Automagic Calculations for DCIM, OSP, and Network Mapping

Automagic Calculations for DCIM, OSP, and Network Mapping

By - June 7, 2018

In this blog on automatic calculations (using our DCIM, outside plant, and network diagramming software), we’ll review what we call ‘expressions’ in netTerrain. Expressions are functions you can create in netTerrain using transact SQL to compute or aggregate any sort of scale or value — and retrieve it in a property. You may want to…

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Why Big DCIM Vendors Have a Big ROI Problem

Why Big DCIM Vendors Have a Big ROI Problem

By - May 31, 2018

Regardless of how much large software vendors may want it to be otherwise, DCIM, aka data center infrastructure management software, isn’t — by its very nature — a one-size-fits-all solution. It can function across a number of different data center functions. Don’t just take my word for it: ask ten DCIM vendors to define exactly…

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How to Reserve Resources in DCIM, Network Documentation, & OSP

How to Reserve Resources in DCIM, Network Documentation, & OSP

By - May 30, 2018

In this blog, and accompanying video, you’ll learn how to reserve resources in netTerrain. Time and time again, we’ve seen countless situations in which our customers need to reserve a resource in netTerrain without making it active — while still being able to see the resource reserve reflected in the diagrams. Maybe a user wants…

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The Art of Data Center Migrations

The Art of Data Center Migrations

By - April 20, 2018

I know what I want to do next week: move some servers….what fun! I might as well move some mountains while I’m at it. So, how the heck do you plan out a data center migration? With a notebook and piece of paper (of course): 1. Draw a picture of the servers switches and routers….

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Buying DCIM? Don’t Overlook Customer Service

Buying DCIM? Don’t Overlook Customer Service

By - April 4, 2018

In general, the importance of good customer service can’t be overstated: with DCIM, it’s crucial to a successful implementation. Unfortunately, with DCIM — it can prove hard to find. I manage customer support for our documentation suite: DCIM, network mapping, and outside plant. I think one reason we have had success is being able to…

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Does This Make My Server Look Fat?

Does This Make My Server Look Fat?

By - March 13, 2018

Does this make my server look fat? Is my floor starting to bulge? Yeah, we have all been there. The server room is starting to look a little heavy…or is it? Hey, we’ve all told ourselves a few little white lies from time to time, ‘maybe it’s just the way the light is hitting this…

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The DCIM Competitive Analysis Gone Wrong (Part Two)

The DCIM Competitive Analysis Gone Wrong (Part Two)

By - February 27, 2018

This article continues our previous blog on why we don’t engage in competitive analyses; it is designed to give you an example of why an ‘us vs. them’ DCIM vendor comparison fails. Let’s break it down. First, here’s a link to a competitive analysis on netTerrain from another vendor (who’s never used netTerrain). Now, let’s…

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Why We Won’t Waste Your Time with a DCIM Competitive Analysis (Part One)

Why We Won’t Waste Your Time with a DCIM Competitive Analysis (Part One)

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Sometimes a prospect asks us if we can give them a competitive analysis: you know, how we stack up against some other DCIM competitor. I totally get why we’re asked for these; it is part of the usual song and dance and many organizations want them. We’re not immune: in fact, we have something like…

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Why Do You Need Flexible DCIM & Network Mapping Software?

Why Do You Need Flexible DCIM & Network Mapping Software?

By - February 14, 2018

netTerrain, an automated DCIM and network mapping software suite, adapts to your project…and its unique needs. Let me be clear: netTerrain adapts to your needs — without consultants, months of waiting time, an onboarding process that feels more like training for Mount Everest, and a bunch of extra expenditures you (and your boss) didn’t see…

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Intro: netTerrain’s API for DCIM, Network Documentation, and Outside Plant

Intro: netTerrain’s API for DCIM, Network Documentation, and Outside Plant

By - January 26, 2018

Despite all the recent hoopla, API’s have been around for a long time. Without realizing it, we use API’s all the time: we use them when we make an airline reservation…we use them when we check the weather on our phones. API’s bridge together several moving parts to serve up a desired result to the…

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Connect & Automate Your Data Imports in Under 2 Minutes

Connect & Automate Your Data Imports in Under 2 Minutes

By - January 24, 2018

Most DCIM or Network Mapping software gives users some discovery features — which we also do. That’s all nice and dandy…but it’s very limited: every time you want to ensure your data is up-to-date, you have to manually schedule a discovery. When you have data that’s frequently changing, this becomes a hassle. What if you…

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Dear Prospect: If You Want Everything, You Need Nothing

Dear Prospect: If You Want Everything, You Need Nothing

By - January 17, 2018

“The demo with Jan was incredibly unprofessional. It seemed like he refused to go into any detail about the product. He wanted me to narrow down the focus of what he demo’ed to only what I immediately was interested in.” — Feedback from a Recent Prospect Ouch…that was a first. Apparently, I am unprofessional. Ok,…

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