Almost every DCIM solution comes with standard objects such as model floors, racks, devices or power & cooling elements; many solutions will probably offer some virtual […]
Almost every DCIM solution comes with standard objects such as model floors, racks, devices or power & cooling elements; many solutions will probably offer some virtual […]
Almost every DCIM solution comes with standard objects such as model floors, racks, devices or power & cooling elements; many solutions will probably offer some virtual equipment, circuits and cables. There are even some vendors who may model less common things – such as panels or doors – but inevitably, you will need something modeled that is not part of the “out-of-the-box” catalog. For instance, what if you need to model something a bit odd, say, a fire extinguisher (or the foosball table that is in Room 43B)? Can your DCIM vendor do that? And if so, how easily?
Let’s be clear: “yes, we can do that after some customization” doesn’t count as a valid answer. That statement is loaded with unknowns. What does ‘customization’ mean, anyways? Scripting? Some API extension? Does it mean maybe having the feature in some future release somewhere down the line? An army of consultants charging you for services work?
You need to ask the following (and get a clear answer): can you, as an end user, model any new object types that are important for your DCIM strategy? We believe DCIM software doesn’t have to be hard and shouldn’t require endless (and expensive) consulting work. For example, with netTerrain, not only can you define any type of object with endless properties and rules yourself, we show you how to do it…in 60 seconds (see the above video).
In the 1st part of our 8 part series, we addressed the issue of flexibility in DCIM systems from a generic standpoint; now, we’re ready to start digging a bit deeper. Today, we’re discussing the ability to model new object types and the basic requirements in the modeling process: type definition, properties and rules.
Creating new object types can be easy when your DCIM solution is flexible. Despite what some DCIM vendors would have you think, getting a new object type for your project doesn’t need to take months and cost an arm and a leg. With the right DCIM software in place, you should be able to add new object types in three basic steps (click here for the infographic):
Ok, so while our object creation and modeling process is actually quite feature rich, you may be wondering, “what about something a bit more complex, like a rack, device or card?” Fair enough, those types of objects have additional attributes and behaviors that may be outside of what we just modeled, such as: nameplate power, discovery parameters, interfaces, slots and more. In fact, the simple object we modeled today is usually referred to in netTerrain as a “generic node type”. To answer this question, you can model smart devices using our software and we have an upcoming blog devoted to modeling the “smart objects” like racks, devices and cards.
Bottom line? Buyer, beware. Some of the most expensive DCIM tools out there are very inflexible. Because much of the value of DCIM depends upon its ability to do what you need it to do in your environment, inflexible solutions are a bad choice. Further, it’s the rigidity that contributes to the high prices as, with rigidity, comes big price tags for consultants! In brief, you end up paying more for a tool that is actually worse (harder to use and less flexible).
Our story on DCIM flexibility is only beginning. In our next blog article, we’ll continue digging deeper; we’ll look at the creation of an actual hierarchy and discuss how you can customize your DCIM views, parent-to-child relationships and diagrams.
Stay tuned!
See also: our post on choosing the right DCIM solution and how to define DCIM.