DCIM’s Impact on Data Center Efficiency
We’ve recently published a few articles about how Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software assists data centers in becoming more efficient, which got me thinking about where we started and where we are now .Do you recall what it was like to work at a data center ten years ago? What are the differences you’ve noticed? Is it accurate to say that life has gotten more efficient?
I wanted to take stock of where we were 12 years ago before DCIM software became increasingly recognized. I put on my detective hat and began seeking for a WayBackMachine-stored and Dell-published essay from 2010 about the status of data center efficiency. This is significant since it transpired before DCIM became more commonly implemented, hence the data in this article depicts the state of data centers prior to DCIM.
Key takeaways:
Server Utilization in 2010 vs. 2022
According to author Alan Redding, most businesses used x86 servers at less than 20% of their capacity in 2010. Many businesses were operating at a 10% or lower efficiency rate.
Server utilization rates in federal government data centers were as low as 5%, according to a 2009 assessment from the Office of Management and Budget.
Though exact figures aren’t yet available, the Commerce Office of the CIO (and other agencies) ruled in 2019 that any server with a utilization rate of less than 50% is considered “underutilized.” This is a significant improvement over 2010, when most firms reported utilization rates of fewer than 20%.
Storage Utilization in 2010 vs. 2022
Many managers were compelled to over-buy capacity because tend to cost were too difficult, according to the author of the Dell essay from 2010. What exactly did that imply? Money was squandered. In 2010, 40% storage utilization rates were considered excellent.
What will storage usage be like in 2022? There is some good news when it comes to how much storage is really used versus what is purchased: Google recently revealed that its data centers now provide seven times the computational power they did five years ago while utilizing the same amount of electricity.
How has DCIM software helped?
DCIM aids in the transformation of storage usage rates and the facilitation of capacity planning. It also aids in the detection of zombie and underutilized data center servers. You can use DCIM to put your servers to work or to turn them off completely.
You may discover your server’s utilization rates using an agent or an agentless discovery method, such as IPMI, with a decent DCIM solution. You gain access to your server’s granular subcomponents and get real-time usage data on CPU, disk, and memory
These servers are occupying rack space, draining power, and performing no functions in your data center. You may decide whether or not you want to take them off your rack and use them again. You’ll be able to identify under-provisioned racks and maximize server count per rack with DCIM software, allowing you to make better use of your data center and boost rack density.
The same is true when it comes to managing your storage charges. Using device MIB files and SNMP discovery, you can keep an eye on your storage. IPMI can also be used to manage and monitor server-based storage, as previously indicated. You can manually enter static values to any device that cannot be identified if it cannot be discovered. Monitor statistics like Power On Hours, Power Cycle, SSD Temperature Sensor, and SSD Usage for SSDs, and even customize them.
Obviously, DCIM is much more than just a tool for managing data center rack capacity. You may also help manage your servers’ server and storage utilization rates in real time.
To discover more about how netTerrain DCIM may assist you in resolving your IT issues.
Please contact Trinity IT Consulting for further information or Sign up for free 14 Day Trial.