Critical Capabilities for Data Center Infrastructure ... · PDF file2/27/2015 Critical Capabilities for Data Center Infrastructure Management Tools file:///Users/rajatghosh/Desktop/Critical%20Capabilities%20for%20Data

2/27/2015 Critical Capabilities for Data Center Infrastructure Management Tools

file:///Users/rajatghosh/Desktop/Critical%20Capabilities%20for%20Data%20Center%20Infrastructure%20Management%20Tools.html 1/14

Critical Capabilities for Data CenterInfrastructure Management Tools24 December 2014 ID:G00259287

Analyst(s): Jay E. Pultz, Federico De Silva, Naveen Mishra, Henrique Cecci, Tiny Haynes, David J. Cappuccio,April Adams

VIEW SUMMARY

DCIM tools support the diverse needs of colocation providers, large enterprises/managed serviceproviders and midsize enterprises. This research provides data center managers with insight into sevenDCIM tools and their ability to support these three uses cases.

OverviewKey Findings

All seven products in this research met, and sometimes exceeded, the requirements for each ofthe three use cases.

The DCIM products of Emerson, iTRACS, Nlyte Software, Panduit and Schneider Electric scoredsimilarly high in the colocation provider use case.

Nlyte Software's DCIM product scored the highest for the large enterprise/managed serviceprovider and midsizeenterprise use cases.

Across the vendors, two critical capabilities were substantively less advanced than the others:environmental monitoring and predictive analysis.

Although not included in the ratings or scoring, ease of use of all seven products was lacking, andthe scalability of certain products may not meet the needs of all enterprises in the use cases.

RecommendationsCustomize the weightings of the critical capabilities in this research to align with your specific

EVIDENCE

The evaluation in this research was based on:

Ongoing research by the Gartner Data Center andDCIM research teamsConsensus of seven Gartner analysts (the authorand coauthors of this research)Management and peer reviews by Gartner analystPrevious work on two research reports that formedthe basis of the Critical Capabilities ("DCIMSolutions: How Do They DO That?" and "BestPractices: Optimize Your Data Center UtilizationWith DCIM")"DCIM Tools: Selection Criteria"Requested vendorprovided documents, such asproduct specifications, that addressed the criticalcapabilities in depthIndepth vendor product demonstrations anddiscussions that were focused on the criticalcapabilities in this researchCustomer references performed jointly for thiscritical capabilities and the associated MagicQuadrantClient inquiries

CRITICAL CAPABILITIES METHODOLOGY

This methodology requires analysts to identify thecritical capabilities for a class of products or services.Each capability is then weighted in terms of its relativeimportance for specific product or service use cases.

http://www.gartner.com/technology/contact/bac/?cm_sp=bac-_-reprint-_-banner



needs, and evaluate the DCIM products accordingly. (The interactive overlay of the online versionof this research makes this customization possible.)

Seek clarification and references from DCIM vendors to determine whether their tools will scale toyour environment.

Use the concepts presented in this research to evaluate DCIM products beyond the seven productscovered in this research, and reach out to Gartner analysts and DCIM vendors as needed.

What You Need to KnowThis document was revised on 6 January 2015. The document you are viewing is the corrected version.For more information, see the Corrections page on gartner.com.

Data center managers are deploying data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools to supportthree major use cases:

Colocation provider

Large enterprise/managed service provider

Midsize enterprise

The colocation provider use case typically entails use of DCIM tools to monitor and manage only thefacility itself, given that IT equipment is customerowned. Because DCIM critical capabilities have thesame relative importance for both large enterprises and managed service providers, they share a singleuse case in this research. The midsizeenterprise and large enterprise/managed service use cases arefairly similar, with the criticality of DCIM capabilities increasing in line with company size (Table 1 showshow DCIM critical capabilities vary in importance across the use cases.)

In this research, we evaluate seven DCIM products and solutions on their ability to support the threeuses cases by means of the products' critical capabilities. Further defined in the Critical CapabilitiesDefinition section of this research, those capabilities are:

Power monitoring

Environmental monitoring

Reporting/visualization

Resource management

IT physical asset monitoring and management

Predictive analysis/model/simulation

Workflow integration management

This research is a companion to "Magic Quadrant for Data Center Infrastructure Management Tools,"which rates DCIM vendors in the completeness of their vision and ability to execute.

Analysis

Next, products/services are rated in terms of how wellthey achieve each of the critical capabilities. A scorethat summarizes how well they meet the criticalcapabilities for each use case is then calculated foreach product/service.

"Critical capabilities" are attributes that differentiateproducts/services in a class in terms of their qualityand performance. Gartner recommends that usersconsider the set of critical capabilities as some of themost important criteria for acquisition decisions.

In defining the product/service category for evaluation,the analyst first identifies the leading uses for theproducts/services in this market. What needs are endusers looking to fulfill, when consideringproducts/services in this market? Use cases shouldmatch common client deployment scenarios. Thesedistinct client scenarios define the Use Cases.

The analyst then identifies the critical capabilities.These capabilities are generalized groups of featurescommonly required by this class of products/services.Each capability is assigned a level of importance infulfilling that particular need; some sets of features aremore important than others, depending on the usecase being evaluated.

Each vendor’s product or service is evaluated in termsof how well it delivers each capability, on a fivepointscale. These ratings are displayed sidebyside for allvendors, allowing easy comparisons between thedifferent sets of features.

Ratings and summary scores range from 1.0 to 5.0:

1 = Poor: most or all defined requirements notachieved

2 = Fair: some requirements not achieved

3 = Good: meets requirements

4 = Excellent: meets or exceeds some requirements

5 = Outstanding: significantly exceeds requirements

To determine an overall score for each product in theuse cases, the product ratings are multiplied by theweightings to come up with the product score in usecases.

The critical capabilities Gartner has selected do notrepresent all capabilities for any product; therefore,may not represent those most important for a specificuse situation or business objective. Clients should usea critical capabilities analysis as one of several sourcesof input about a product before making aproduct/service decision.

http://www.gartner.com/technology/about/policies/current_corrections.jsp



Critical Capabilities UseCase Graphics

Figure 1. Vendors' Product Scores for Colocation Provider Use Case

Note: Vendor scores within 0.05 of each other are equivalent.

Source: Gartner (December 2014)

Figure 2. Vendors' Product Scores for Large Enterprise/Managed Service Provider Use Case



Figure 3. Vendors' Product Scores for MidsizeEnterprise Use Case





VendorsCA Technologies: Data Center Infrastructure ManagementWith a focus on IT infrastructure management solutions, particularly IT operations management, CATechnologies made the strategic decision to incubate a DCIM product in 2009, as well as expand itsstrong asset management capabilities to include facilities management. In 2013, the product came outof incubation under the name CA DCIM. The product combines CA ecoMeter, a power management andenvironmental monitoring tool, with CA Visual Infrastructure, a 3D visualization tool for data centerinfrastructure assets that is made possible through a nonexclusive development partnership withOptimum Path. In addition to this partnership, CA is now partnered with Eaton.

CA differentiates CA DCIM through integration approaches (namely, IT service management [ITSM] andfacilities integration) and 3D visualization. Drawing on CA's history of success in ITSM, CA DCIM excelsin IT physical asset management and control by leveraging CA Technologies' gateway and calculationengine capabilities. CA DCIM also offers strong reporting and visualization capabilities through CA VisualInfrastructure.

As with the other DCIM products evaluated in this report, the current predictive analysis capabilities ofCA DCIM include historical trending analytics and impact analysis for whatif scenarios.

Emerson: Trellis Platform/Avocent Universal Mgmt. GatewayEmerson entered the DCIM tools market by acquiring Avocent (2009) and Aperture (2008). Based onthe knowledge and technology gained through these acquisitions, Emerson launched the Trellis platformin 2012. The Trellis platform is Emerson's flagship DCIM product and where Emerson focuses its newDCIM product development.



The Trellis platform utilizes another Emerson product, the Avocent Universal Management Gateway(UMG), as a front end. UMG communicates with IT and facility devices via their primary protocols (suchas Modbus and Intelligent Platform Management Interface). In so doing, Emerson DCIM has access tothe robust datasets associated with each device. Open APIs are utilized to ensure that all devices sharethe correct information.

The modular architecture of the Trellis platform is a key differentiator between it and many competingDCIM products, as the architecture enables customers to avoid buying more capabilities than theyneed. The architecture also enables Emerson to readily expand the product offering; for example,Emerson plans to add its Thermal Manager module in early 2015. Additionally, Emerson offers twoprepackaged versions of the Trellis platform to enable customers to get into DCIM through the twomostcommon entry points: energy management and asset/resource management.

The Trellis platform supports all of the critical capabilities in this research at high levels. Emerson needsto make the Trellis platform significantly easier to use. However, all products we have analyzed in thisCritical Capabilities report have a similar drawback.

iTRACS: Converged Physical Infrastructure ManagementiTRACS entered the DCIM market in 2009, with the introduction of its Converged Physical InfrastructureManagement (CPIM) product. iTRACS operated as a private company from its inception in the late1980s, and it sold asset management software until March 2013, when it was acquired by the publiclytraded company CommScope. iTRACS has made frequent and ongoing enhancements to CPIM, and as aresult, today's CPIM offering (version 3.4), supports all of the critical capabilities in this research at highlevels.

iTRACS differentiates CPIM from other vendors' DCIM tools through strong reporting and visualizationcapabilities. To this end, CPIM includes a portal called myDCIM, which offers rolebased andcustomizable dashboards. iTRACS also includes a draganddrop report builder that is easy to use. Italso provides the flexibility to include any data point that CPIM tracks, as well as display that dataaccording to user preference. Visualization with CPIM includes both 2D and 3D options. The 3D graphicsare particularly wellexecuted, emphasizing the ability to view connectivity links, and to remove specificassets and interconnections from the view to reduce clutter and help the user focus only on the assets,asset interrelationships and power chain traces that are of interest. In addition, CPIM performs well atworkflow integration, offering a robust work order generation capability that includes visual instructions,auto discovery to validate that the install was completed correctly, and unidirectional and bidirectionallinks to ITSM.

iTRACS continues to work on its predictive analysis, modeling and simulation capabilities. Currently,CPIM supports whatif scenarios and uses historical trends to estimate the future state of the datacenter. CPIM also has some modeling and simulation capabilities, and iTRACS has planned continuedenhancements in both of these areas.

Nlyte Software: Nlyte 7.0Now in its seventh major release since 2004, the Nlyte Software's DCIM product has, with each release,become increasingly refined in scalability, speed and analytics. Nlyte 7.0 is a softwareonly DCIM,available in both onpremises and as a service. Nlyte Software's DCIM tool is differentiated by its



architecture, which features a centralized database called the Content Database (CDB) that enables alldata, at all levels of any device, to be associated with a single image. All of this DCIM tool's monitoring,measurement, analysis and interface modules utilize CDB, making the tool's architecture analogous tothat of an ERP system.

Nlyte 7.0 has an automated workflow engine that is strongly integrated with ITSM processes and tools,including those of BMC, HP and ServiceNow. Nlyte Software monitors both physical and virtual assets,and works with most hardware sensors, meters and probes.

Nlyte Software's DCIM product addresses our critical capabilities at a high level, with its strong suit ofchange management, capacity planning, resource and asset management for both historical andcurrent configurations. Although the CDB models assets in 3D, Nlyte Software purposely visualizes thedata center in 2D to avoid display conflicts. Reporting in Nlyte 7.0 is very well thought out. NlyteSoftware has a strong whatif scenario feature set.

Panduit: SmartZone DCIM/SynapSenseFounded in 1955, Panduit began as a manufacturer of electrical, networking and facilities managementtools. The company released SmartZone DCIM as an advanced rendition of what had once beenPhysical Infrastructure Manager, a facilitiesfocused software tool.

Today, SmartZone DCIM, incorporating functionality from SynapSense and Unite Technologiesacquisitions, constitutes Panduit's complete DCIM offering. SmartZone DCIM provides the foundation ofthe DCIM capabilities, with both wired and wireless sensor hardware for environmental monitoring.SmartZone also provides asset tracking and management, remote management and connectivity,capacity planning, and power and environmental management. Panduit makes these sets of modularcapabilities available on their own (including SynapSense), enabling customers to buy only what theyneed.

SmartZone DCIM allows for the monitoring and management of multiple data centers and can roll up alldata center information to provide a holistic view. As a point of differentiation, SmartZone DCIMprovides insight into the dependencies between data center assets, enabling data center managers topinpoint issues in the power chain, or better understand the widespread effect of potential hardwarefailures. SynapSense Active Control provides monitoring and automation controls to match coolingcapacity to meet the changing IT loads. SmartZone DCIM offers customizable reporting and strongvisualization features, with a rolebased user interface. Asset tracking, which includes tracking ofalarms, is also particularly strong, given the company's background in facilities management.SmartZone DCIM also integrates well with workload systems. In addition, SmartZone DCIM offersstrong capacity planning features.

Raritan: dcTrack DCIM Operations/PowerIQ DCIM MonitoringRaritan is a private company founded in 1985 as a keyboard, video, mouse vendor. The company hassince expanded its physical infrastructure product lines to include smart racks, intelligent powerdistribution units (PDUs) and asset tagging systems. Raritan entered the DCIM tools market in 2008.

Raritan's DCIM offering consists of two products: dcTrack DCIM Operations and Power IQ DCIMMonitoring. dcTrack DCIM Operations provides asset management, including capacity and change



management; Power IQ DCIM Monitoring provides power, energy and environmental monitoring fordata center IT and facilities. Together, these two fully integrated products cover the breadth ofcapabilities needed to qualify as DCIM. The two products are targeted at the mostcommon entry pointswe see clients making: IT asset management and power monitoring. The products can be purchasedseparately.

Raritan's DCIM tools are fully integrated with Raritan's other physical infrastructure products, such assmart racks and PDUs; however, thirdparty smart PDUs are supported as well. Raritan's DCIM toolsprovide very granular data center monitoring without the need for thirdparty addons. To easeimplementation, Raritan's DCIM tools utilize autodiscovery, an extensive model library and premadetemplates. As an openstandardsbased solution, Raritan's workflow capabilities integrate well withleading ITSM products, including configuration management databases (CMDBs). dcTrack DCIMOperations supports asset life cycle management, with the ability to track assets down to the devicepower supplies and data ports.

When it comes to predictive analysis, Raritan's DCIM products can do historical trending analysis for theforecasting of future space, power and capacity needs. Raritan's DCIM tools offer a rich array ofreporting options.

Schneider Electric: StruxureWare for Data CentersSchneider Electric's DCIM product offering, StruxureWare for Data Centers, is built on a softwareplatform that is used for critical facility management in industries, such as energy, utilities, healthcareand manufacturing. StruxureWare for Data Centers consists of the following: an executivelevel viewcalled Resource Advisor; Data Center Expert, Cooling Monitoring Expert, Power Monitoring Expert andStruxureWare Data Center Operation. Available in enterprise and colocation versions, StruxureWareData Center Operation consists of 13 module/product enhancement options that partially overlap theother modules. The overall architecture is complex and confusing, making it difficult for customers todecide which module and option parts of the DCIM tool to purchase. However, StruxureWare for DataCenters, as a whole, supports all the critical capabilities at high levels in this research.

StruxureWare for Data Centers has strong power and environmental monitoring capabilities, which isnot surprising given Schneider Electric's heritage. The product allows for management of both physicaland virtual assets. It also offers power capping via Intel Data Center Manager, and new cooling controlcapabilities through a partnership with Vigilent. Mobile access is also available for the product, whileworkflow automation remains a work in progress.

ContextTraditionally, the facilities management team has monitored and managed data center power andcooling systems, as well as physical space. About five years ago, the data center team's concernsregarding power, cooling and space began to grow, spurring the need for DCIM tools. This growingconcern came about for several reasons:

Data center growth and the cost of that growth. By around 2010, the continued growth ofdata centers made understanding the performance and capacity of these functions critical for datacenter teams. This was especially true of the largest enterprises, where lessthanoptimized



power, cooling and physical space usage could result in hundreds of thousands of dollars, if notconsiderably more, in wasted expenses

Increasing concern about uptime. Data center managers have grown more concerned aboutthe reliability of power and cooling systems, since these systems have the largest impact onuptime.

Limited capabilities of building management systems and existing techniques. Datacenter managers needed to understand what was happening in data center power and cooling in alevel of detail that existing, facilitiesoriented building management systems could not provide. ITasset management systems fell short of showing the interrelationship of data center assets.Moreover, ad hoc monitoring and reporting grew increasingly cumbersome with data center size.

Since their emergence, DCIM tools, which once lacked much commonality from one to the next, nowhave similar capabilities. At the same time the DCIM market has grown in maturity, CMDB tools havegrown pervasive across businesses, providing much of the data needed to implement DCIM tools. Inaddition, many DCIM tools now contain autodiscovery features, enabling them to automatically discoverdata center assets for monitoring. Moreover, most DCIM tools can augment these data sources withstrategically placed sensors.

Product/Service Class DefinitionDCIM tools monitor, measure, manage and/or control data center resources and energy consumption ofboth ITrelated equipment (such as servers, storage and network switches) and facilities infrastructurecomponents (such as PDUs and computer room air conditioning [CRAC]). These tools are used tooptimize data center capacity, including power, cooling, and space usage, helping to control costs,manage data center growth and reduce the chance of IT service outages. Technology providers deliverDCIM tools as software, through a bundled hardware/software package or as a service.

Critical Capabilities DefinitionThe following sections contain definitions of the seven critical capabilities that form the basis of thisnote. For further detail on how Gartner views the many possible implementations of these capabilities,see "DCIM Solutions: How Do They DO That?"

Power MonitoringThis capability refers to a DCIM tool's ability to monitor the power usage of both IT equipment (such asservers, storage and network switches) and facilities equipment (such as PDUs and CRACs).

Scores for this capability take into consideration the timing of data collection, from near real time, allthe way to static collection, such as through the manual entry of nameplate ratings. Scores also takeinto consideration data collection methods and a tool's ability to determine initial power requirements,for example, through autodiscovery. Lastly, scores reflect the granularity of monitoring, from a room, tocomponent level.

Environmental MonitoringThis capability refers to a DCIM tool's ability to measure and monitor in near real time temperature,



humidity and other environmental metrics at least down to the rack level.

Scores for this capability take into account the breadth of environmental factors that the DCIM tool canmonitor, such as rack inlet temperature, change in rack temperature and leak detection. The scoresalso reflect whether the tool collects data by sensors (and from a range of vendors), or by some othermethod, such as through another kind of hardware component. Lastly, scores take into account thegranularity of monitoring, from the room, to component level.

Reporting/VisualizationThis capability refers to a DCIM tool's ability to report on and visualize data center power andenvironmental data.

Scores for this capability account for a tool's ability to perform historical trending and provide alerts, forinstance, when a metric approaches a defined threshold. Scores also take into consideration reportingformat and delivery mechanism, including the ability to provide template and customizable reports anddashboards, and whether they are accessible via mobile devices. Further, the scores in this capabilityreflect the visualization capabilities of the tool. This includes whether the tool provides 2D or 3Dvisualization, animation of visualizations, rolebased visualization, asset drilldown, the ability to viewconnectivity links and/or the ability to perform an impact analysis.

Resource ManagementThis capability refers to a DCIM tool's ability to track the location and interrelationship of data center ITand facilities components (in some cases, all the way down to the components' position in the racks),and provides insight into those components' utilization levels.

Scores for this capability take into consideration a tool's ability to support the initial DCIM deployment,for instance, through the autodiscovery of data center components. Scores also take into considerationthe granularity of resource management, all the way down to the tracking of an IT asset in a serverrack. Lastly, scores for this capability reflect the added resource management functionality of aparticular DCIM tool, such as tracking floor loading/weight, providing a display of interdependencies andintegration with other software to provide a morecomprehensive view of data center resources.

IT Phys. Asset Monitoring & Mgmt.This capability refers to a DCIM tool's ability to monitor and manage the performance and powerconsumption of data center assets, such as servers.

Scores for this capability reflect a tool's ability to monitor the performance and power consumption of ITassets, such as servers, and to manage those IT assets in a variety of ways. While this capability can beuseful, it is a complement to DCIM, rather than a core functionality. Scores also take into considerationresource control — the ability to optimize the performance of various resources (such as CRACS, fansand PDUs) based on environmental or operational thresholds, rather than direct operator action. Scoresalso take into consideration whether resource control dynamically turns devices on and off and controlsvariables, like fan speed. A tool's additional capabilities, such as the ability to monitor and manage firealarms, physical security, cable and shifting workloads, also weighed on the score.



Predictive Analysis/Modeling/Sim.This capability refers to a DCIM tool's ability to provide predictive analytics, modeling and simulation ofdata center power, cooling and physical space usage.

Predictive analysis refers to a DCIM tool's ability to use historical trends or sample data to estimate thefuture state of the data center. Modeling and simulation are similar to predictive analysis, except,instead of projecting the future based on historical data, they create a simplified model of the datacenter based on a snapshot at a certain point in time, and then apply various conditions to the model toestimate likely future states.

Scores for this capability take into consideration a tool's ability to perform predictive analysis and whatif scenarios. Scores also take into consideration the tool's ability to perform modeling and simulation.

Workflow Integration Mgmt.This capability refers to a DCIM tool's ability to leverage the resource management and predictiveanalysis/modeling/simulation capabilities of the DCIM tool to improve workflow processes, eitherthrough its own workflow capabilities or by integrating with an IT service support management tool.

Scores for this capability reflect a tool's ability to not simply support workflow processes, but alsogenerate a work order. Scores also reflect the ability for the workflow to tell a user where to perform aninstall, what power/circuit to make a connection to, which LAN to connect to and which cables toconnect to.

Use CasesColocation ProviderThis use case involves using a DCIM tool to monitor and manage a colocation facility at the customerlevel.

Colocation providers utilize DCIM tools to optimize use of power, cooling and space in their datacenters. They also use DCIM as a means to understand their customers' consumption of these, giventhat usage equates to prices charged to customers. Colocation providers do not, in most cases, monitorall the way down to the level of a customer's individual servers, as their customers own and managetheir IT equipment located in the colocation data center. However, in some cases, colocation providerswill provide DCIM to their customers as a valueadded service.

Power monitoring has the highest weight in this use case, given that power is a primary component ofthe colocation providers' pricing model. Environmental monitoring and resource management have highweights because these critical capabilities help keep the colocation facility optimized. IT physical assetmonitoring, and management and workflow integration management do not weigh on this use case atall because those capabilities are IToriented, and most of the IT equipment is the customer'sresponsibility.

Midsize EnterpriseThis use case involves using a DCIM tool to monitor and manage the data center assets of a midsize



enterprise.

Data centers in midsize enterprises typically range up to a few thousand square feet in area. (Note:Gartner defines midsize enterprises as having $50 million to $1 billion in annual revenue and/or 100 to999 employees. However, these ranges may vary by geographic region.)

Given typical budget constraints, midsize enterprises are willing to forgo certain DCIM capabilitieswhere manual processes are still viable. Midsize enterprises, for instance, may still be able to monitorand manage data center power, cooling and physical space usage manually, without a noticeable,negative impact on the business, if the data center is small enough. As data center size increases,however, the ability to perform the functions of a DCIM tool using manual processes grows increasinglycumbersome.

Reporting/visualization weights the most on this use case because DCIM offers the ability to drill downto the rack level — a capability lacking in many singleproduct tools. IT physical asset monitoring andmanagement and workflow integration management are of next highest and equal importance becausestandard IT service support management tools may be sufficient to handle these capabilities. Powermonitoring, environmental monitoring and predictive analysis/modeling/simulation are of equal,although very little, importance due essentially to the smaller size of these data centers.

Large Enterprise/Managed Service ProviderThis use case involves using a DCIM tool to monitor and manage the data center assets of a largeenterprise or a managed service provider.

(Note: In this report, we are using "managed service providers" to include all data center serviceproviders, with the exception of those offering colocation services only.)

In this use case, data centers can be in the hundreds of thousands of square feet, but most are in therange of several thousand square feet, to several tens of thousands of square feet.

Tasked with managing very large data centers, data center managers in this use case find ad hoc andsimple graphic tools inadequate for the scale involved, making DCIM tools a necessity. Moreover, therisks of not using a DCIM tool increase with data center size. For large enterprises and managed serviceproviders, lessthanoptimal data center power, cooling and physical space usage can result inextremely high — and unnecessary — costs. Finding broken or failing equipment can also become anincreasingly difficult task with growing data center size, putting demands on technology to solve theproblem.

Workflow integration management has the highest importance in this use case, given the large volumeof change that occurs. Power monitoring, environmental monitoring, reporting/visualization, resourcemanagement, and IT physical asset monitoring and management are of equal and high importance, dueto environmental complexity. Predictive analysis/model/simulation is of smaller importance given thecurrent state of this capability within available DCIM tools.

Inclusion Criteria



This research includes products from the seven vendors in "Magic Quadrant for Data CenterInfrastructure Management Tools" that had the highest weighted scores for vision and ability toexecute.

Table 1. Weighting for Critical Capabilities in Use Cases

Critical Capabilities ColocationProvider

Large Enterprise/ManagedService Provider

MidsizeEnterprise

Power Monitoring 30% 15% 5%

Environmental Monitoring 25% 15% 5%

Reporting/Visualization 15% 15% 25%

Resource Management 25% 15% 20%

IT Physical Asset Monitoring andManagement

0% 15% 20%

PredictiveAnalysis/Modeling/Simulation

5% 5% 5%

Workflow Integration Mgmt. 0% 20% 20%

Total 100% 100% 100%

As of September 2014


This methodology requires analysts to identify the critical capabilities for a class of products/services.Each capability is then weighed in terms of its relative importance for specific product/service usecases.

Critical Capabilities Rating

Table 2. Product/Service Rating on Critical Capabilities

Product or ServiceRatings

CATechnologies:Data CenterInfrastructureManagement

EmersonTrellisPlatform:AvocentUniversalManagementGateway

iTRACS:ConvergedPhysicalInfrastructureManagement

NlyteSoftware:Nlyte 7.0

Panduit:SmartZoneDCIM/SynapSense




Table 3 shows the product/service scores for each use case. The scores, which are generated bymultiplying the usecase weightings by the product/service ratings, summarize how well the criticalcapabilities are met for each use case.


To determine an overall score for each product/service in the use cases, multiply the ratings in Table 2by the weightings shown in Table 1.

Power Monitoring 4.0 4.3 4.1 4.0 4.1

Environmental Monitoring 3.9 4.1 4.1 3.9 4.2

Reporting/Visualization 4.2 4.1 4.6 4.4 4.4

Resource Management 4.3 4.4 4.3 4.5 4.3

IT Physical Asset Monitoringand Management

4.4 4.1 4.0 4.6 4.0

PredictiveAnalysis/Modeling/Simulation

3.9 3.9 4.1 4.3 4.2

Workflow IntegrationManagement

4.3 4.0 4.4 4.6 4.2

Table 3. Product Score in Use Cases

Use Cases CATechnologies:Data CenterInfrastructureManagement

Emerson: TrellisPlatform/AvocentUniversalManagementGateway

iTRACS:ConvergedPhysicalInfrastructureManagement

NlyteSoftware:Nlyte 7.0

Panduit:SmartZoneDCIM/SynapSense

Colocation Provider 4.08 4.23 4.23 4.18 4.23

LargeEnterprise/ManagedService Provider

4.18 4.15 4.25 4.35 4.20

Midsize Enterprise 4.24 4.14 4.31 4.45 4.23



© 2014 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Gartner is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. or its affiliates. This publication may not be reproducedor distributed in any form without Gartner’s prior written permission. If you are authorized to access this publication, your use of it is subject to the Usage Guidelines forGartner Services posted on gartner.com. The information contained in this publication has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Gartner disclaims allwarranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information and shall have no liability for errors, omissions or inadequacies in such information. Thispublication consists of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. The opinions expressed herein are subject tochange without notice. Although Gartner research may include a discussion of related legal issues, Gartner does not provide legal advice or services and its researchshould not be construed or used as such. Gartner is a public company, and its shareholders may include firms and funds that have financial interests in entities coveredin Gartner research. Gartner’s Board of Directors may include senior managers of these firms or funds. Gartner research is produced independently by its researchorganization without input or influence from these firms, funds or their managers. For further information on the independence and integrity of Gartner research, see“Guiding Principles on Independence and Objectivity.”

About Gartner | Careers | Newsroom | Policies | Site Index | IT Glossary | Contact Gartner

http://www.gartner.com/technology/it-glossary

http://www.gartner.com/it/products/newsroom

http://www.gartner.com/technology/careers

http://www.gartner.com/technology/about/policies/usage_guidelines.jsp

http://www.gartner.com/technology/about.jsp

http://www.gartner.com/technology/site-index.jsp

http://www.gartner.com/technology/about/ombudsman/omb_guide2.jsp

http://www.gartner.com/technology/contact/contact_gartner.jsp

http://www.gartner.com/technology/about/policies/guidelines_ov.jsp

Documents

Critical Capabilities for Data Center Infrastructure ... · PDF file2/27/2015 Critical Capabilities for Data Center Infrastructure Management Tools file:///Users/rajatghosh/Desktop/Critical%20Capabilities%20for%20Data