Tools for diagnosing server problems remotely

Today I want to talk to you about some ways that you can remotely manage server room and not be dependent on platform or vendors.

IP-based Power Distribution Unit

One way to avoid that inconvenient commute to restart a stalled server is with an IP-based Power Distribution Unit (PDU).

APC makes pretty good IP-based PDUs with nice Web interfaces. If you're looking at other brands, you'll want to make sure they offer the ability to stagger "power-on" timings. This will prevent all the servers from powering on at the same time should there be an extended black-out - possibly tripping the circuits or damaging your servers.

The more advanced models will also display the power drain by outlet or as an entire unit. This could help you diagnose power-related problems remotely, and let you better estimate the load on your UPS.

Serial-IP adapter

Despite the shift towards IP-based appliances, there remains some server room equipment that still requires serial connectivity. The common ones would be your humble analog or GSM modems.

Equinox--now under Avocent--makes serial hubs that can connect directly to your serial-port based devices. The output comes in the form of an Ethernet port that connects to your network. You can install a free software driver on servers that need to access the serial devices, which also transparently creates the appropriate COM port.

Other companies such as Digi International and Axis Communications manufacture and sell such devices as well.

Using a serial hub is superior to the traditional method of installing a PC-based adapter board. Since your serial devices are now on the network, it's very useful in terms of business continuity (BC). Rather than having to run back to the office in the event of a hardware failure to swap out a hardware card or cable, it's now possible to remotely set up another server to take over the serial devices over the network.

Video Extender

The Video Extender is a class of device by itself. It's entirely possible to place a computer monitor as far as 150m away from a server or desktop machine.

Video Extender can prove incredibly useful in a factory or retail setting in which the display has to be placed in a server closet far from the server.

Full info here: http://www.zdnetasia.com/techguide/network/0,3800010800,62038162,00.htm