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Why Monitoring Next-Gen Appliance Stack Performance is Important
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November 30, 2009

Why Monitoring Next-Gen Appliance Stack Performance is Important

By Marisa Torrieri, TMCnet Editor


Even with top-of-the-line equipment, when the most basic things go wrong, it can derail operations completely.
 
Optimal appliance performance and uptime result from both hardware and software operating properly. Unfortunately, any number of things can go wrong and the best way to reduce downtime is to prevent it from happening at all.
 
At least that’s the conclusion reached by Canton, Mass.-based NEI, which recently released the white paper “Top Five Considerations for Deploying Next-Gen Appliances.”

 
The product came about, at least partially, as NEI engineers addressed the question: “How can you monitor the performance of the appliance stack?”
 
“The simplest thing that can go wrong is the hard drive failure,” Mike Slattery, director of software development for NEI, told TMCnet. “Most appliances are set up so you have a RAID configuration, so if one drive fails, the critical task is to get the replacement drive into the unit.”
 
NEI has positioned its latest ‘Element Manager’ appliance to routinely audit the operation condition of core appliance hardware elements -- and alert software vendors right away so they can order the replacement parts. 
 
In mid-November NEI announced the latest version of this flagship product -- Element Manager 3.0 – which now includes enhanced smart services for software developers.
 
With such services, developers can more easily build secure, hardened solutions that deliver on the promise of low-lifecycle maintenance. Enhancements include a “Smart Task Manager,” which reduces end-user maintenance requirements by predefining and scheduling cleanup, archive and backup tasks. The Smart Task Manager allows the end user to adjust schedule times and define the location to archive files on the local network.
 
This, plus a routine-auditing feature, makes life much easier for developers, Slattery told TMCnet. “So the element manager automatically goes into a rebuild mode, a self-healing mode, if you will.”
 
Additionally, Element Manager monitors the temperature via a sensor on the motherboard. Since overheating can damage appliance components, an alert goes out if the processor or motherboard goes into any type of overheat situation.
 
As soon as the warning is issued, the developer or operator can troubleshoot the problem, and discover, for example, that the air conditioning is not working.
 
Another thing the Element Manager 3.0 can do is we can monitor the output of the redundant power supplies, so the network manager can replace one when it fails.
 
“If it’s a dual power supply system, if one of the power systems fails, the software vendor gets notified,” Slattery said.
The result is a savings of many hours worth of maintenance checks by technicians, Slattery said. “We’ve heard of systems where the support analyst does two or three visits before it’s resolved.”

This is the first article in a series addressing the most crucial considerations for deploying next-generation appliances. Part 1 focuses on using a hardened, secure Linux OS.

Marisa Torrieri is a TMCnet Web editor, covering IP hardware and mobility, including IP phones, smartphones, fixed-mobile convergence and satellite technology. She also compiles and regularly contributes to TMCnet's gadgets and satellite e-Newsletters. To read more of Marisa's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Marisa Torrieri


» More Appliance Deployment Feature Articles


A computing entity that delivers predefined service(s) through an application-specific interface with no accessible operating software
Definition of an Appliance
Gartner, Inc.

White Papers

A Virtual Appliance Model for Deploying Applications in the Cloud
Top Five Considerations for Deploying Next-Gen Appliances
How to Deliver Software as a Purpose-Built Appliance
Gaining the Business Benefits, Avoiding the Pitfalls
Energy Star Specifications for Enterprise-Class Servers
What Application Software Vendors Need to Know and Why the Intel® Xeon® 5500 Microarchitecture Will Help Achieve Compliance

Success Stories

Endace Selects NEI to Support Rapidly Growing Systems Business
Endace is a leading provider of next-generation, high-speed network monitoring and recording systems. Its solutions are guaranteed to capture 100% of packets at speeds up to 100 Gb/s and easily optimized for a wide range of monitoring and security applications.
NEI Enables Alert Logic to Scale its Business by More Than 40%
The task of securing enterprise data and ensuring compliance can be daunting, particularly as the use of mobile devices grows and computing environments evolve.
Right-Sizing a Security Management Appliance
Bringing Cross Domain Security from Software to Hardware
ITT-AES Chooses NEI for a Comprehensive Approach to Product Development
Modus Operandi: Taking Email Security to the Next Level
NEI Brings Flexibility and Cost-Effectiveness to Vircom's ModusGate Solutions

Webcasts

Thrive in '09 - Strategies for Success with Intellitactics
Learn how to gain market share, increase efficiencies and reduce costs
Thrive in '09 - Strategies to Increase Efficiencies and Keep Costs Down Featuring Vircom
Learn how to gain market share, increase efficiencies and reduce costs
NEI speaks out on Energy Star server ratings
Listen to eWEEK's podcast with NEI about the impact of Energy Star ratings on servers
Implementing Smart Services
Learn how smart services can improve lifecycle management, reduce operating expenses and grow revenue
[ Get WebEx Player ]

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Low-Cost Desktop SOHO Network Appliances (S-500)
1U Rack Mount SATA Systems (S-1000 R5 / S-1200 / S-1400)
High-Performance, Low-Profile Systems (S-1600 / S-1800 / S-1900)
Highly Customizable, Small Footprint Communications Systems (C-1000 / C-1200 / C-1500)
Highly Customizable, Scalable, Long-life Communications Systems (C-2400 / C-2500)
High-Reliability, Medium-Density Communications Systems (E-1800 / E-2000 R5 / E-2900)

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