White Papers

Booklet:
Console Management in the Data Center

Summary

With the current shift away from large, centralized computer systems to decentralized, dispersed networks of smaller computers, efficient and cost-effective network management, remote and/or local, is critical to today's 24/7 businesses.

This booklet discusses remote network management and provides answers to the following questions:

• What is out-of-band network management?
• How do I choose between console servers and KVM switches?
• How do I implement an effective, remote network management solution?

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White Paper:
Data Center and Information Security — Securely Managing Internet-Connected Data Centers

Summary

Today's data centers require systems to manage a growing number of geographically dispersed servers in heterogeneous environments. In addition, shrinking IT budgets demand consolidation and efficiency of support resources. As remote management becomes increasingly critical, information security in turn has also become increasingly vital.

Many management products claim to be secure; however, security is more than just support for a feature. Security requires stringent implementation of protocols, a sound security design and, most importantly, a defined security policy governing its use.

Learn more about the essentials of data center security including:

• Definitions and general information about security issues
• Use and functionality of several security-related protocols
• Security in data center management applications

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White Paper:
Out-of-Band Infrastructure (OOBI) — the Integrated Approach to Remote IT Administration

Summary

The business imperatives for information technology (IT) — to cut costs and improve service levels and productivity — have taken on new urgency in today's Internet-driven economy. An organization's IT infrastructure has become the face of business, helping to define customer experiences. As a result, IT performance is crucial for business survival.

While some large corporations have invested in redundant systems that ensure service always remains available, these systems are expensive. There must be a more efficient and cost-effective way to maintain all systems and IT assets for all organizations, large and small. The out-of-band infrastructure (OOBI) is that better way. An OOBI provides secure, alternate paths to remotely access, monitor and manage IT assets throughout the production infrastructure. Today's competitive businesses must include an OOBI as part of their overall IT architecture.

This white paper discusses the following topics:

• Traditional approaches to monitoring, maintaining and restoring IT assets and the inherent costs
• Remote IT administration and the OOBI
• OOBI components and functions, highlighting the benefits of an OOBI

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White Paper:
Taking Advantage of IPMI in Your Out-of-Band Infrastructure

Summary

Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) is an open standard designed to enable remote monitoring and control of server, networking and telecommunications platforms. Driven by Intel, Dell, HP and NEC, the IPMI standard has been adopted by over 150 companies, including IBM, Sun, and every major server platform vendor. With the introduction of IPMI in 1998 came the promise for integrated management of computer systems. However, the IPMI standard was implemented in vendor-specific IPMI gateway solutions thus creating obstacles to its widespread use. Cyclades AlterPath™ Manager is a vendor- and platform-independent management platform that enables the adoption of IPMI by integrating it with more traditional out-of-band management tools such as console servers, KVM switches and power controllers.

This white paper discusses the following topics:

• Current status of the IPMI standard
• How IPMI works
• IPMI gateways
• How to address security, scalability, multiple platform, and legacy system issues
• How to deploy IPMI in your out-of-band infrastructure

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White Paper:
Increased IT Operations Effectiveness with Cyclades AlterPath™System for the Out-Of-Band Infrastructure

Summary

Out-of-Band Infrastructure (OOBI) is evolving as an innovative, next-generation IT infrastructure management approach to achieve closer alignment between IT and business operations. Rooted in a fail-safe means for fixing IT infrastructure components from a remote central location, OOBI extends this original benefit in terms of both reliability and cost efficiency. This leads to increased IT and business operational productivity.

This white paper discusses the following topics:

• The growing dependence of business success on IT infrastructure performance
• Explanation of Out-of-Band Infrastructure as a unique foundational approach to IT management technology
• Benefits of an Out-of-Band Infrastructure

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White Paper:
AdaptiveKVM™ Technology for Remote Server Management

Summary

In today’s increasingly complex and geographically dispersed data centers, IT managers need the flexibility to use both in-band and out-of-band management tools to ensure 24/7 access and control of servers. The most efficient remote server management solution combines the functionality of both in-band and out-of-band management tools to ensure continuous remote access to managed IT devices. Cyclades AdaptiveKVM™ (patent pending) is a new and innovative approach to remote management of Windows-based servers that combines the high-performance of in-band Microsoft® Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) with the universal applicability of out-of-band KVM over IP access in a single appliance.

This white paper discusses the following topics:

• Typical remote management tools – in-band and out-of-band
• Benefits and limitations of in-band and out-of-band management tools
• Benefits of AdaptiveKVM

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White Paper:
Service Processors for Server Management — How to Effectively Manage Servers with Service Processors: IPMI, HP iLO, IBM® RSA, Dell DRAC and Sun ALOM

Summary

Remote management of servers and other IT assets is critical in today’s increasingly complex data centers. Service processor technology allows server administrators to remotely monitor server status (temperature, voltage, fan speed) and to control other server functions even if the main processor, operating system or production network is down.

Today most server vendors have integrated some type of service processor technology into their server hardware. Consequently, service processor management has become an essential component of a comprehensive out-of-band infrastructure (OOBI) management solution.

This white paper addresses the following topics:

• Key service processor technologies in use today
• How to effectively manage multiple and disparate service processor technologies with a service processor manager
• How service processor management as part of an OOBI solution provides increased service availability, support for multiple vendors and legacy operating systems, security and scalability without adding another layer of complexity

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