Two Approaches for Smart Networks

Efficiency is top priority for data centers

Like many other services, the IoT layer for smart networks can be configured in-house or via the cloud. For data centers and for your Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) it is – as always – all about maximum efficiency.

R&M’s experience shows that anyone only working in-house in the case of IoT will lose efficiency advantages. The benefits of smart networks will definitely increase if everything is as easy as possible to configure.

The principle of simplicity, clarity and comprehensibility remains unbeatable. By that we mean the following:

• self-explanatory processes
• low entry barriers
• fast acceptance
• open standards
• and the cloud

Everyone is assuming that the IoT hardware will be able to connect to the cloud. Here, a suitable uniform interface will bring everything together. This is where those responsible will configure, visualize and monitor their IoT layers. This is where they will organize updates, audits and much more.

Installations on clients and internal libraries will become obsolete.

What is the key to a cloud solution?

Along with the intuitive operation of an interface, security is essential for smart networks. But security does not have to be complex because there are plenty of tried and tested open standards. These include TLS and other open standards, which offer, for example, security technology for online banking and credit card transactions.

Finally, performance must be taken into account. Management systems often prove to be cumbersome and thus less useful than they might be even though bottlenecks can be prevented right from the design stage. It would therefore seem obvious to fall back on simple and open standards, such as HTTP/HTTPS and MQTT.

Two further arguments speak for the cloud approach with smart networks for data centers: flexibility and centralization:

• A cloud platform can quickly integrate other DCIM tasks, such as asset tracking or MAC planning, due to its flexibility.
• Operators can centralize in the cloud with smart networks of several data centers or decentralized edge data centers.

That is why we recommend having a cloud solution developed. The R&M Data Center division will support you in this.

«The principle of simplicity, clarity and comprehensibility is unbeatable.»