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Home » Archives for August 2018

How Nodegrid Serial Console / Nodegrid Services Router can improve the Test Lab with Automation

by | Aug 25, 2018 | Data Center Management, Increase Productivity

Are you in a test lab that needs automation? Are you in a test lab that has automation, but you need to get more out of it? We can help.

This situation seems to be quite common from what we’ve seen. Lab managers either have an “automation” solution that’s limited in abilities or they don’t have automation at all. Here’s how it breaks down:

Test Lab Environments (without Automation)

Companies that still perform manual testing may face the following obstacles:

  • The testing process takes much longer to complete versus that of an automated solution (time is money, without automation in place, each test must be initiated manually, requiring staff on hand to execute)
  • Requires a highly technical staff to complete testing on time (Not just any staff can run testing, staff on hand has to be knowledgeable.)
  • Human Error – Human error is not a myth, it exists.. ex: Amazon AWS Outage of 2017 – A simple slip of the finger can result in a catastrophic situation. Testers may miss steps and are prone to committing errors or not catching configuration issues
  • Lack of analysis – Data stored for analysis in case of errors needs to be logged manually

Test Lab Environments (with Basic Automation)

A basic automation solution can speed up the process of testing, but it is not without its gripes. Here’s some of the issues that have been brought to our attention.

  • Legacy console servers do not handle multiple concurrent sessions – This reduces the # of devices and connections supported in testing
  • Serial ports cannot use high baud rate (such as 115200bps) in all ports. Users tend to experience slowdown in the console server as it starts to hang or freeze up as more and more sessions are established – You are limited in the amount of sessions before the solution ultimately crashes
  • Not full automation – Scripts need to be tweaked to accommodate to devices (Delays and pauses are necessary in order to see the command all the way through, if supported).
  • Script limitations – Some popular scripting languages are not supported in some offerings

Even though you have an automation solution in place, if it requires you to be there monitoring the execution of scripts and commands, is it really automation?

Test Lab Environments with ZPE’s Nodegrid Advanced Automation Solutions

What ZPE’s Nodegrid family of products brings you is automation without compromise. Nodegrid addresses the pain points common to test labs. Nodegrid’s value is in the ability to automate, test, and collect data without limits. Queue commands and scripts from beginning to end. If an automation solution doesn’t work the way you need it to, then is it really an automation solution?

  • Intel x86-64 bit server-like Linux OS allows for faster processing, docker applications, and new automation and DevOps tools.
  • Time savings – With ZPE you can push configurations, software/firmware upgrades, and tests in bulk
  • Supported scripting languages and protocols: python, javascript (node.js), bash, ruby, or perl.
  • Fully automate your test and configuration processes
  • 48 Ports @ 115200 – 20 concurrent ssh/telnet sessions per port in all 48 ports
  • 96 Ports @ 115200 – 10 concurrent ssh/telnet sessions per port in all 96 ports
  • Increased processing power = get more done faster + improved boot times
  • Hook to Reservation system so serial ports are not available for other users to access during the reserved period
  • Serial ports settings can be customized to have simple connection (no additional text information, no authentication)
  • Serial Data Logs captured and saved into local file or NFS file, and to Syslog servers, for testing auditing
  • Specific groups to access their own devices via group authorization permissions
  • Boot up times significantly faster (Average Nodegrid Boot Time: < 1:40min | Competition Boot Time: Over 3:00min)
  • Automate the entire process, from ZTP and initial setup to end configuration.

For more information regarding the Nodegrid family of products and how they can benefit your Test Lab environment with Automation, give us a call or send us an email – We’d love to hear from you.

Data Logging, Alert Notifications and Actionable Data

by | Aug 24, 2018 | Actionable Data, Data Center Management, Data Logging

When you’re the one responsible for critical infrastructure assets within the data center, you’ve got to be quick to respond and readily available to take care of any issues that might surface.

What if something goes wrong?

Without Nodegrid’s Data Logging features, here’s how your day could go:

  • You only know of the issue after the fact. You’re made aware once someone has reported the issue.
  • Now you need to find out the location of the server – Where is the issue stemming from?
  • You need to look for the console access that is connected to the device
  • In case of power, you need to gain access to the PDU, enter those credentials (that you might have forgot), identify which outlet the device is plugged into, and then initiate the power cycle to that outlet.
  • You might not even know what happened to the device in the first place.

All these steps take time, time which is of the essence especially when it comes to critical infrastructure assets. Uptime is of the utmost importance.

This is why Nodegrid is trusted by some of the data center world’s largest companies.

Nodegrid’s Data Logging abilities allow you to collect a wide variety of data, such as key input, console messages and errors, and console usage.

Set actionable string alerts and notifications whenever a known problem occurs – Choose any or all of the following notification types: e-mail, text, syslog, or snmptrap.

Nodegrid allows you to take actions based on string matches and console output. A recurring issue pops up, if its string matches, your selected script will be executed to alleviate the problem. Automate your fixes to save time and money.

All this is done in a matter of seconds:

  • A problem happens, Nodegrid finds a string match and executes the repair script
  • You get a detailed notification, telling you which devices experienced a specific problem
  • Data log is also sent to you to further investigate the issue and check for anomalies.

Nodegrid’s 64-bit Linux OS is ready for your automation scripts, allowing for multiple language options such as Python, JavaScript on Node.js, Bash, and more…

If data logging, alert notifications, and actually doing something with that information through actionable data is something that’s important to you, contact a ZPE representative to find out how we can help you out.

ZPE Systems, Inc. Announces Significant Litigation Victories

by | Aug 23, 2018 | Uncategorized

Fremont, CA, August 23, 2018 – ZPE Systems, Inc., a California-based company that provides hardware and software products to control IT infrastructures, recently obtained two significant favorable rulings in a patent litigation brought against it by Avocent Huntsville, LLC., a subsidiary of Vertiv Co. On July 23, 2018, the court issued an order allowing ZPE to proceed with counterclaims against Avocent, including counterclaims that Avocent is in violation of Federal antitrust laws because it filed the case knowing that its patents were invalid and unenforceable, for the improper purpose of restraining competition and to interfere with ZPE’s business. On August 23, 2018, the court issued an order finding each patent claim asserted by Avocent against ZPE invalid for being indefinite under 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶2, resulting in a complete victory for ZPE against Avocent’s patent infringement claims. “ZPE is very pleased that the court recognized that Avocent’s patents are invalid and cannot be used to prevent ZPE, or anyone else, from competing with Avocent,” said ZPE CEO and co-founder, Arnaldo Zimmermann.  “We are also pleased the court’s ruling allows the focus of the case going forward to now be properly placed on whether Avocent’s conduct in obtaining and attempting to enforce these patents violated antitrust law.” ZPE is represented in the litigation by Robert Whitman of Mishcon de Reya New York, LLP.  The case is Avocent Huntsville, LLC v. ZPE Systems, Inc., case number 3:17-cv-04319, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.