Data Centre Software

Network Data Centre Connection Manager ONE Software

The HP Network DCM ONE Software for the zl ONE Service Module is designed to formalize the workflow process between network and server IT teams for application provisioning, and help organizations control costs by providing policy-based automation of networking and server resources in the Data Centre. DCM maintains policy connection states for physical as well as virtual servers wherever they connect in the data centre, and provides detailed compliance information linking applications to their infrastructure dependencies. DCM is standards based and enables better capacity management and troubleshooting through the use of a connection inventory database.

Data centre optimized

• Automated policy-based provisioning: DCM ONE software automates the provisioning of resources in the data centre, including servers, edge network, and core network devices based on predefined connection policies.
   
• Formalizes data centre workflow activities:
  • Automates and formalizes workflow process: Network and server IT teams utilize a specialized GUI for application and server provisioning activities.
  • Eliminates repetitive, manual provisioning processes: Servers can be deployed without waiting for a network service request.
  • Enables easy capacity management: DCM ONE software's Connection Inventory provides an instant view of available connections and maintains status on subscribed connections.

• Virtualization-compatible policies: Policies follow virtual machines (VMs) and servers dynamically if they move from port to port or switch to switch, without requiring manual intervention.
   
• Eases troubleshooting and compliance in a virtualized environment:
  • Links VMs to physical infrastructure: Creates an authoritative, single source for linking network topology and configuration to servers and VMs.
  • Maintains state of server and VM connections: Allows network administrators to document, define, and check server connection policies for status and compliance.

 
Management

• Remote configuration and management: Provided through a secure Web browser interface.
   
• Network, server, and operator privilege levels: Different types of administrators are granted different access levels depending on requirements and job-specific activities. Operator allows read-only access to the Connection Inventory for compliance and troubleshooting.
   
• HP Networking Manager: central management through HP Networking Manager Plus for discovery, logging, and status management
   
• Flexible logging and messaging engine for administrator communications: DCM ONE software can communicate logging information and state changes of connections in the database via e-mail, SNMP, syslog, or through script calls to HP Network Automation software (formerly Opsware).

 
Device support

• Supports multivendor equipment configuration:
  • Configures edge switches: Any standards-based, RADIUS-compliant edge switch can be configured by DCM ONE software policies.
  • Configures servers and VMs: DCM ONE software policies can manage network and IP settings for any standards-based server or VM.
  • Configures centralized data centre devices: Used with HP Network Automation software (HP NAS), DCM ONE software policies can affect changes on a wide range of data centre devices.

 
HP Networking ONE integration

• Requires HP Networking Switch 5400zl or 8200zl and HP Networking ONE Services zl Module: DCM ONE software is an application designed to run on the ONE Services zl Module for improved integration and resiliency with Networking chassis switches. The ONE Services zl Module fits the ProCurve Switch 5400zl and 8200zl chassis products.

 
Product Architecture

• Flexible data structure: Policies are defined using a flexible data structure that easily maps to existing organizational structures and roles and responsibilities.
   
• Pod-based data structure design: DCM ONE software utilizes a pod-based data structure that allows it to flexibly map policy structure to logical boundaries in data centres, from physical rack-based pods or departmental boundaries to organizational-level pods in an outsourcing environment.
   
• Integration with HP Network Automation software: As part of its connection policies, DCM ONE software can call specific HP Network Automation software scripts to automate the configuration of centralized data centre devices. Script calls can be made based on state changes in the database of individual connections.

 
 
Technical features

• RADIUS-based policy enforcement: RADIUS-based authentication of servers and VMs when they connect provides consistent policy delivery anywhere in the data centre. Configuration parameters are delivered to the edge device through standard RADIUS attributes.
   
• IEEE 802.1X and MAC authentication identification: Servers and VMs are identified and associated with a connection policy in DCM ONE software when they connect to the network through an IEEE 802.1X token or by transparent MAC authentication. MAC authentication does not require any client-side software or action in order to participate in DCM ONE software's provisioning automation.
   
• Flexible DHCP configuration options: As part of the automation process, DCM ONE software performs flexible Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) operations that can match existing processes for server addressing. The software supports fully manual or automated addressing options when configuring connection policies.
   
• Dynamic MAC addressing options: Servers are associated to DCM ONE software's connection policies through MAC identification. The software provides extensive options for configuring MAC addresses as part of its connection policies, from fully dynamic and automated by DCM ONE software to manually entered addresses when the server in provisioned.