Automated data center operation solution, to help you get higher ROI, with better operational quality and lower cost

1. The Last Gap of Data Center Operation
SmarRack
-Data Center Assets Management Solution
sales12@digitalor.com 18676342132
by Arron Zhao

2. The Trouble of IT Assets Operation
Bigger Quantity
Too Much Work
More Procedures
CannotManage Well
More Staff
Lower Efficiency

3. Maintenance Process: include regular maintenance, change management, testing cost and etc.
Staff Labor: include training, education, turnover, hiring and etc.
Technology and Component: include hardware, software, network and etc.
Maintenance Process
40%
Staff Labor
40%
Technology and Component
20%
According to the research of Gartner, the proportion of facility management cost
comprise of：
IT Assets Operation Cost Analysis

4. Gartner’s research shows that, 50% of the CIOs interviewed think lack of automation is the
main reason why IT operation cost is too high. Manual operation is of high risk, low efficient,
and high labor cost.
Source of the problem: Lack of automation
The quantity of assets is growing fast. It is hard to find a certain failed device quickly.
And the assets change management is completed all by human, it cannot ensure the
accuracy and timing requirements.

5. Eight Problems to Solve
Rack unit is not monitored,
cannot get the accurate
utilization rate.
No operation checking, easily
lead to accident.
No accurate assets sum-up data
for financial department
5
Cannot find the failed device,
restoring time is long.
Assets change management is
recorded by man, which is of
high mistake rate.
More complex procedures,
lower efficiency
More cost
More and more
staff

6. Rack-unit-level Real-time Assets Monitoring
is the basis of automated operation.
Make the uncontrollable controlled,
to ensure the consistency of business

7. Contact tag technology
Active and wired.
Raritan’s product is still not accepted by market after 8 years.
Data center is full of devices, which will cause vibration.
The racks will be under vibrating status 365x24x7. This
can be regarded as a flight flies and vibrates 365x24x7,
the lasting vibration is a huge challenge for
connectors, especially for the connectors with multiple
small pins. Besides the vibration, there are also dirt,
moisture, heat, corrosive material, static electricity and
many other risks for the connector. Frequent
maintenance will be need to ensure the stability of the
connector. Contact tag technology is a experimental
product, cannot be deployed massively.
Three Generations of Rack-unit-level Managing Technology
1st Generation
Example:

8. RFID Technology
Passive and wireless
Raritan’s product is still not accepted by market
after 6 years.
RFID technology is very limited in rack-unit-level assets
monitoring, the reasons are:
1、RFID cannot realize precise positioning.
2、RFID cannot ensure stable communication. Because
the complex environment of data center, passive RFID’s
effective range varies. Tag cannot be read constantly
and stably.
3、Cannot guarantee 100% accuracy. Because the
distance between adjacent reader is too short( distance
between rack unit is 44mm), it will cause unexpected
reading. The overall accuracy is about only 70%.
4、Cannot achieve maintenance free and high reliability
Three Generations of Rack-unit-level Managing Technology
2nd Generation
Example:

9. A breakthrough of rack-unit-level monitoring technology.
Active and battery-free RFID tag, with passive RF reader. MC-
RFIoT is invented by Quan Liu in 2013. It inherited the
advantage of RFID technology, and overcame RFID’s limitation
in rack-unit-level assets monitoring. Digitalor’s SmarRack
module and UTAG are based on MC-RFIoT technology, so
realized the features of high reliability, high accuracy, precise
positioning and maintenance free. It is the only product that
fulfills the need of rack-unit-level monitoring and smart
operation.
Three Generations of Rack-unit-level Managing Technology
3rd Generation
MC-RFIoT Technology
Active, battery-free and wireless
Ultra-high stability and reliability

10. UTAG Specification
* The‘identify card’of asset, the information is written is the electronic digital tag. It will move alone with the asset it
attaches to during the whole life cycle.
* There is a 3M sticker for attaching. Remove the cover of 3M sticker, and paste the sticker to the corresponding asset.
* After mounting the asset in the rack, attach its UTAG to the SmarRack reader aligned with the rack unit, at which the asset is
at, then SmarRack module will get the asset information.
* The distance between UTAG and reader is fixed by magnetic attaching. Easy to operate, stable performance, and good user-
experience.
The information inside of UTAG can be written via
UTAG writer of SmarRack module

11. The master module must be at the top end,
and slave modules can be joint in any
sequence. The SATA connector on the top
of master module are split into 12V DC
power connector and RJ45 network
connector( or only RJ45 in PoE version).
Every reader of the module is aligned to
one rack unit. After mounting asset to the
rack, just need to place its UTAG to the
corresponding reader, the information of
the asset will be uploaded to database via
TCP/IP.
SmarRack Module Specification
The attributes of SmarRack module
High-precision positioning module. Mounted to
rack with fixing bracket.
A SmarRack assembly comprises of one
master module and several slave modules. The
length of module can be 5U or 6U. By different
combination of 5U and 6U modules, the
assembly can adapt to racks of different heights.
The connection between modules are SATA
connector.

12. * UTAG writer is connected to client PC via USB connector.
Place the round end of UTAG to the center of UTAG writer,
then the information of the UTAG can be edited in the
software.
* Standard version can edit the basic information of the asset.
* Pro version can edit both basic information and extended
information.
* By integration with barcode scanner, can realize automated
tag issuing.
UTAG Writer Specification

13. Navigator DCAM Software
Navigator DCAM software support real-time rack-
unit-level assets monitoring and diverse automated
data center operation functions.
SmarRack Mobile APP
SmarRack mobile APP is the extended function of Navigator
DCAM. It can receive working ticket remotely, and manage
off-rack assets by scanning UTAG with NFC.
Rack with Pre-installed SmarRack
Standard 42U rack, universal design, with SmarRack module
pre-installed.

14. The Value of SmarRack
14
Precise positioning asset to rack unit, help operator
find the failed device quickly.
1、Real-time IT Assets Positioning

15. 2、Automated Assets Change Recording
Automated rack-unit-level assets change recording, includes device adding, device removal,
position transfer. By using SmarRack, operators can save the time to do assets position
recording, and the position record is 100% accurate.
The Value of SmarRack

16. * Monitor the utilization rate of every rack
* Monitor the utilization rate of the whole data center
80%
Provide accurate rack space utilization rate, for making
escalation decision.
After deploying SmarRack, the utilization rate increases by
10%~20%
The Value of SmarRack
3、Rack Space Utilization Rate Monitoring

17. * Green means the unit is available
* Red means not available
* Yellow means need maintenance.
Scenario: SmarRack can calculate the
combined max power of the devices in the
rack, if about to be overloaded, all the
LEDs turn to red, means the units are
unavailable. If any other device added on,
SmarRack will make audio alarm.
4、Operational Status LED Indicator
The LED indicators on SmarRack
can show the operational status
of the rack unit.
The Value of SmarRack

18. * When assets change happens, SmarRack will
calculate the total weight of the assets in the rack.
* If the rack is about to be overloaded, there will
be warning on site and in software.
* If already overloaded, there will be constant
warning on site and in software.
5、Weight Overload Warning
The Value of SmarRack

19. 6、Power Overload Warning
The Value of SmarRack
* When assets change happens,
SmarRack will calculate the total power
of the assets in the rack.
* If the rack is about to be overloaded,
there will be warning on site and in
software.
* If already overloaded, there will be
constant warning on site and in software.

20. 7、Lifecycle Monitoring and Warning
* After every device is deployed, SmarRack will monitor the life cycle of the device.
* When the device is approaching the end lifecycle, there will be early warning both
on site and in software.
* When already reached the full lifecycle, there will be constant warning both on site
and in software.
Deployed Approaching the
End of Lifecycle
Reached Full
Lifecycle
WarningEarly Warning
The Value of SmarRack

21. 8、Automated Assets Sum-up
Comparison of Accuracy Comparison of Efficiency
The Value of SmarRack
85%
100% 15000
80%
1
0.3

22. 9、Assets Residual Value Calculation
To get the accurate value of fixed assets, SmarRack DCAM can calculate the residual value of
each server, according to the lifecycle, time since deployed, depreciation rate, original value and
etc. of each asset. This function can give the accurate data of fixed assets to financial department.
The Value of SmarRack

23. 10、Mobile APP
Monitor the on-rack servers from anywhere, anytime.
Manage off-rack servers by using NFC function of
mobile terminal.
The Value of SmarRack

24. 11、SmarRack PDCA Closed-loop Management
Plan Do
CheckAction
The Value of SmarRack

25. 25
A. Ensure the consistency of your business
SmarRack can ensure quick action of maintenance. And automatically recognize operational
error, warn the operator to correct in time, make the risk of manual operation to the lowest.
SmarRack can keep the availability your data center, no matter how many assets are in it.
B. Improve the efficiency and accuracy.
Simplify the process of operation, and eliminate operational errors.
Automated assets information recording and sum-up, 100% accuracy ensured.
C. Save cost
Save the cost of maintenance process by 80%
Save the cost of labor by 10%~30%
The Value of SmarRack

26. The Key of Differentiation
By lowering the risk of data center operation, to ensure the consistency of
business, and lowering the operational cost, will be the key of differentiation.
SmarRack is the core of this differentiation.

27. Scenario 1: Add device
How Operational Process Changed
After Deploying SmarRack
• Simplify the process of adding new device.
• After mounting the device in the rack, all the information will be uploaded to
database by simply attaching the UTAG to the reader of SmarRack module. No
extra manual operation is needed.
Mount
Device
Read the
information
of the
assets
Paste the
tag to the
device
Edit the
location
info.
manually
Finish
Mount
Device
Attach
SmarRack
tag
Finish
Import the
asset’s info
to CMDB
Now
Before

28. • Simplify the process of removing device, just detach the UTAG from reader
after dismount the device
• SmarRack database will automatically recognize the removal of the device. If
the device enters inventory or other racks, it still can be traceable via
integrated access control system.
How Operational Process Changed
After Deploying SmarRack
Scenario 1: Remove device
Dismount
Device
Edit the
availability
of the rack
Record
the
removal
info.
Finish
Dismount
Device
Finish
Delete the
info. of the
asset in
CMDB
Before
Now

29. • When moving the device, operators do not need to record the
change in database, just focus on moving the device is enough.
How Operational Process Changed
After Deploying SmarRack
Scenario 3: Move device
Before
Now
Dismount
the device
from old
rack
Mount the
Device to
new rack
Edit the
availability
of the new
rack to
‘NO’
Finis
h
Dismount
the device
from old
rack
Finis
h
Edit the
availability
of the old
rack to
‘YES’
Edit the
location
info.
manually
Mount the
Device to
new rack

30. Wait for
next check
sum without
any solution
• Before: Heavy workload, annoying environment, no method
to ensure the accuracy.
• After: Fully automated sum-up, no labor needed.
SmarRack DCAM can also provide diverse report to
financial department and purchasing department, for
example, the distribution map of device, lifecycle
report, maintenance report.
How Operational Process Changed
After Deploying SmarRack
Before
Now
Scenario 4: Assets sum-up
Finance
department
provides the
finance list
Find all
the
devices in
IDC
Device
inventory
check
sum
Finis
h
Automatic
Report
Generator
Operation
department
provides
the device
list
Check
sum with
the
finance list
Inaccurate
result
Finance
department
reports your
mistakes
You promise
to figure out
the mistakes
next time

31. • After: When hardware failure happens, SmarRack mobile APP
can notify engineer to fix, engineer can find the device
quickly by searching for the flashing LED on site.
• Before: Finding the target device will take most of the
operational time, it lowers the efficiency of operation
How Operational Process Changed
After Deploying SmarRack
Before
Now
Scenario 5: Device targeting
System
find
hardware
failure
Tell the location
info. to the
maintenance
staff
Find the
device in
IDC
Finish
System
find
hardware
failure
Finish
Find the
location record
of the device in
CMDB
Maintenance
staff receives
the push
message via
APP
Find the
flashing LEDs
that indicate
the location

32. • Before: Mostly, the asset’s position information recorded by man is not
accurate. The reliable method is to check one by one on site.
• After: One click to get the full report of 100% accuracy.
How Operational Process Changed
After Deploying SmarRack
Before
Now
Scenario 6: Escalation Plan
Check the
data in
CMDB
Analyze the
data and
write the
report
Finish
System
generates the
report
automatically
Finish
Re-check
the devices
in IDC one
by one
Export the
report

33. Comments from Experts
SmarRack filled‘the last gap’of automated data center operation.
---Yang Shideng, IDC Operation Service Director of Maslong
John Curran
Digitalor's SmarRack really surprise me with
its unique patent technology and simple
design, which improves the product
performance and sustainability during assets'
lifecycle. SmarRack is a great invention that
will impact on data center greatly.
Avocent,
VP of Product Management
68
Dmitry
Bokotey
Digitalor's SmarRack product resolves the
issues for IT assets tracking, and impressed
me. It is sexiest and innovative IoT product
for data center, we would love to integrate
SmarRack into our platform for a long term
business partner with Digitalor.
nuPSYS
CTO & Founder

34. Our Customers