Driving a car without a dashboard would be difficult, how would we know when to fill the fuel tank without a fuel gauge? Business premises require effective server room monitoring systems to make sure that all of the support systems are running efficiently. Early warnings of potential issues are essential to ensure that the business can operate both efficiently and effectively.
At Ecl-ips we believe that all of the data that we collect should be available at the touch of a button, rather than being distributed across systems. This in turn, helps the business run in an efficient manner with no lost revenue due to the heating being too low or high, the air conditioning system not working, a burst pipe flooding the server room, etc. If you want advice from the experts at Ecl-ips book a server room audit.
Effective Server Room Monitoring Solutions
Real-time Monitoring from APC Netbotz
IT Assets often reside in small enclosed spaces. Monitoring these spaces assists in providing constant uptime for IT clients. With the modern pressures on data centres, server rooms and communication rooms, real-time monitoring is key. APC NetBotz offers an active, scalable monitoring solution designed to protect against physical threats, environmental or human, that can cause disruption to IT assets. This ensures business continuity by monitoring and protecting IT assets from
environmental hazards or human error. By having immediate detection of any issues IT downtime is minimised as it will prevent an outage or enable a rapid response. Problems are therefore solved before they become catastrophic. Additionally you can include comprehensive video monitoring in small and large rooms allowing for the identification of faces and objects.
APC Smart-UPS Systems: UPS Monitoring
Power failure resulting in network downtime can cost businesses substantial sums in revenue; in addition, data lost during those power failures is often not recoverable. We offer the APC
Smart-UPS Systems which can instantly respond to power outages and can support equipment until mains power is available or a generator is active. However, it is important to know the condition of the batteries in a UPS (usually these have a 3-5 year lifespan but a regularly used system will have a shorter lifespan). Alerts can be sent to inform you of events or when a battery change is due to help you maintain the resilience that you require. In addition to this there are also various software packages that can automatically shut down servers in the event of a power outage.
Most UPS devices have the capability to house network cards that can report on information that is relevant to the integrity of the system, such as battery condition, run-time remaining, load levels, input voltage etc. In addition to this, environmental parameters such as room temperature and humidity can also be measured and reported on.
Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) from Schneider Electric
DCIM is the convergence of IT and building facilities functions within an organisation. The main aim is to provide administrators with a holistic view of a data centre’s performance so that the equipment is used as efficiently as possible.
We are able to offer a comprehensive DCIM solution through Schneider Electric’s Struxureware for Data Centres and its EcoStruxure range. EcoStruxure IT revolutionizes DCIM by delivering a Datacenter Management as a Service (DMaaS) architecture, purpose-built for the hybrid IT and data center environments. The vendor-neutral architecture delivers a new standard for proactive insights on critical assets that impact the health and availability of an IT environment with the ability to deliver actionable real-time recommendations to optimize infrastructure performance and mitigate risk.
Ecl-ips can help with all your real-time monitoring and power monitoring needs. For an integrated solution contact us.
Server Room Audit
If you want to ensure that your existing monitoring infrastructure is meeting your current needs Ecl-ips can provide a full server room audit. Our experienced highly qualified engineers will attend your site to carry out the thorough inspection to ensure that you have the right monitoring systems for your business.
What will the audit cover?
- What security you currently have in place
- Whether you have any fire detection in place
- What fire fighting equipment is available
- Hardware installed including switches, servers and storage devices
- The peak electrical load required by the equipment installed
- Checking the age and capacity of your existing UPS equipment
- The condition of your comms room
- The temperature of your comms room
- Air conditioning equipment
- If any Power Monitoring is installed
Following the visit we will provide a full written report including:
- A diagram of the room layout
- An outline of our findings, supported by photographs
- Recommendations on where we can see any improvements that can be made
Our team are always happy to offer help and advice regarding the upkeep of your comms room and regularly post information on our blog on the culture of common threats to your IT network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to monitor my server room or IT spaces?
Business premises require effective real-time monitoring systems to make sure that all of the support systems are running efficiently. Early warnings of potential issues are essential to ensure that the business can operate both efficiently and effectively.
Is it really necessary to monitor my server room?
With the development of the cloud for data storage there are now more large data centres filled with servers.
Although Ecl-ips has installed APC Netbotz devices in data centres, the remote sites and smaller comms rooms are the places that really benefit and should not be ignored. We have been to various sites to install security devices and been able to offer APC Netbotz devices because we can demonstrate the value that server room monitoring will provide. For example, a server or a critical switch, may have been located in a cupboard that has become used for other purposes, creating a sub-optimal environment.
How can Ecl-ips help me with server room monitoring?
Ecl-ips is a specialist in the solutions from APC NetBotz and would recommend its products for effective server room monitoring. Their appliances offer an active, scalable monitoring solution designed to protect against physical threats, environmental or human, that can cause disruption to IT assets. To help you obtain the right monitoring equipment we have put together cost-effective APC Comms Room Monitoring packages.
How could a server room audit help me?
If you want to ensure that your existing monitoring infrastructure is meeting your current needs Ecl-ips can provide a full server room audit. Our experienced highly qualified engineers will attend your site to carry out the thorough inspection to ensure that you have the right monitoring systems for your business. We will provide you with a written report that will recommend the right monitoring solutions for you. Contact us now if you would like to discuss this.
What will the APC Netbotz devices monitor?
The APC Netbotz devices can monitor environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, smoke and fluid. Sensors can also detect access to IT racks to enable monitoring of people.
Who produces Netbotz devices?
The company Netbotz was founded in 1999, by a private group of individuals and investors in Austin, Texas. Netbotz Inc. was a privately-held company and was a provider of web-based monitoring solutions that closed the gap between traditional physical security and cyber-security.
Netbotz developed environmental monitoring appliances and its web-based physical infrastructure management platform, Netbotz Central to provide physical and environmental monitoring of data centes, comms and server rooms. The company also developed a range of sensors to detect environmental factors like temperature changes, water leaks, power fluctuations and humidity.
In 2005 APC, which had been founded in 1981 and had developed a range of power management appliances, bought Netbotz for $31 million. At the time of the sale Netbotz said over 2,700 organizations worldwide used its solutions for active monitoring, early detection and instant alerts to protect critical assets from damaging physical and environmental conditions. Just two years later, in 2007, APC itself was taken over by European multinational, Schneider Electric, which had global recognition for its expertise in energy management and automation.
Over the years the main developments have been the expansion of the number of types of Netbotz monitors, the introduction of wireless sensors and the expansion of Netbotz Central to become Schneider Electric’s Data Center Expert software.
What is the benefit of APC Netbotz devices?
You can group the Netbotz appliances together and offer a completely scalable solution. As the software is installed through a web browser it is easy to set up and use.
APC Netbotz monitoring appliances offer flexibility and the alerting mechanism can be escalated in various ways. You can use it to monitor third party devices such as air conditioning units, UPS devices, tank flow levels, leak detection and many other third-party sensors.
The IT equipment in comms rooms work best if they are kept at a constant temperature and ideally you want to increase the set points for that temperature so that the air conditioning units are not working too hard to retain that level. In an inefficient system the air conditioning unit is likely to be switching on and off constantly as it works to maintain a temperature but if the system is working efficiently you save the energy as the air conditioning units can have a higher set point. By monitoring temperature, you will be able to manage your energy use and boost your energy efficiency, which will save you money over time.
The Netbotz 250 is the entry level appliance for businesses, which although it does not have a camera still offers a comprehensive and flexible solution and is ideal for organisations with a single comms room that has a good access control system so that people going in and out are still monitored.
What businesses will benefit from server room monitoring?
Server room monitoring will benefit organisations in the education, finance, healthcare, banking and insurance sectors as well as businesses with multiple branches such as pharmacies that may have one remote IT team. Ecl-ips has been involved in providing APC Netbotz systems for several companies including AON, the BBC, Network Rail, the London Underground, Birmingham City Council, JLT, Wychavon District Council and BT.