Datasheet | DataCenter Insight Platform: Asset Twin Module
Data center management solution for capacity planning and resource management to maximize operational performance
Cadence® DataCenter Design Software™ and DataCenter Insight Platform™ (formerly Future Facilities 6SigmaDCX product line) is a software platform for performance-aware design and operational planning of data centers through digital twin technology. The offering consists of two software solutions that enable designers, owners, and operators to balance the need for reliability and efficiency in data centers.
Overview
DataCenter Design Software enables engineers to design the next generation of data centers, inside and out, with physics-based simulation powered by computational fluid dynamics (CFD), while DataCenter Insight Platform empowers IT and Facilities Management Teams to collaborate on data center energy and performance optimization via a web-based portal when the data center is operational.
DataCenter Insight Platform consists of two modules. This datasheet covers the Asset Twin module.
The Asset Twin module, or DataCenter Asset Twin, functions as a searchable archive of all IT assets that can be used to manage power, space, weight, and network port capacity (Figure 1).
DataCenter Asset Twin provides tools to manage IT moves, installs, and decommissions. The software includes customizable, automated reports that offer actionable insights to all data center business units. The software uses live data visualization and reporting tools to help data centers control cost, reduce risk, utilize capacity, align teams, and effectively manage the lifecycle of key assets.
Figure 1: The network property sheet for a cabinet displayed within DataCenter Asset Twin
Benefits
- Oversee an up-to-date view of all IT deployment plans from all users in one place
- Manage power and data port connectivity, including the impact of future plans on panel phase balance, breaker loading, and failure analysis of critical components
- Identify and troubleshoot potential data center layout issues, such as mismatches in zone IT load
- Effortlessly populate the model with smart library items as IT and cabinets are deployed to accurately reflect the data center
Features
Operational Insights
DataCenter Asset Twin allows users to visualize the impact of upcoming projects on data center capacity and resources and ensure data centers can effectively track and plan power, space, weight, network port capacity, IT deployment, and decommissioning (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Cabinet view in web-based tool displaying IT connections and power information
DataCenter Asset Twin connects to commonly used tools and systems, such as data center infrastructure management (DCIM), environmental monitoring systems, IT service management (ITSM), ticketing software, simple spreadsheets, and more, to ensure it is seamlessly and automatically kept up to date.
Smart Operations
The software includes a “go or no-go” assessment system for IT deployment in the form of a traffic light system. The traffic light system advises where users can place specific IT equipment based on the IT requirements and rack resource availability. The software automatically calculates rack availability in terms of power, space, weight limit, and port availability. Red indicates no availability for specified IT deployment, yellow denotes possible availability with some flags to be considered by the user, and green indicates availability for deployment (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Displayed traffic light system during asset deployment
The interactive web-based tool allows users to customize shareable reports and dashboards populated with data and charts that visualize key metrics, such as power, cooling, and space, for one or multiple data centers (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Dashboard showing metrics on cooling and space availability per zone
IT deployments are coordinated through a centralized, virtual loading bay where users can view available IT assets and deploy specific IT equipment to any data center. ITSM integrations allow upcoming IT changes to be imported directly to the loading bay, ready for deployment within DataCenter Asset Twin.
Connectivity Matters
Power connections from utility to cabinet and cabinet to IT can be visualized in the software via the power network diagram. Key power metrics are retained in the software, including circuit phase type, distribution voltage, failover current, nominal power supply, and more. The software automatically checks the power system for overload to ensure safer asset deployment in terms of power. By connecting to live power monitoring systems, the software can aggregate and visualize historical data to ensure teams can plan deployments better.
DataCenter Asset Twin includes crucial data network connectivity information. It provides data on port-to-port connections and connections between devices, such as patch panels, server storage units, switches, firewalls, routers, and enclosures (Figure 5). These connections are visually represented in a diagrammatic and tabulated format. The quantities for copper and fiber network ports can also be defined on IT equipment and racks.
Figure 5: Data network diagram for port-to-port and device connections displayed within the software
Upgrade from DataCenter Asset Twin Module to DataCenter Digital Twin and Enable CFD Physics-Based Simulation
When safeguarding data centers, CFD analysis offers data center operators additional insight in making informed capacity planning decisions and assessing long-term effects on data center resiliency. Physics-based simulation, powered by CFD, allows the cooling load and airflow to be accurately considered in capacity utilization and deployment decisions. DataCenter Asset Twin users can opt to engage in additional project-based simulation services or upgrade to the fully calibrated DataCenter Insight Platform: Digital Twin module to run regular simulations and maximize data center performance.