via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), Secure Shell (SSH) and Virtual Network Computing (VNC).