Dell EMC’s Extreme Scale Infrastructure division revolutionized edge computing by deploying micro Modular Data Centers (MDCs) globally. To monitor these compact, remote units, Dell EMC used the AVEVA™ PI System™ to unify operational and IT data, enabling real-time insights, performance optimization, and scalable management across thousands of sites.
Challenges
Monitoring thousands of remote micro-MDCs without on-site personnel
Integrating OT and IT data for unified visibility
Managing power and cooling performance efficiently
Results
Enabled remote, real-time monitoring and control of MDCs
Reduced asset configuration time from two weeks to four hours
~50%
Cut in commissioning time
Achieved energy savings by identifying and capping underutilized servers
Dell EMC’s Extreme Scale Infrastructure (ESI) division has been developing Modular Data Centers (MDCs) solutions since 2008. Dell EMC’s micro-MDCs are part of a broader industry shift toward bringing computing power closer to where data is generated. Instead of sending massive volumes of IoT data back to a large-scale data center, Dell is helping customers process and act on that data at the edge of their own networks. As Dell began deploying these compact data centers at scale, a new challenge emerged: With thousands of micro-MDCs operating across different geographies, how could Dell centrally monitor them? During a presentation at OSIsoft’s 2017 Users Conference, Tyler Duncan, Technical Staff at Dell EMC, explained how his company uses the AVEVA PI System as a “single pane of glass” to monitor its latest micro-MDCs for edge computing. With the help of the AVEVA PI System, Dell EMC created the MDCi platform to apply data visualization and business intelligence to its data center operations across the globe.
Solution
Implemented the MDCi platform powered by the AVEVA PI System, AVEVA PI Vision, and PI Connector for Redfish to create a centralized, automated, and mobile-enabled monitoring solution for its global micro MDC infrastructure.
Dell EMC’s Extreme Scale Infrastructure (ESI) division is using its new micro Modular Data Centers (MDCs) to bring data centers closer to end users at the “edge” of the network. The micro data center is a radically scaled-down version of its hyperscale MDC, complete with local computers, storage, and networking, as well as integrated power and cooling. While the new nimble-sized data center has a footprint smaller than half of a parking spot, the minified unit is a big step for Dell EMC’s IoT initiative. The MDC can store from half a rack to three racks of computational equipment and can be deployed anywhere, while delivering massive performance improvements through edge computing.
However, with potentially thousands of micro-MDCs spread out across the world—and no room to fit an operator inside the unit—Dell EMC sought out a better way to manage and monitor its highly complex system of resources. “At a bigger data center, I would have people that would be there to manage the solution,” said Tyler Duncan, Technical Staff, adding that for a micro-MDC, “we don’t have the people.” To overcome the challenges of monitoring the health of its micro-MDCs, Dell EMC developed the MDCi platform that combines OT and IT data from the AVEVA PI System with geographical data in the cloud. The MDCi platform acts as a “single pane of glass” for monitoring Dell EMC’s entire data center infrastructure. Dell EMC engineers can now use the MDCi platform, which relies on AVEVA PI Vision, a web-based visualization application, to view and analyze their data on any device.
Users can drill down from a geographical map of a service area to a specific micro-MDC unit, visualize a group of servers inside the unit, and monitor the server itself while being able to look at the unit’s power and cooling performance. AVEVA PI Vision’s user management options permit customers and third-party vendors to see only the data from assets they own or manage, while restricting access to other information.
Dell EMC chose AVEVA’s PI Connector for Redfish as the most effective means of getting data from its micro-MDCs into the AVEVA PI System. As Duncan pointed out, “the connector allows us to be able to search for all the servers that are on a particular network, automatically bring them in and have the data populated in an automated way.” The PI Connector for Redfish is designed specifically for Redfish, a RESTful API that reads data off of the servers. A Dell IoT gateway is mounted inside the micro-MDC unit and is loaded with the AVEVA PI Server and relevant AVEVA PI System Connectors and Interfaces, such as Redfish and Modbus.
“The OSIsoft connector allows us to be able to search for all the servers that are on a particular network, automatically bring them in and have the data populated in an automated way.”
– Tyler Duncan, Technical Staff, Dell EMC
Using AVEVA™ PI Vision™ as its mobile-enabled visualization tool, Dell EMC can identify underutilized servers inside its micro-MDCs. This allows the company to conserve its data centers’ batteries in the event of a power outage. By capping power to underutilized servers, Dell EMC has already begun to achieve big savings in its smallest of MDCs. OSIsoft, now a part of AVEVA, and Dell EMC have worked together since 2013.
The AVEVA PI Server, for instance, is integrated into Dell’s hyperscale MDCs deployed by eBay. By integrating AVEVA PI System technology into the modules before shipping, eBay was able to cut the time required to configure individual assets from two weeks to four hours. Additionally, the time needed for commissioning new data modules—from the date of delivery to powering them up for use in eBay’s operation—dropped by approximately 50%.
Product highlights
AVEVA™ PI System™
Collect, aggregate, and enrich real-time operations data for immediate problem-solving and easily deliver formatted data to enterprise applications and advanced analytics.
AVEVA PI Vision
With AVEVA PI Vision, turn raw data into rich, visual displays and share valuable insights across your enterprise.
AVEVA PI Server
Learn about the trusted, high-volume, and real-time data storage, contextualization, analytics, and notification engine at the heart of AVEVA™ PI System™.
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