Plugging the infrastructure gap

Called Brand-Rex SmartPatch Connectivity Management Software, this new hardware-agnostic software suite is a complete end-to-end infrastructure management tool capable of real time monitoring of all end-to-end connectivity and can be patched into network management tools and physical aspects of the IT infrastructure. The software covers all elements of the network from the user’s connection through the building, data centre and the outside plant across campus and enterprise networks.

Announcing the new software suite, Brand-Rex product manager Erwin Deeben said: “Many separate components of Building Management Systems have converged onto the single IP/Ethernet building network meaning, that both IT and Facilities Management need constant access to the network’s physical and logical details, integrating those components into the IT domain.

“This has been an ongoing challenge in data centre environments for many years where IT has held this information and Facilities Management have not had access.

“Finally, with the launch of SmartPatch Connectivity Management Software, Facilities Management, IT, networking and any other relevant departments can have instantaneous access to real-time, fully documented information.”

The SmartPatch software combines all sources of information into a single real-time database which allows reliable tracking of connectivity, utilisation reporting and location of physical devices.

The software is totally hardware agnostic with the ability to integrate through an API (application program interface) into building management systems (BMS); network operations centres (NOC); data centre integrated management systems and any other software systems that the user desires.

Brand-Rex’s new SmartPatch Connectivity Management Software supports implementation of an Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), the most widely adopted approach for IT Service Management in the world. ITIL provides a practical, no-nonsense framework for identifying, planning, delivering and supporting IT services to the business. The combination of unique features makes SmartPatch Connectivity Management Software an indispensable tool for managing your physical network and assets :

• Real-time monitoring and management of physical connectivity

• Integrates with IT Service Management tools & databases

• Network, Asset, Helpdesk & Facilities management systems

• Operates on multiple network/database platforms

• Supports Change, Configuration & Incident Management Processes

• Powerful reporting & search capability

• Extends existing network, help desk, management tools down to layer 1

• Modular build – s/w only – migrate passive to intelligent system

• Records all incidents affecting physical infrastructure

• Manage LAN and OSP connectivity

Possibly one of the most important and unique features of SmartPatch Connectivity Management Software is that it does not impose its own operational processes on a business. Instead it has been specifically written so that it can be used to supports and adapt to each business’s unique existing processes.

The software is available on a licenced basis for deployment on your own server or is available on a hosted Software-as-a-Service basis. Users access it via web interfaces on desktop PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.