Intelligent Infrastructure Management Update Frank Velleca Market Manager - Siemon
What is Intelligent Infrastructure Management (IIM)? A combination of hardware and software designed to help better manage the network Enhanced IT Network Documentation Automated patch discovery LAN equipment discovery Asset management Alarms/Alerts Reports Improved MACs
All Patches Should be Neat and Well Documented, But Quote I hadn't been working at this company for very long, when a user's computer lost its connection to the network - after testing, I was able to determine the drop was dead. The head IT guy (a.k.a. the ONLY IT guy other than myself) told me it was probably just a loose patch cable, and to go down to the server room to reseat it. No problem.
How Does It Work? Automated Patch Detection A Variety of Detection Methods Employed Usually sensors built into patch panels/fiber enclosures for each port Patch detection via RFiD 9 th wire Embedded ID chips IR sensors so s Bar Codes Ground detection Information sent from IIM system via Information sent from IIM system via LAN/WAN to IIM software LAN/WAN
How Does It Work? LAN Equipment Discovery Uses SNMP to discover LAN equipment Continually monitors switches for device connection/disconnection Places IP devices in their proper location in the database LAN/WAN Detects when IP devices are moved Detects when devices are off network May detect rogue devices Additional detection tools may be used to gather addition information (WMI, etc )
How Does It Work? Circuit Anatomy Switch SNMP Discovered IIM Panels Manually Documented Horizontal Cable Manually Documented End Devices SNMP Discovered Patch Cords Automatically Detected
How Does It Work? Cross-Connect vs. Interconnect Cross-Connect Interconnect
How Does It Work? Cross-Connect vs. Interconnect Cross-Connect Connect Interconnect Advantages Highest patch accuracy Eliminate/reduce patching thi at switches ith Less reliance on technician Disadvantages Higher Cost More RU space required Advantages Lower Cost Higher density Disadvantages Lower patch accuracy Higher technician intervention
IIM MAC Guidance Various methods use to guide technicians to improve MAC accuracy and efficiency LEDs LCDs Hand-held devices Smart phone aps Audible alerts Electroshock (just kidding)
How Can IIM Help? XYZ Company IT Management
Documentation The Challenge: Ongoing manual upkeep Records become inaccurate over time Documentation cannot be relied on due to inaccuracy Less efficient IT management Time/money spent on audits to update records The Solution: Automatically tracks changes without manual input 100% accuracy Database is a trusted source of information Improve efficiency of IT staff Reduce or eliminate audits
Asset Management The Challenge: Utilization of existing infrastructure Inventory management Warranty management Device location Trouble meeting SLAs due to inaccurate documentation The Solution: Maximize utilization of existing infrastructure Reports for inventory management Warranty expiration stored against devices Show exact device location Meet SLAs
Enhanced Security The Challenge: Detecting unauthorized devices on network Preventing unauthorized devices from getting network access Preventing devices from being moved Quickly determining location of device infected with a virus Difficulty ensuring separation of secure networks (government) The Solution: Track devices as they are connected, disconnected or move on network Alerts for unauthorized activity Location information for devices infected with a virus Partition networks for security
Reducing Downtime The Challenge: Preventing downtime Time required to determine the cause and fix the outage Loss of revenue (Financial) Loss of productivity i Safety (Petroleum) Security (Government, Hospitals, Airports) The Solution: Critical circuits/devices can be monitored 24/7 Monitoring system is a deterrent to unauthorized MAC activity If a critical applications goes down, IIM can trigger alerts to IT staff Quickly determine the source of the fault Quickly resolve issues (the 80/20 rule)
Improving Help Desk Response Time The Challenge: Time to find information Fault location detection Accuracy of information Reliance on paper and non-real time data Work order process not tied to infrastructure database The Solution: Detailed searchable database Complete end-to-end circuit trace 100% accurate database Real time updates to database Can be integrated with existing help desk ticketing system (such as Remedy, Service Now, Etc )
Remote Site Management The Challenge: No IT staff on site for remote locations Work is often outsourced Difficult to troubleshoot problems remotely Difficult to manage remote MACs Often impossible to enforce corporate policy The Solution: IIM makes sure remote work is done properly IIM provides diagnostic tools to quickly troubleshoot problems Problems can often be resolved without t dispatching a technician i View of physical layer and IP devices helps ensure compliance with corporate policies
IIM Adoption Barriers Cost - 20-30% more than standard d cabling Database setup significant amount of information required to populate Resources successful implementations train and dedicate staff to management of the system Cross-connect vs. Interconnect Cross-connect works best for IIM, yet most end-users prefer interconnect topology Implementation Support Staff few and far between Proprietary Systems concerns about tbeing locked into a single vendor
IIM Cost and ROI Cost: 20-25% 25% more than standard d cabling Database setup Training Administration of database Payback: Reduce downtime ($100k per hour) Less time spent on physical audits Improve help desk efficiency Improve tech efficiency Less time spend on network log audits Reduce expense to manage remote offices Typical payback is less than 2 years
IIM & ROI Intelligent Infrastructure Management (IIM) Supervise and Control your critical physical infrastructure in Real-time Save time on Documentation Updates Save money on Asset Management & Troubleshooting See, Manage, Protect Your Network...Wherever It Is An IIM solution requires some additional investment because of added intelligence and improved components Return On Investment (ROI): how long it takes to reach a break-even point from the initial investment?
Ingredient # 1: Type of cabling The choice of cabling solution has some impact on Total Budget Price difference between intelligent and traditional cabling (Expected cabling lifecycle (yrs))
Ingredient # 2: MAC frequency Moves, adds and changes (work orders) )in network configuration Average time for completing one work order Average number of events per year Average number of end-users involved in these events.
Ingredient # 3: Cost of Downtime Network downtime Average number of links having issues per year % of end-users involved by downtime Average cost of 1hr of downtime for corporate Estimated Average Cost of 1 hour of downtime = (Employee Costs per Hour * % Employees Affected + Average Revenue per Hour * % Revenue Affected) CoD (Cost of Downtime) (*) 55% > $ 1,000/h 35% > $ 10,000/h 10% > $ 50,000/h or more Average time spent for troubleshooting. (*) Infonetics
Ingredient # 4: Network documentation Network documentation updating Update frequency (audit ) Status of current documentation ti (high quality, medium, low) Time for updating
Basic Elements 40% of data circuits in a network require a MAC or servicing annually An average MAC or service call takes about 90 minutes to complete 80% of the time is spent identifying the problem and 20% actually performing the repair Source: Communications News
ROI spreadsheet Two main sheets: ROI Time rate Users can change cells written in blue
Input data Current status of documentation No. of links (copper & fibre) % of moves, adds & changes per year % of links to troubleshoot per year and % causing downtime Hour cost of technicians (MAC Troubleshooting) Hour cost of downtime Some reference value are available (comments show their origin)
Optional input data (1): IIM Added Value Define (0% to 30%) )how important could ldbe a tool to support and improve: Standard / Quality compliance / Better asset utilization / / y p / / Network audit / Remote sites management / Security
Optional input data (2): Time rate Two main activities Second group (No IIM) Workorder execution Troubleshooting First group (With IIM): Expected time (min) for searching and operating Doc updating is automatic (0 ) Expected time for searching, operating and doc updating Three quality levels for current documentation status (High-Medium-Low), with a direct impact on time for searching and updating
Optional input data (2): Time rate - example With IIM: Without IIM 8 to locate where the problem is 8 to execute MAC Different time for searching and updating according to doc quality About 12 to execute MAC (no interactive support) 15 to repair interactive support) About 22 to repair
Output (1) Time spent (without / with IIM) )for each operation: MACs / Doc updating / Troubleshooting
Output (2) Total time/yr (without / with IIM) )for operations: MACs / Doc updating (after MAC and troubleshooting) / Downtime Info on total number of links changed/added per yr / having issues
Output (3) Total costs for infrastructure management (traditional vs. intelligent) % of savings Some additional training costs for IIM are considered
Output (4) Time & Money Savings Summary of yearly savings with IIM
Output (5) - ROI Time to Return on Initial Investment (break even = zero-crossing point) In many cases ROI<2yrs
ROI Conclusions Even by adopting conservative parameters, an IIM solution can shows an excellent ROI The high number of benefits justifies the adoption of IIM in most IT environments
IIM Future Current market penetration for IIM systems is in single digits, however... ISO/IEC AIM standard coming 38% market penetration for DCIM software (451 Group) IIM enhances DCIM Lower IIM costs Increasing convergence and complexity of networks drives need for IIM