DCIM enhancements improve capacity management

The APIs bring added capabilities that Emerson Network Power customers have requested to improve the Trellis platform's DCIM performance. These APIs simplify integration between DCIM and applications running inside customer data centres without changing the way those data centres operate. APIs can be used for creating interoperability with other applications (from IT management to accounting systems), extending to other platforms such as mobile devices, and creating custom workflows that reflect processes within a customer’s environment.

“The value of DCIM depends on its ability to aggregate large amounts of real-time data from all areas of the data centre,” said Jennifer Koppy, Research Director, IDC. “APIs that enable the interoperation of functions between many different sources of data and management solutions are essential to a successful DCIM implementation.”

“With the addition of APIs, the Trellis platform’s ability to become a strategic business asset has been greatly enhanced,” said Enzo Greco, Vice President and General Manager, Software, Data Centre Solutions, Emerson Network Power. “Full integration of facilities and IT resources makes it simple and efficient for customers to use the Trellis platform every day to make their jobs easier. And, the API is a particularly powerful feature, as it provides a well-defined method for our ecosystem of partners, independent software vendors, and end-users to extend and enhance the value of the Trellis platform.” 

APIs within the Trellis platform enable it to speak to applications such as business management systems, web applications and mobile devices. These APIs help open bi-directional access to data across platforms and systems and allow IT to accurately allocate cost by line-of-business or customer. This communication allows critical data to be accurately collected and stored in the Trellis platform. Data centre operations teams can then use the platform’s advanced analytics to produce actionable information to support decision-making and measure performance at every level of their operation, thereby transitioning to a data-driven operational model.

These capabilities have application across all data centre operating models including enterprise, cloud, lights-out and hyperscale. As a result, data centre operators will be able to focus less on managing the physical infrastructure and more on ensuring that IT applications are available for running the business.

In addition to featuring the APIs, the latest Trellis platform release enhances the change planning capabilities within the Trellis platform. These enhancements give users the ability to take advantage of the capacity search feature from any point in time. Data centre senior managers and executives are now able to understand the rate at which and where their resources are consumed, thereby improving their ability to make better capacity planning decisions.

Benefits of this added functionality include greater insight into port capacity across the enterprise (due to the ability to manage data connections within created projects), and reduced time for planning and new equipment deployment. The latest Trellis platform release also comes with eight extra reports, including critical reports for connections, status and power consumption.