Simplifying DCIM integration

Emerson Network Power has introduced strategic enhancements to its premier data center infrastructure management (DCIM) solution, the TrellisÔ platform. The release features new RESTful APIs (representational state transfer application programming interfaces), enhancements to change planning capabilities, and eight new base package reports. With these updates, Trellis platform customers will have a fully integrated view of their operations across both IT and facilities resources, be able to make better capacity management decisions, and save time and costs.

The new APIs give the Trellis platform important new capabilities that Emerson Network Power customers have requested to improve DCIM performance. These APIs simplify integration between DCIM and applications running inside customers’ data centers without changing the way those data centers operate. APIs can be used for creating interoperability with other applications (from IT management to accounting systems), extending to other platforms such as mobile devices, and creating custom workflows that reflect processes within a customer’s environment.

“The value of DCIM depends on its ability to aggregate large amounts of real-time data from all areas of the data center,” said Jennifer Koppy, research director, IDC. “APIs that enable the interoperation of functions between many different sources of data and management solutions are essential to a successful DCIM implementation.”

“This new feature has enhanced the Trellis platform’s ability to be a strategic business asset, allowing customers to use this solution to streamline and simplify everyday activities. This drives efficiencies and cost savings,” said John Curran, VP product management for the Avocent business, Emerson Network Power. “Additionally, this new powerful feature allows our network of partners, vendors and end-users to enhance the value of the DCIM platform.”

APIs within the Trellis platform enable it to speak to applications such as business management systems, web applications and mobile devices. These APIs help open bi-directional access to data across platforms and systems and allow IT to accurately allocate cost by line-of-business or customer. This communication allows critical data to be accurately collected and stored in the Trellis platform. Data center operations teams can then use the platform’s advanced analytics to produce actionable information to support decision-making and measure performance at every level of their operation, thereby transitioning to a data-driven operational model. These capabilities have application across all data center operating models including enterprise, cloud, lights-out and hyperscale. As a result, data center operators will be able to focus less on managing the physical infrastructure and more on ensuring that IT applications are available for running the business.

In addition to featuring new APIs, the latest Trellis platform release enhances the change planning capabilities within the Trellis platform. These new enhancements give users the ability to take advantage of the capacity search feature from any point in time. Data center senior managers and executives are now able to understand the rate at which and where their resources are consumed, thereby improving their ability to make better capacity planning decisions. Benefits of this new functionality include greater insight into port capacity across the enterprise (due to the ability to manage data connections within created projects), and reduced time for planning and new equipment deployment. The latest Trellis platform release also comes with eight new reports, including critical reports for connections, status and power consumption.