Embracing the Future: The New Era of Data Centers and DCIM

RiT Tech’s pioneering DCIM platform, XpedITe, is advancing data center management through the Universal and Intelligent Infrastructure Management (UIIM) framework, driving operational efficiency, sustainability compliance and streamlining business.

As data centers continue to grow in complexity and scale, the challenge of effective and efficient operational management is shifting data center infrastructure management from a suite of heterogeneous single vendor software platforms and the much-used Excel spreadsheet to a unified data store that can be customized to the bespoke needs of owners and operators.

With the growth of diverse data center facilities that are consuming much more power than ever before, mergers and acquisitions that are boosting data migration, new investors adopting the owner-operator model and the growing intensity of sustainability obligations, the demand for an intelligent and universal data center infrastructure management platform has never been more apparent.

UIIM transcends the traditional capabilities of DCIM (Data Center Infrastructure Management) and RiT Tech’s groundbreaking DCIM platform, XpedITe, exceeds the consequential needs in digital transformation.

What are the limitations of traditional DCIM?

Unfortunately, the DCIM concept has misled the market as merely a monitoring or asset management tool, as opposed to the vision of providing a holistic view of the data center’s performance – energy, equipment, floor space. Many legacy DCIM tools are also attached to a hardware vendor’s solution or have been designed to deliver for specific data center environments. These are becoming less relevant in the effective management of data center operations, especially in the light of new compliance such environmental standards. Multi-faceted systems that can address the entire estate from the facility to the IT network are now proving invaluable.

The old DCIM principles have long been criticized due to their lack of operational management capabilities, minimal automation, inability to integrate with other vendors and hardware systems, insufficient predictive analytics, and a general failure to deliver on user expectations. RiT Tech’s innovative research and development programme has been the catalyst for introducing the UIIM framework. For more than 10 years, XpedITe has been built on the need and capabilities of effectively bridging the gap left by conventional DCIM tools.

How XpedITe is supporting data center operators and owners

XpedITe is an advanced data center infrastructure management system (DCIM) which gives our clients a real solution that connects the facility’s infrastructure, IT and network and business processes in one platform.

This flagship platform, XpedITe, embodies the principles of Universal Intelligent Infrastructure Management (UIIM) – a pioneering practice introduced by RiT Tech that goes beyond traditional DCIM limitations. XpedITe offers a comprehensive suite of capabilities, including asset management, connectivity management, capacity planning, and intelligent automation. With a committed focus on sustainability, our platform also plays a pivotal role in enabling green data center initiatives, optimizing resource utilization, and minimizing environmental impact.

Using AI-powered modules, XpedITe provides real-time monitoring, management of all assets and workflows, automating orchestration across all the data center layers.

• The physical layer gives the ability to collect data from facilities physical assets, through BMS Systems (Building Management System) or independently connected critical infrastructure equipment by using a wide range of protocols.
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• In the data center layer, our customers have complete visibility to effectively manage their grey space and whitespace and their technology stack. XpedITe visualizes everything from the power supply to network ports, cabinets, servers, environmental and switches.
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• The IT layer supports the management of logical assets, software-defined infrastructure, and virtualization technology.
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• The application layer facilitates integration with business applications ITSM (IT Service Management), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), CMDB (Configuration Management Database), Resource Management – ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), among others, creating a natural synergy between applications, integrating, enhancing and simplifying workflows, automation and collaboration, enabling even full remote management through alignment with smart hands teams in global organizations.

“There are many reasons why the globe’s leading financial services, governments, enterprise and colocation operators use our product, it is not only safe and secure but significantly reduces man hours in operational management. From AI-provisioning to automating install, moves, adds and changes, XpedITe is a robust repository for the data center estate’s and operations entire orchestration.”

As a unique platform, XpedITe’s seamless integration capabilities leaves traditional DCIM behind

XpedITe’s open architecture and modular design principle ensures it can seamlessly integrate with third-party software systems, including ITSM, BMS, EMS (Energy Management System) and CRM solutions. This interoperability is vital for creating a clear view across all data center operations, eliminating data silos and facilitating cross-departmental collaboration. The customizable nature of XpedITe is unmatched in the industry, it can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of your data center, regardless of the existing infrastructure setup.

A good example is a recent project where we integrate some measurements from two different BMS systems, while other critical M&E equipment is monitored by direct reading. The project also includes a process orchestration with ITSM-CMDB leader provider platform, adding automation and accuracy to workflows and corporate database. Integration with corporate inventory tool and our Warehouse module will add more automation in a second phase.

Artificial Intelligence is Driving Efficiency in Provisioning

One of the transformational features of XpedITe is its AI-driven provisioning system. This advanced technology streamlines the install, moves, adds, and changes requirements of the physical assets within a data center, significantly reducing the time and potential for error associated with manual interventions. AI provisioning in XpedITe intelligently plans and executes tasks based on organizational policies and compliance standards, ensuring that every decision aligns with the overarching business strategy and sustainability objectives.

Driving Sustainability in Data Center Operations is Easier with a Software Platform

Sustainability is at the heart of our innovation. XpedITe is designed with compliance in mind, offering tools and metrics to effectively manage and report on energy efficiency, water usage, and overall environmental impact. The most recent application and use cases are focused on the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). You can read the white paper here./.

Building Trust Through Innovation and Reliability

RiT Tech’s XpedITe journey began with a clear understanding of the limitations inherent in traditional DCIM solutions. Today, XpedITe is unique and market leading. An innovative DCIM solution, designed using UIIM concept, XpedITe is delivered with confidence with an ability to revolutionize the way data centers are managed.

RiT Tech is not just a software vendor; we are your trusted partner in navigating the complexities of data center management. Through the UIIM framework, we offer innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence in the ever-evolving landscape of DCIM solutions.