INTELLIGENT CABLING
Intelligent infrastructure management
because of documentation errors. This is inefficient use of capital
investments.
With R&MinteliPhy network managers can manage their physical
infrastructure intelligently and automatically. It combines
intelligent RFID-based hardware and software to provide
operations managers with end-to-end network infrastructure
visibility and control. Neither special patch cords nor new patch
panels are needed.
With R&MinteliPhy, data centres immediately improve the
capacity utilisation, profitability and availability. IT managers gain
control over all ports and more. This is because R&MinteliPhy
helps with analysis and documentation, with the introduction of
standardised processes and with all typical management tasks
associated with passive infrastructure.
R&MinteliPhy Monitor and R&MinteliPhy Manage are the
two pillars of the Automated Infrastructure Management
solution from R&M. R&MinteliPhy Monitor consists of a small
number of components that can be retrofitted: RFID tags for
patch cords, Sensorbars for patch panels and Analysers for
the network cabinets.
R&MinteliPhy Manage is the client-server solution with a
central database installed on a server in the LAN or available as a
cloud-based service with numerous automating functions, routing,
planning tools and extensive component libraries. That is all a
company needs to manage the passive infrastructure of a data
centre or corporate network from any location.
A powerful Automated Infrastructure Management system is
needed because data centres today have no more leeway. The
utilisation of resources has to be maximised. No one can allow
themselves the luxury of delays, downtimes or mistakes. Change
requests have to be carried out immediately and without mistakes.
Manual administration also works but has serious drawbacks.
Manual data management is subject to a natural error rate of 10%.
Up to 28% of downtime in data centres can be traced to patching
mistakes caused by insufficient documentation or a lack of process
control. Over time, up to 40% of active switch ports disappear
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By contrast, an Automated Infrastructure Management system
delivers a full overview about the status and configuration of
the network and does so in real time at one central location.
Automated Infrastructure Management replaces manual
activities with standardised processes. The payback period for an
investment in an Automated Infrastructure Management system is
typically less than a year. In other words, it is worthwhile to invest
in Automated Infrastructure Management.
An RFID tag on the connector knows all there is to know about
the cable. It is the source of information for the infrastructure
management system. The retrofit table clip with the tag fits all
R&M copper and fiber optic patch cords.
A Sensorbar contactlessly reads the information contained on
the RFID tags. It can be mounted on all R&M HD patch panels. The
Sensorbar records connectors and connections. LEDs signal the
operating state and show where patching is needed.
The Analyser links Sensorbars with the server. It monitors one
or more cabinets, reading information from the Sensorbars via a
bus cable and delivering the data to the server.
With R&MinteliPhy, data centres optimise their management
and their infrastructure processes. The system records and
monitors the network configuration centrally and in real time. It
ensures complete monitoring of every port. Better use is made of
resources as a result because the system knows which ports are
free and which racks still have space available.
The administrator is immediately alerted about unsolicited
changes to the infrastructure. Repairs are faster and the
availability of the data centre increases. Network drawings,
cabinet layouts, labels or connection plans can be created errorfree with a few mouse clicks.
The system creates work orders in logical sequence, complete
with bills of materials, and sends them by e-mail to installation
crews or to their smart phones. LEDs on the Sensorbars show
which cables have to be connected to which ports. Work order
execution is constantly monitored so the IT manager is aware of
the current status at any time.
R&MinteliPhy brings advances for IT managers. The
system is capable of centrally managing large networks
extending over many buildings and can handle connections
between different sites. From its central position in the LAN
or deployed as service in the cloud the R&MinteliPhy Manage
Server monitors the entire infrastructure in real time. It offers
a large selection of management and automation tools and
interfaces to other systems.
Issue 01
INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS