Data center infrastructure management is the process of efficiently managing the data center facility operations and components, such as servers, energy usage, device health, security, real-time temperature monitoring, bandwidth, and other critical components and operations happening simultaneously inside a data center. Additionally, data center infrastructure management utilises software systems to efficiently manage the operations of a data center.

Consequently, it reduces computing costs and fastens coordination between new applications and other business requirements.

Ever wonder how big data center providers handle huge workloads effortlessly, deal with complex interconnected data ecosystems, and monitor and manage various IT equipment, hardware, and other systems deployed to make a data center facility work seamlessly?

What we often fail to see behind the scenes is the great contribution of the data center infrastructure management (DCIM) that enables data centers to work around the clock and harness their full potential.

Key Components of DCIM

Some of the major components of DCIM are given below:

Managing Physical Architecture

It includes managing the data center assets such as networking, routers, servers, IT equipment, cooling systems, switches, hardware, floor space, etc.

DCIM installation tracks where and how the physical resources are used and also analyse their existing trends.

Capacity Planning

It includes analyzing future needs, such as estimating the hardware, floor space, cooling system, and energy requirements to better optimize the resources in accordance with present and future needs.

Monitoring and Surveillance

It includes successfully deploying various monitoring systems and sensors to get real-time updates on equipment health. It also includes deploying multi-layer physical as well as digital security systems that are threat-resistant.

Software

It includes effectively integrating data center infrastructure management software with the existing software to get better and integrated results.

Power Management

Since data centers are working round the clock, they need effective power management to enable data center work without any risk of system failure and, consequently, data loss.

Power usage effectiveness (PUE) is a crucial data center component. It can help in minimizing downtime.

Inventory

In addition to managing the data center's physical architecture, it is also important to keep track of current assets and track future requirements. 

It is also important to maintain regular logs of inventory and vendor updates.

Operation of a Data Center Infrastructure Management(DCIM)

Operation of a data center infrastructure management can be understood in five stages:

Stage 1: Collecting the data 

The first step is collecting the data from various sensors and systems working inside the data center using various processes such as power load modelling, device connectivity, device name plate tracking, visualisation, real-time integration and reporting.

Stage 2: Analysing the data 

After the collection of data, the trends, patterns, and anomalies are identified and arranged to create a holistic analysis.

Stage 3: Visualisation

It involves visualizing data center operations through the analysis report and statistics.

Stage 4: Alert Generation

After reviewing the reports, the software generates alerts for any possible discontinuity and changes in behavior and signals by the systems using various instruments such as battery monitor, power meter, temperature sensor, leak detection, auxiliary power control, server control, UPS webcards, etc.

Stage 5: Automation

The DCIM system then helps automate the system according to the data analysis and workflow.

Benefits of DCIM

Let us analyse some of the benefits of DCIM:

Resource Optimization

Deploying an efficient data center management protocol helps in better resource optimization and enables executors to track their resources' overall health and performance.

Increased Uptime and Reduced Downtime

Data center infrastructure management provides executors with efficient and smart monitoring that can avoid unanticipated failures and system shutdowns.

Secure Environment

Since a data center management provides executors with centralized and integrated management of the whole facility, it creates a more confident and secure data center operation ecosystem that speaks for itself.

Improved Efficiency

With the help of intelligent management, a complex and interconnected interoperable system across various networks can be made easy to handle. As a result, providers can harness the best ROI (return on investment), and improve operational efficiency with the best resource utilization.

Risk Management

Data center infrastructure management helps mitigate risks such as data loss, breaches, leaks, system failure, etc.

Cost optimization

A data center's operation cost is mainly generated by the IT equipment, power and cooling system.

Also, the emerging priority for Green IT demands reduced carbon footprint and increased environmental sustainability, for this technology revamping is the most common approach to minimise operational costs.

Sustainability

With the efficient use of data center infrastructure management, organisations can measure the energy consumption and the carbon footprint of the data center.

This analysis can help them to reduce electricity usage and help them use resources in a justified manner to keep the environment sustainable and comparatively less polluting.

Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Components

Data center infrastructure management components involves several key elements such as: 

Centralized Database

A centralized database contains every detail about the management system and a detailed report for asset management.

It contains centralized data on various units such as power, networking, storage, heating, air conditioning, environment sensors, temperature, humidity, server and system health, etc.

DCIM Software

DCIM software analyses the central database and provides a comprehensive matrix for each device. It displays matrices such as real-time details and reports of power usage and system health.

Data Analytics

It includes analyzing the database to provide insight into performance and operation inside a data center using processes such as predictive analysis.

Dashboard User Interface (UI)

DCIM software shares its data via a dashboard user interface (UI) that enables it to generate alerts in case of a problem with any system or unanticipated system behavior.

Software Connectors

Software connectors are a critical part of infrastructure management since not all equipment is easily communicable with DCIM software; some systems need a software connector such as APIs (application programming interface) that enables the operability between various systems.

Why is DCIM Important?

• To handle business and technology demands.

• To overcome structure management challenges.

• To efficiently swim through external pressure such as regulation compliances and economic fluctuations.

• To efficiently manage challenges arising in capacity and availability of the data center.

• To align with green initiatives.

• To manage IT outsourcing.

• To reduce daily cost and time required to maintain a data center.

• To fully optimize resources and IT infrastructure.

• To gain useful insights into system performance. 

• To mitigate risks.

• To increase cost-efficiency

• For efficient resource allocation

What is the Use Case of DCIM? 

• Real-time monitoring of data center infrastructure operation.

• Tracking the workload and analyzing future requirements for physical assets.

• Building management system for the physical infrastructure of a data center, such as servers, blades, networking, storage, cooling, power, connectivity, resource support, etc.

• Automation task and workflow.

• Asset management.

• Capacity planning.

• Resource optimization.

• Integrated and centralized data insights.

• Full 3D specifications of assets enabling automated visual documentation.

• Energy management and waste reduction.

Key stakeholders

There are four key stakeholders involved in DCIM:

• IT organizations consisting individuals who spend their entire career in data centre operation

• Data center facility organization that must supply adequate power, cooling, and maintenance through the building infrastructure

• The finance department or sector that focuses on costs of maintaining a data center infrastructure

• The executive team is involved in the operations that benefit from DCIM to corporate management tasks.

Market Analysis and Trends

The global DCIM market is experiencing exponential growth driven by IT companies, 5G rollout, rise of edge computing services, cloud computing services, energy efficiency and sustainability, and stricter regulations. Some key players dominating the DCIM market are Schneider Electric, Siemens, ABB, and Huawei.

Conclusion

Modern data centers require more than just a physical facility; they demand dynamic support and holistic management that is centralized and integrated to make handling huge workloads easy and smooth.

Data center infrastructure management has become an essential part of data center facilities. It improves reliability and enhances user experience.

Adopting an efficient data center management practice helps in better resource management as well as optimizing the overall business.

Also Read: A Comprehensive Guide to Data Center Infrastructure

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the 3 main components of a data center infrastructure?

The 3 main components of a data center infrastructure are cooling, power, and IT infrastructure.

What are the three components of a network infrastructure?

The three components of a network infrastructure are software(network operating system, network management software, and security software), hardware(device, cabling, and network interface cards), and services(network service, security service, and communication service).

What is the difference between Data architecture and data infrastructure?

Data architecture refers to the overall designing and building of a data center; on the other hand, data center infrastructure includes the technology and other hardware, software, storage, and processing units.

What is BMS in infrastructure?

BMS means building a management system that optimizes the building infrastructure; it improves reliability, security, and decision-making to foster seamless operations.

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