Bridging the gap between IoT and Asset Management
TL;DR: The shift to distributed IoT architecture requires a new smart data center infrastructure management (DCIM) framework that extends traditional asset management to the edge. Key requirements include real-time location tracking for mobile assets (such as containerized data centers), edge capacity management with on-demand “pop-up” deployments, comprehensive analytics spanning from sensor level to system level, and flexible protocol support for any new device. This framework must incorporate machine learning and AI to enable autonomous operations and reduce dependence on human intervention for routine decisions.
By Sean Gately
Why Do Traditional DCIM Tools Fall Short in an IoT World?
The rapid change in data center architecture puts traditional data center management tools at a disadvantage and adds strain to IT and facility professionals. Managing a traditional modern data center while also trying to manage Internet of Things devices requires a whole new level of holistic monitoring and is a complex, complicated task.
How Must Asset Management Extend to the Edge?
Traditional asset management in the data center will need to extend outward to account for edge-based data centers and new smart devices with entirely new monitoring and management requirements. With less in-person interaction, edge deployments must utilize machine learning to understand their own operational data, how they interact with interconnected machines, and when human intervention is needed.
Real-Time Location Tracking and Mobile Assets
Some IoT assets will need to be tracked in real time with location services as previously fixed assets become mobile, such as containerized data centers. Edge capacity management may require “pop-up” data centers to be deployed, monitored, and tracked in real time. Understanding where capacity is needed is a core DCIM function; tracking capacity in real time and understanding how changes affect the entire chain is a function of a smart data center infrastructure management platform.
What Analytics Capabilities Does Smart DCIM Require?
With such a diverse IT environment, IT and operations teams need comprehensive analytics with both hierarchical and distributed views into systems. These views must reach as deep as the sensor level and be flexible enough to bring on and monitor any new device introduced into the ecosystem. The ability to communicate with a diverse set of protocols and systems software to create a unified operational view is critical in the IoT world.
What Does the Data Center 3.0 Architecture Look Like?
The new smart data center architecture will be flexible enough to extend to the edge while monitoring, controlling, and understanding all devices under its umbrella. This data center 3.0 will be smart enough to make some of its own decisions and understand when it needs human interaction. The ability to add capacity where and when needed, and interact with interconnected systems in real time from anywhere, will be a core strategy.
Asset management in the IoT world has dramatically changed, and a new smart data center infrastructure management framework is needed. Smart data infrastructure management is about having the flexibility to monitor and understand all critical equipment and smart assets in your IT systems, with the ability to go beyond predictive algorithms into true machine learning and artificial intelligence for optimizing your smart data center and assets.
Modius is a modern IoT analytics infrastructure and smart data center infrastructure management platform. Founded in 2004, Modius has been at the forefront of technology innovation and is the leader in IoT smart asset management.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does IoT change data center asset management?
IoT transforms asset management from tracking fixed equipment in a facility to managing a distributed ecosystem of mobile, smart, and edge-based devices. Assets may be containerized and mobile, deployed on-demand at edge locations, and interconnected in complex mesh networks requiring real-time location services and dynamic capacity management.
What is a pop-up data center?
A pop-up data center is a rapidly deployable, modular computing facility that can be set up at edge locations to meet temporary or growing capacity demands. These portable deployments must be monitored, tracked in real time, and managed as part of the broader infrastructure, requiring DCIM platforms that support dynamic, distributed asset management.
Why do IoT data centers need machine learning?
With edge deployments operating with less in-person interaction, machine learning enables infrastructure to understand its own operational data, detect anomalies, predict failures, and determine when human intervention is needed. This autonomous capability is essential for managing the scale and geographic distribution of IoT infrastructure.
What protocols must a smart DCIM platform support?
A smart DCIM platform must communicate with a diverse set of protocols including SNMP, Modbus, BACnet, MQTT, OPC-UA, and proprietary vendor protocols to create a unified view across traditional IT equipment, facilities systems, and IoT devices. Protocol flexibility is critical for integrating any new device introduced into the ecosystem.
How is Modius OpenData positioned for smart data center management?
Modius OpenData is a modern IoT analytics and smart data center infrastructure management platform. Founded in 2004, Modius has been at the forefront of technology innovation in DCIM and is positioned as a leader in IoT smart asset management, with the flexibility to monitor all critical equipment and smart assets across distributed IT environments.