Avocent MergePoint 5200 Supplementary Manual - Page 2
Browse online or download pdf Supplementary Manual for Network Hardware Avocent MergePoint 5200. Avocent MergePoint 5200 3 pages. Service processor managers
Also for Avocent MergePoint 5200: Specification Sheet (2 pages), Specification Sheet (2 pages), Brochure (6 pages)
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Challenge
"Prior to Avocent our biggest challenge was console access. We
had remote access with our previous solution, but for many tasks,
you need remote console access – as if you were standing in front
of the server. There's a big difference," says Tanpoco. As a result,
Tanpoco and his colleagues had to walk into the server room,
locate a specific server and stand in front of the machine for several
minutes, carrying out tasks such as software installations. "Walking
back and forth to the data center hinders productivity and can
compromise data center security," says Tanpoco. "Ideally, you want
to limit access to the data center. With the Avocent solution, the
need to physically touch a server is minimal." Moreover, the company
had no way to remotely access its growing pool of virtual servers
running VMware® ESX Server software.
"We can now remotely power down a
server within just a few seconds through
any Web browser. We don't have to make
any phone calls or ask for help. The benefits
."
are tremendous
Another challenge was a lack of remote power management
capabilities. "We centrally support multiple data centers from our
corporate headquarters. We don't have any data center personnel
in any of our remote data centers so we have to manage everything
centrally from here," says Tanpoco. "We anticipate building out
more data centers in remote locations in the near future. It gives
us peace of mind knowing that we will have remote BIOS-level
visibility and remote power management capabilities from our
corporate headquarters."
Solution
DTS did its due diligence, comparing other vendor offerings with
Avocent. "I looked at some white papers but it was pretty clear
early on that Avocent had the total solution we were looking for,"
says Tanpoco. Avocent offered pure remote console access with
Virtual Media capabilities, remote management for virtual servers,
integrated power management and advanced security features—all
accessible through one Web interface: DSView 3 management
software. "Avocent also offered a KVM over IP switch with 32 ports,"
adds Tanpoco. "The Avocent DSR switch offered more available
ports than any other KVM over IP switch at the time."
Results
"Deploying Avocent was about saving time and saving money. It was
also about delivering better services to the company," says Tanpoco.
"With Avocent's Virtual Media technology alone, we're probably
saving about 50 hours per year." Virtual Media is simulated media
that performs the same function of a mass storage device without
physically being connected. It's a very easy and convenient method
to transfer files, applications, OS patches, conduct diagnostic
testing or load software.
Since Virtual Media capabilities are built into DSView 3 software,
there's no need to walk into the data center, stand in front of a
server and load a large Microsoft Office application, for example,
via CD. Administrators can load the software from their desktop
using DSView 3 software while they carry out other job duties for
improved IT productivity and better data center security. "There are
a number of console access tasks that our administrators can now
carry out from their desktops," says Tanpoco.
Comprehensive management software and solutions for
remote server access and power management increase IT staff
productivity and help improve data center security.
Virtual Servers