Raritan advances DCIM with release of dcTrack software and Mobile App

Together with the new release of dcTrack software, Raritan launches the dcTrack Mobile App for Apple iPad and Android tablet devices. Ideal for use on the data centre floor where users can view, validate and modify item details to validate ‘as installed’ as well as being an invaluable help with at-rack diagnostics. As well as conventional look up searching by item name, serial number, or asset tag number the mobile app allows users to simply scan the items barcode using their tablets inbuilt camera, immediately bringing up the items full details from the dcTrack database. Item details displayed on the new dcTrack at also include a very useful Audit Summary displaying the most commonly audited information for that asset item.

Raritan has also made power chain enhancements to help data centre operators gain an even more complete and accurate view of the data centre – including real-time capacity along a complete power-path. For example a power-patch could be from the UPS (uninterruptible power supply) through the floor PDUs (power distribution units), circuit breakers, rack PDUs and right down to individual loads such as servers and switches - showing actual drawn power in real time against the available power budget at each point.

Additional flexibility in the powered chain means that dcTrack users can now connect any number of floor PDUs to each other, modify the PDU feeds, create three-phase delta power panels and connect multiple rack PDUs to each other.

A new fully featured dcTrack web client is launched to compliment the existing ‘classic view’. This includes full floor-map visualisation and enhanced search functionality allowing items to be located by class or name; with full drill-through to its asset tab for complete item details. The new dcTrack web client also overcomes the printing difficulties associated with many Web browsers - ensuring that detailed floor maps and formatted reports print perfectly.

New reports within dcTrack 3.1 show, for each cabinet, the number of rack units (U) occupied and the spare U available. This information comes together with the cabinet’s measured power and power budget, plus front and rear temperatures. This is invaluable information for judging the true usable capacity in each cabinet.
With input and feedback from thousands of dcTrack users, the upgraded online help facility is believed to be the most comprehensive and helpful in the industry.
New sections added in the latest dcTrack software release, in addition to an updated FAQ, include: ‘Where do I…?’ and ”What’s the Next Step after completing xyz…?”. Both of these new sections are designed to guide users through the correct dcTrack workflow rather than conventional isolated task information thereby enhancing quality and reducing the possibility of human error.

Announcing the new dcTrack software enhancements and Mobile App, Raritan’s Richard May said, “The new features in our dcTrack DCIM software build on experience gained with our data centre customers around the three cornerstones necessary to manage data centres efficiently: 1) real-time monitoring on infrastructure items, support resources and their inter-relations, 2) accessing and visualising information and 3) managing configurations and changes.

“Raritan remains the leading DCIM provider because our solution is the easiest to deploy and use. It accurately answers all the questions (from power capacity to an item’s location) that data centre professionals need fast unambiguous answers to on a daily basis. dcTrack’s simplicity is its major advantage. Many data centre operators tell us they now rely on Raritan DCIM for their power efficiency and uptime.”