Transcript MergePoint™ Unity Switches

MergePoint™ Unity
Switches
Ronny Schnüriger
Agenda

Problems in the Market

Product Solutions

Product Description
– Connection Diagram
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Key Features and Benefits

Other options to consider
Problems in the Market
Remote Management
of Rack Assets –
Target Persona
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How can I access a remote server that is having
an OS or network connectivity issues?

If a server drops off the network, how can I quickly
determine the cause and restore connectivity?
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How can I access a remote server to restart a
service or stop a runaway process if my remote
software tools cannot make a connection?
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How can I access the configuration port of a
network router/switch that is offline without having
to take my laptop and a serial cable into the DC?

If I want to provide remote access to branch
offices that include servers/network equipment, do
I need to purchase multiple appliances?
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When working on remote server OS or application
issues, how can I transfer data or load a new
application if the network connection on that
device is down or unavailable?
System Admin – Lance Miller
•
Keep the servers up
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Solve it quickly and reliable
•
Be the answer man
Lab Manager – Lloyd Bell
•
Know where assets are
•
Be fast, flexible and deliver on
time
•
Save money
Problems in the Market
Staff Efficiency –
Target Persona
DC Manager – Jim Richards
•
Efficiently manage his
staff
•
Increase process
efficiency
•
Find better solutions to
manage the data center
• How long does it take to identify and
resolve incidents and problems with
servers and network equipment?
• What about for remote locations?
• How valuable is that downtime and
the time your staff?
• Do you have SLAs (Service Level
Agreements) in place? Penalty cost?
• Is the IT staff wasting valuable time
that could be better spent on more
strategic and proactive projects?
• Are you interested in reducing the
time spent to
diagnose/resolve/reconfigure and
restore these devices?
Problems in the Market
Security – Target
Persona
Security Admin – Nick Nimitz
•
Keep the environment
secure
•
Prevent outages
•
Plan for growth
• How can I use Smart Card
readers for computer
authentication if I’m using remote
hardware such as digital KVM
switches?
• How can I reduce the need for my
IT staff, consultants, and
contractors to physically enter the
data center without impacting
their ability to do their work?
• How can I control who physically
connects to the KVM, USB, and
serial ports of the equipment I
have in the data center? What
kind of reports do I currently have
to show this?
Product Solutions - Improve Remote
Management
MergePoint Unity switch improves remote management
• Overcomes the limitations of in-band software tools such as
RDP, VNC, and typical SSH connections
•
•
•
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Connect even when the target is having OS health and network
connection problems
The power of a local physical connection from anywhere
One application to provide out –of-band connections to
servers and rack based network equipment and other serial
devices
Virtual media allows admins to load/copy/transfer file to a
server even if the server is offline
•
•
Load patches and upgrades
Reinstall OS or application
Product Solution - Improve Staff
Efficiency
MergePoint Unity switch improves staff efficiency
• Out-of-band (OOB) access greatly improves response
and resolution time
– Access anytime from anywhere
– Eliminate need to walk/travel to the equipment
• Provides more visibility to diagnose and capabilities to
resolve because our an OOB remote connection is:
– Equivalent to a local physical connection
– Not dependent on the network connection of the target
device
– Not affected by OS or application issues
– Not dependent on a service running on the target
device
Product Solutions - Improve Security
The MergePoint Unity switch improves security
• Reduce the need for people to enter data center
– Provides remote users the capabilities of a direct physical
connection to KVM, USB, and serial ports of servers and
other IT equipment from anywhere.
– Overcomes the limits of traditional in-band tools
– Support for environments that use CAC/Smart card readers
for authentication- (exclusive Avocent feature)
– OOB along with Virtual media replace the need for many
activities that require users to physically touch devices
• When used with DSView 3 management software
centralized reporting captures all user and system
activities
Product Description
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The Avocent MergePoint Unity switches
include both KVM over IP and serial console
management technology in a single
appliance.
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This unique combination provides IT Administrators a complete
remote management solution to access and control servers,
networking equipment, and other devices found in data centers
and branch offices.
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When using DSView 4 software with MergePoint Unity switches,
administrators that use in-band management technologies (RDP,
VNC, etc) have an secure automatic failover with out-of-band
connections directly to the physical KVM, USB, and serial ports.
This unified approach enables IT administrators a faster method to
diagnose, reconfigure, or restore equipment to meet SLAs and
minimize downtime
Product Description: Quick Facts
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Remote access to KVM, USB, and serial connections
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Serial adapter supports SSH connections
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Serial adapters support the Cisco pin out to make
connections to Cisco® equipment quick and easy
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Video interfaces for VGA, HDMI, DVI and Display Port
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Virtual media enables remote USB connections and
support for Smart Card/CAC readers
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Built in web interface for standalone applications
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Centralize management when used with DSView® 4
software
Configuration Diagram
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The MergePoint Unity switch connects directly
to the physical ports of equipment using
server and serial modules
• KVM, USB, and Serial
• Cat-5 cable is used between the switch and modules
• Local and remote access to all attached
devices (Compatible with Avocent LCD trays)

Optional- attach Avocent PM PDU for
remote power switching and metering
Features and Benefits
Feature
Benefit
Advanced Remote Management
Provides secure and remote, out-of-band connections directly to the physical KVM, USB
and serial ports to complement existing in-band software management tools
Centralized Management Support
using DSVIew 4 Management
Software
Unified approach enables IT administrators a faster method to diagnose, reconfigure or
restore equipment to meet service level agreements and minimize downtime
Virtual Media
Enables USB media such as CD-ROMs, flash memory and external drives to be virtually
attached to a remote server's USB port
CAC/Smart Card Support
Utilizing the virtual media capabilities remote or local users can map a USB-based smart
card reader to the attached servers and authenticate using their smart cards
Enhanced Serial Adapters
Supports standard, remote SSH connections to attached serial devices, includes
electronic pin-out options for connections to the console ports on Cisco network
equipment
Dedicated Power Device Port
Connect supported PDUs for integrated power control, measurement and reporting
FIPS 140-2 Compliant Cryptography
The FIPS mode of operation uses an embedded FIPS 140-2 certified OpenSSL
cryptographic module (Certificate #1051)
VGA, HDMI, DVI and Display Port
Interfaces
Dual 10/100/1000 Network ports
Dual Power Supply Options
Supports analog and digital video for support to all video formats
Increased redundancy to provide access to critical equipment when power or network
issues occur.
Virtual Media - Defined
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Local Virtual Media
– Attach a USB device to the KVM switch as the rack,
and map it directly to any attached server
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Remote Virtual Media
– Attach USB devices from your local desktop and map
them directly to the KVM switch and the USB port of a
remote server
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MergePoint Unity also supports CAC/Smart Card
readers for authentication
Virtual Media - Local
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Attach a USB device to the KVM switch as the
rack, and map it directly to any attached server
Local keyboard, video,
and mouse or rack
LCD tray
Virtual Media - Remote

Attach USB devices from your local desktop and
map them directly to the MergePoint Unity
switch and the USB port of a remote server
Virtual Media – Key Benefits
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Empowers IT staff to do more remotely
– Improve response times
– Lets IT staff spend more time on higher value task
– Reduce travel or onsite visits
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Increase availability
– Shorten MTTR
– Minimize downtime
•
Reduce security issues
– Reduce physical access to the data center
– Limit who has virtual media capabilities
Serial Device Support
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Key features of the serial adapter
– Allows a user to use an SSH client to provide a
standard SSH connection to the attached serial port
• Buffering data is captured by the SSH client only
• Enables cut and paste capabilities
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Electronic pin-out for quick and easy connection
to the Cisco network configuration ports,
requiring no additional adapters
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Matches the pin out of the ACS ports to utilize
the same adapters, providing ease of installation
Product Offering
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Hardware platform includes several models
– 4 and 8 port models have 1 digital path
– 16 port models have 1 or 2 digital paths
– 32-port models have 4 or 8 digital paths
– Single and dual power options
– All models include dual ethernet connections
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New Serial module with USB power option
• Can also use existing external power supply to power up to 4
modules
MPU Switches at a Glance
Models
Users
Ports
Features
MPU108E
1 local 1 remote
8
virtual media/dual AC/dual network
MPU1016
1 local 1 remote
16
virtual media/dual AC/dual network
MPU2016
1 local 2 remote
16
virtual media/dual AC/dual network
MPU2032
1 local 2 remote
32
virtual media/dual AC/dual network
MPU4032
1 local 4 remote
32
virtual media/dual AC/dual network
MPU8032
1 local 8 remote
32
virtual media/dual AC/dual network
Server Interface Modules
MPUIQ-VMCDP
MPUIQ-VMCHS
MPUIQ-VMCDV
MPUIQ-SRL
MPUIQ-VMCHD
DSAVIQ-PS2M
MPU Connectivity
10/100/1Gig Ethernet connection
for digital KVM access
Configuration port
Local User Ports
Interface Cables
External Modem
Support
SPC Power
Control
USB Ports
MPU Management Options
Centralized
Direct Access
DSView 4 Software
On-board Web Interface
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Centralized management
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Large server counts with
multiple OS
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More users/departments
More than one location
(regional, branch, disaster
recovery site)
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Smaller server counts
(Less than 100)
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Expertise in one OS
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Small number of users
(Less than 5)
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Typically one location
Competitive Overview
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Other vendors offer remote KVM solutions
– Few have Virtual Media
– None support a true serial connection. Instead they use converters to
change the serial signal to PS2 keyboard and VGA video
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What makes the MergePoint Unity switch
unique?
– Supports KVM, USB, and Serial in a single appliance
– Virtual media with CAC/Smart Card reader support
– Largest install base in the world and pioneered digital KVM technology
– Up to 8 digital paths- highest throughput in the industry
– Trusted technology licensed by all the main server vendors
Summary
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The MergePoint Unity switch supports most equipment
found in data centers today
Provides remote access when you need it
Complements software tools to empower staff to do
more in a shorter amount of time
Eliminates need to physically enter data centers
Can be used with other Avocent hardware and software
to create a more centralized solution
– DSView 3 software provides granular permissions and an event
log that can report all user actions (Access, USB connections, &
Power commands)
– Avocent power strips can add remote power management with
switching and metering capabilities
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