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The question of control
Without the right tools, managing enterprise infrastructure
can be a difficult task. This is where infrastructure management tools step
in to fill the void
 Networking
is both a boon as it lets organisations combine resources, and a bane in terms
of managing infrastructure. Infrastructure Management (IM) tools attempt to
resolve these issues by providing centralised management and remote administration,
and helping automate IT infrastructure. Resources managed by IM tools include
hardware, software, network availability, traffic management and sometimes security
and disaster recovery (DR). These tools are available as products with multiple
components or as managed solutions.
Functionality varies, but the mode of operation of an IM tool does not. These
tools usually operate out of a central server or a service provider’s NOC
(Network Operations Centre). Typically, they use techniques such as software
agents or SNMP polling per node to manage resources.
IM in India
IM tools are yet to make a splash with Indian SMBs. Although the tools for desktop
management over the LAN are being used to some extent, full-fledged tools that
can handle the entire infrastructure are not common.
The lower rate of IM adoption has been due to the lack of cost-effective solutions
tailored to the needs of this segment. Another reason for low adoption has been
a lack of understanding of the capabilities that a full-fledged IM tool provides.
But this scenario is changing, with many a vendor (national and international)
coming out with cost-effective IM tools for SMBs. We now take a look at what
these tools can offer.
Manage and automate
On the network management side, IM tools have features to provide management
across the LAN and WAN. Depending on the tool, this will include network, server,
desktop, storage, printers, software and security management.
Most IM tools come with the ability to monitor and manage switches, routers
and links. They facilitate the sharing of storage, network drives and printers.
Of late, wireless LAN (WLAN) management is also included.
Server and desktop management comprise some of the most useful
features of an IM solution. Apart from remotely administering the server or
desktop, automated software distribution and application management are the
important features to look out for. Server or desktop backup come with capabilities
for scheduled imaging and roll-back. Storage management is yet another useful
component that is usually restricted to basic server or storage resource management.
Additional components for advanced storage management are offered by most vendors.
| Sanjay Sharma, Head-Information
Technology, IDBI Bank
 Building
infrastructure
Mission-critical infrastructure needs to be managed on a proactive basis.
If a CIO decides to upgrade a storage system only after it has reached
80 percent capacity, it is actually quite late. One has to be proactive
because one needs lead time to build and deploy infrastructure.
The idea of using a consultant is fine. But I usually
contact my vendors first since they already know my systems. On the other
hand, an external consultant has to start from scratch.
For instance, our IT infrastructure functioned on
a star topology. When business volumes went up we re-designed the network
with inputs from the vendor and evolved it into a mesh. So you need to
examine your specific needs.
IM policy
The CIO must look at aspects such as the business need, its focus and
strategy. For example, a bank’s strategy can be that IT will only
play a support role. Another bank may want IT to play an enabler’s
role or a product innovator unit. In these cases, the IT policies will
be different.
A bank which wants IT to be an enabler or product
innovator will expect a lot from the CIO. The CIO has to be alert to infrastructure
needs and keep pace with technology evolution.
Once the CIO is clear about business strategy, a
stock assessment could be undertaken. It is necessary to evaluate the
existing assets, the ones required in future, and ways to manage it. One
should also look at the expected ROI and asset lifecycle.
CIO checklist
The CIO can refer to this checklist when designing an Infrastructure Management
strategy.
- What is our business plan?
- What do we want to do?
- What are our expansion plans?
- What are the challenges we need to focus on?
- What is the current state of the infrastructure?
- What is the lifecycle of the infrastructure?
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Application framework
Automated software distribution consists of software delivery, patch management,
and configuration management for servers and desktops. Software delivery to
desktops involves automating the installation of operating systems and application
software. The same can be done with servers, as can server provisioning, an
activity that can be managed remotely from a central location. Most IM tools
allow bandwidth throttling to ensure that software delivery is done without
disrupting network traffic. This capability is extremely useful when managing
networks with hundreds of nodes.
Many IM packages have features that let administrators set up policies and groups
for distributing software. These have features to track licence and application
usage, which becomes very handy for administrators who can re-allocate applications
to users if they find that a particular user or group of users does not need
access to a particular application.
Configuration management is yet another feature available in these tools. It
is used to keep track of operating systems, applications, desktop security,
server security etc. These tools can track and record software changes in a
computer and re-install the recorded software configuration on to another computer
if migration is required.
Asset management helps track the lifecycle of IT infrastructure components and
maintain inventory.
Secure ways
Access control policies and measures can be defined with IM tools. This can
take place at the server, desktop and application levels. The functionality
for this will vary across solutions. Some common access control features in
IM tools are role-based administration, and using group-based policies for granular
access control. These permit the clear definition of user access rights for
better security and resource provisioning.
Next comes patch management which builds on the software distribution capabilities
of these tools. Here the task involves downloading and applying patches to servers
and desktops. Administrators can centrally manage and automate this process.
Apart from these, IM tools also allow administrators to perform device management.
Some tools allow anti-virus integration and anti-spyware control features.
Tweaking right
Application performance management is one of the biggest bottlenecks in a business
environment. A good IM tool will have features to manage applications and provide
the best performance. IM features to look out for in terms of application availability
are tools that manage parameters such as application availability, network latency,
and server utilisation.
Hardware or connectivity performance monitoring and configuration tools are
also present in IM packages. These can monitor parameters like utilisation and
availability, and generate reports. Configuration tools help administrators
configure elements, and they can generate alerts (e-mail, SMS, etc.) to warn
administrators about operational aspects or failures. Reports can also be generated
to track usage or availability parameters for devices including servers and
network devices. Many of these reports can also be set up to track SLAs (Service
Level Agreements).
Making the right choice
When it comes to selecting an IM tool, there are parameters to be considered
beyond functionality. First off, the IM tool should support all operating systems
and databases that the enterprise uses. Next comes support for directory services
such as Active Directory, eDirectory/NDS, LDAP, and the Windows NT domain. Inter-operability
with existing or third-party software is a necessity. It is also important that
the vendor or his partners provide integration capabilities for applications
that are not currently supported.
On the reporting engine features side, check the level of reports that can be
generated. It is always better to go in for a tool that can provide high-level
reports for each and every PC. These reports should give inventory details such
as version number, software installed on each PC and application usage. Automatic
alerts should be generated when forbidden applications or those with expired
licences are run.
It is important to remember that even off-the-shelf IM tools
require customisation. Check with the vendor to find the timeframe of application
deployment and training of in-house personnel.
| HDFC Bank has a complex dispersed network,
with a number of servers, applications and databases. The network needed
to be streamlined and monitored for better performance and reduction of
downtime.
IT plays a crucial role in building the bank’s
competitive advantage. But there were some specific problems in the set-up
that needed to be addressed. For banks with online applications, system
downtime can severely affect business. Additionally, for a bank providing
online services to its customers, it is essential to minimise downtime
of Web resources, and provide optimal performance for its Web servers.
For HDFC Bank, it was not technically and economically
feasible to manage assets, solve problems, and distribute and update applications
on the network across the country. Additionally, the ever-increasing data
also needed to be backed up and restored. It needed a tool that could
analyse the network, upgrade the links and servers, and add more disk
capacity when required. Finally, the robust network that HDFC Bank needed
had to be managed from a single window.
The solution
A network management tool that would enable HDFC to efficiently monitor
and manage the entire network through one common window. It should also
provide for the maintenance of Web infrastructure to ensure high quality
service to online customers, and control downtime. Such a robust and complex
network needed to be streamlined and managed from a common point.
CA’s Unicenter Web management solution provided the
services the bank’s IT team was looking for. Unicenter, which comes
in a number of modules, was implemented for better planning of capacity
to manage the IT infrastructure, and to secure and maintain assets centrally.
BrightStor, another solution from CA, was used to protect,
backup and restore data.
The benefit
Monitoring and management of the entire network from a single window console.
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| Company |
Product/Solution Offering |
Functionality |
Features |
Contact |
| Zenith Infotech |
SAAZ Suite |
Monitoring and Trend Reporting
Server Management
Applications Management
Network and Security Devices
Asset / Inventory Management
Remote Control and Administration
Software Distribution
Patch Management
Spyware, Internet Debris and Software Removal |
A comprehensive remote IT management platform that combines desktop, server,
network and application management into a single integrated system. |
Zenith Infotech Tel. 022-28377300 Fax. 022-28364859 |
| Computer Associates |
Unicenter |
Unicenter Desktop DNA |
Unicenter Desktop DNA helps migrate the complete DNA of a PC to a new
computer, thus managing the movement and maintenance of PC infrastructure
and increasing security by providing an easier upgrade path. |
Computer Associates India Tel. 080-56915900 |
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PC MacLAN |
A set of tools to integrate cross-platform environments so that PCs can
share any and all network drives with Macs. It provides enhanced support
allowing longer file names, larger partitions and files larger than 2 GB
can be transferred from PC to Mac and back. |
| IBM India |
IBM Express Infrastructure Solutions Portfolio |
Express Network Operations and Management Services |
This suite of network monitoring and management tools includes monitoring
and performance management of networks with problem analysis, management,
configuration and change management for preset service and security levels |
IBM India Tel. 022-56962020 Fax. 022-26533570 |
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Express Desktop Management Services |
Provides a comprehensive toolset including remote PC assistance, reporting
and tracking inventory, patch management pre-failure alters, backup and
restore, user password administration, software distribution |
| HP India |
OpenView |
Business Continuity
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Ensures that business operations aren't interrupted |
HP Software Global Business Unit Tel. 0124-2906176 Fax. 0124-2566112
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| Enterprise Integration |
Provides tools to dynamically link systems to deliver real-time information |
| IT Consolidation |
Solutions to dynamically link systems to deliver real-time information. |
| Management |
Provides immediate knowledge of changing business conditions and intelligent
response in real-time |
| On Demand |
Tools to match capacity and cost with business needs |
| Virtualisation |
Increases the flexibility and utilisation of IT assets |
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