One of the most crucial parts of data center operation is making sure facility managers have an intimate knowledge of the working parts of their premises. This includes collecting data on the different equipment and variables that can be found in the data center. Successful IT managers understand that within their facilities, these various working parts are part of one architecture - they have symbiotic relationships. For instance, temperature and humidity have an impact on cooling costs, and cooling requirements exert a direct effect on power usage.

Therefore, environmental monitoring contributes to the overall health of the facility and can make a difference when it comes time to invest in new technologies for the data room floor. By placing sensors in strategic places around the facility, real-time information can be channeled through the infrastructure management software, allowing for speedy reaction times and better asset management. Another useful tool when it comes to making the best decisions about where to invest IT budgets is data center infrastructure management software, which provides a comprehensive look at the status of the data center.

When DCIM and environmental monitoring are integrated, data center operators can enjoy increased efficiency, among other important advantages. By offering a top-down view of facility operations, integrated DCIM tools can give managers the information they need to make important decisions concerning how cool to keep server racks or when they need to purchase new power distribution equipment.

Here are three key benefits of integrating DCIM software with environmental monitoring:

1. Increased equipment reliability
Asset management becomes easier with DCIM and environmental monitoring. Since data centers contain a multitude of installations - including storage and network devices, power distribution units and cooling equipment - it's important to have real-time data about the facility's entire infrastructure. For instance, if a server goes down, how quickly can the outage be located? According to Data Center Knowledge contributor Michael Potts, a Digital Realty Trust survey found that 20 percent of managers would need more than a day to locate a downed server. By utilizing data center management tools, servers that go down can be found more easily.

2. Workflow management
Managers need to know where to direct their attention on a day-to-day basis. According to Processor, DCIM software contains complex planning modules that allow more efficient process and workflow management. Part of that efficiency comes from being able to pinpoint the temperature and humidity in the data center and knowing where to allocate more cooling resources, such as in the case of server rack hot spots. According to Data Center Knowledge contributor Michael Vizard, with the proper information, managers can make the right decisions about what and where workloads should be running at any given time. This can lead to increased utilization rates of IT infrastructure and, as a result, decreased energy costs.

3. Reduced IT investment
When the aforementioned workflow management is streamlined and equipment reliability is increased, IT expenditures can be reduced. The number of servers that go unused can be minimized if they can be found - which means energy consumption can be significantly cut for those specific racks. And, since real-time environment data can be used to prevent or lessen the impact of outages in server equipment, the DCIM and monitoring combination can help save companies money in the long run.

Solutions like the ones offered by Geist can help data center managers implement useful technologies in their facilities to get the most out of their servers. DCIM, coupled with efficient monitoring, can provide these benefits and more, contributing to a healthier, more stable data center environment.