A Management Tool
for a Data Centre
SageData is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
SDS provides tools to track the installation, movement and maintenance of any physical item. As such, the application, BassetPro is a natural fit as a management tool to be used when setting up or operating a smaller data centre.
Each piece of equipment can be marked with a small asset tag bearing a unique identifier. Each location can be similarly marked. The installation, movement, or maintenance of each piece can then be tracked easily, quickly and accurately, by scanning both tags with a handheld mobile unit.
Applications to manage equipment in a data centre
It started slowly, with a simple enquiry for a barcode reader.
The call was from an ISP (Internet Service Provider) in Toronto. They were planning to
develop a system, to track deployment and maintenance of equipment for a wide area
wireless network, and associated data centres. We offered a complete solution, software,
handheld computer, barcode readers, asset identification tags, installation, training and
support. The project went ahead. Our client had the tool that they needed, and we
provided close support to ensure that everything was running smoothly.
Some months later, we were asked to roll out the system nationally. On a very tight schedule. They explained: "We have just committed thirty seven million dollars to purchase hardware for an upgrade our network. It must be delivered and installed at hundreds of sites across Canada within three months. Today, we have no means to track this. Can your system do it? Will it give us the information we need? Can you deploy it in time? How much will it cost?"
The answers were yes, yes, yes and yes.
This second system was
installed and operational, to specification, to budget, to schedule. The system was
growing.
Some three months after this installation, we had a call from London, England. The European operations were planning a similar upgrade, and had heard of, and been so impressed by the performance of the Canadian system, that they wanted one too. Effectively proving the success of the Canadian project.
One of our favorite quotes comes from the data centre manager for the
Toronto project. As he placed an order for another, standalone Canadian system he
explained this new network that I'm taking over is a real mess. They asked me to take
it on because my existing system is so well organized. I said that there was only one
condition for me taking on the challenge - I would only do it if I could have a system
from SageData.
Some facts behind this story...
BassetPro is an equipment management system that uses barcode readers to
ensure that data collection is easy, fast and accurate. For data centres and wide area
wireless networks, each asset is identified by a label bearing a UIC (unique
identification code), in barcode format. The system permits individual items to be
identified and rolled up
into systems. A card or hard drive can be identified
within a drawer, within a rack, within a data centre, within a city. All movements and
maintenance actions can be recorded easily and accurately.
Comprehensive reporting can be used for operational, financial and Quality Assurance purposes.
Personnel using the system , claimed BassetPro is the most effective tool
that we have used, and the work we have completed would not have been possible without
BassetPro.
For more information on this story, or to see how BassetPro can help you, please contact SageData directly.
If you found this useful, you might also want to review:
- an introduction
to barcode technology
- an introduction to
BassetPro
- mobile data
collectors
- barcode, RFID software - a brief video
QAOK5021
