Siemens set to 'transform' the UK data centre market with smart DCIM solution

Datacenter Clarity LC is an advanced software platform that combines information from vital subsystems that traditionally operate in isolation to form a single, powerful solution. The software monitors energy and building management, physical security, fire safety, power and communications, zones and raised floors, racks, servers and data storage systems, as well as switches and routers. Importantly, it bridges the gap between IT and facilities processes, enabling both parties to manage assets and workflows.

The outcome is a complete, real-time dashboard that can represent assets in a state-of-the-art 3D model and deliver a fully automated, smart data centre environment, with resultant cost and energy savings and improvements in manpower resources.

The data centre market is increasingly demanding technology that will assess critical situations, distribute information, co-ordinate workflows, maximise uptime and manage resources. Siemens has responded by delivering a solution that guarantees a scalable, secure, seamless, resilient and intelligent environment.

The benefits that Datacenter Clarity LC brings include: significant reductions in energy consumption by precision monitoring of data from multiple systems, a wide range of management tools for improved capacity planning, forecasting and simulation, increased asset availability to enable business continuity and delivery of advanced intelligence and analytics.

The software delivers real-time energy management in server rooms due to its ability to harness Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis technology, combined with real-time environmental monitoring to deliver a complete set of capabilities for cooling management. Datacenter Clarity LC continuously monitors the air temperature in server rooms and instantly identifies any potential problem areas, such as hot spots.

In addition to real-time environmental monitoring, Datacenter Clarity LC also provides predictive capabilities in a virtual 3D data centre model, before any equipment is actually purchased. Having both real-time environmental monitoring and CFD capabilities within a single DCIM platform is unique to Siemens and enables a faster return on investment.

Multi-dimensional dashboards and Key Performance Indicators provide second-by-second information on data centre performance. Real-time monitoring, as well as alarm and critical event notification with escalation, enable immediate response and corrective action to ensure the protection of sensitive material and irreplaceable data.

Datacenter Clarity LC now includes a browser-based 3D application, providing an intuitive and portable solution that facilitates deployment, usage and accessibility with no local footprint. This new Web client interface is cross-browser and cross-device compatible to include tablets for maximum convenience and ease of use.

Philippe Heim, Portfolio Manager DCIM for Siemens’ data centre team comments, “Datacenter Clarity LC will be at the heart of the next generation of data centres. Currently the major challenge for this critical environment is to reduce costs whilst improving operations; this new development from Siemens ensures full protection of assets, better consolidation across all essential services and improved energy consumption to achieve green credentials.”