Schneider Electric’s DCIM Tool Leverages Intel for Remote KVM

Energy management specialist Schneider Electric has updated its Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software to provides server access without the need for additional hardware. The company worked with Intel’s recent Virtual Gateway technology for the new product module in StruxureWare, in order to provide full server lifecycle access and power cycling for remote management.

“By partnering with Intel to provide an integrated software KVM and DCIM approach for managing the data center, 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 centers and facilities.”

IT managers, data center operators and facility managers can now launch, manage, troubleshoot and control servers directly from the Server Access module, which combines DCIM technology with Intel’s software KVM (keyboard video mouse) technology. Not only does Server Access help further bridge the gap between IT and facilities, but by using software KVM technology and eliminating the need for hardware, Server Access can reduce technology costs by up to 50 percent.

“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. “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.”

StruxureWare offers a view from the facility down to the server level, including physical model for the location of servers, which enables identification of potential issues such as power or cooling impact.

Intel released Virtual Gateway last July; it’s a virtual solution rather than a hardware approach to managing and troubleshooting. “With our recently launched Intel Virtual Gateway plug-in, we’re introducing an evolution from the legacy hardware-based KVM solution to a virtual solution that offers a simpler way to access and manage simultaneous IT devices via a remote console,” said Jeff Klaus. “We’re excited to partner with Schneider Electric as one of the first providers to integrate this new capability.  Now users can more easily manage multiple, disparate servers and appliances, from conducting diagnostics and troubleshooting to analyzing server logs and making configuration changes.”

Data Center Operation: Server Access provides:

• Console access: Remotely control and manage IT devices through software KVM for lights out data center 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 center for an accurate inventory and overview.
• Software KVM: Reduce costs by eliminating the need for physical KVM switches in the data center.
• 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).