Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Wed, September 30, 2009
Tue, September 29, 2009 Avocent: EMA Whitepaper Stresses Holistic Approach to Best Practices in Power Management for Desktop and Data Center
HUNTSVILLE, AL--(Marketwire - September 29, 2009) - Avocent Corporation (
"This whitepaper provides enterprises with the significant results of our recent research into enterprise power management from the chipset level through hardware, software, the system consolidation level -- including virtualization and grid computing -- and data center implementations," said Steve Brasen, principal analyst with EMA. "Our research took into account the current availability and impact of real-time and visually oriented power management solutions, as well as the importance of monitoring and controlling ambient conditions, such as thermal management. We believe the most successful approach is a holistic one that includes system power consumption, server utilization, and thermal conditions."
The whitepaper stresses the need for better alignment between IT power consumption and overall business value -- a particularly important consideration in lean economic times -- and outlines key areas in which effective IT management can make an immediate impact on the business, including:
On the Desktop: Desktop workstations (PCs and laptops) account for a significant portion of total IT energy costs -- in many cases surpassing those of the data center. The broad distribution of desktop workstations creates a significant opportunity for energy reduction. According to EMA, even small reductions in power consumption can very quickly add up to significant cost savings when managing desktop deployments enterprise-wide. The whitepaper identifies three ways enterprises can reduce power consumption on client workstations:
-- Automate power management solutions; -- Invest in energy-efficient hardware; -- Monitor desktop systems' power consumption.
In the Data Center: A key reason for excessive data center energy consumption is the requirement for continuously operational systems. According to EMA, on average, data center servers are kept fully operational 88 percent of the time; the most frequently cited reason: business production environment is utilized 24x7. The need for continuous operation means excess power consumption in the data center cannot be reclaimed the way it can on desktop systems, through automated power-down and power management practices. Although limited power reduction can be achieved by managing power while data center systems are not in use, doing so would require working around critical backup and maintenance periods, so this is not recommended as the sole approach to energy reduction. The whitepaper identifies four ways enterprises can reduce power consumption and increase savings in the data center:
-- Implement consolidation initiatives such as virtualization and grid computing; -- Invest in energy-efficient hardware solutions; -- Monitor data center power consumption in real time; -- Perform thermal management.
Implementing a Power Management Solution: To realize financial gains and business value that can be attained from implementing energy-efficient initiatives, enterprises must bring together the desktop and data center. However, getting such an initiative off the ground can be challenging. Specific recommendations for successfully implementing a consolidated power management solution include:
-- Endow a governing body, such as a change advisory board with executive authority above both IT management and facilities operations, to implement energy efficiency initiatives; -- Use quality monitoring tools that provide an ongoing, granular yet holistic view of the entire infrastructure; -- Consider leveraging visual modeling tools to improve data collection and analysis.
EMA notes in the whitepaper that Avocent offers a suite of systems management tools that can effectively achieve power management goals both on the desktop and in the data center. The whitepaper details how key features of Avocent's LANDesk®Management Suite, DSView® 3 management software, and MergePoint® Infrastructure Explorer solutions provide the energy monitoring, automation, and detailed reporting functionality necessary to enable a comprehensive power management solution across the entire business IT support stack. To learn more, download "Best Practices in Power Management: From Desktop to Data Center" for free at: [ http://www.avocent.com/whitepapers.aspx ]
About Avocent Corporation
Avocent delivers [ IT operations management ] solutions that reduce operating costs, simplify management, and increase the availability of critical IT environments 24/7 via integrated, centralized software. Additional information is available at [ www.avocent.com ].
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements as defined within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including the risks associated with general economic conditions, risks attributable to future product demand, sales, and expenses, risks associated with acquisitions and acquisition integration, risks associated with product design efforts and the introduction of new products and technologies, and risks associated with obtaining and protecting intellectual property rights. Other factors that could cause operating and financial results to differ are described in the Avocent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2009. Other risks may be detailed from time to time in reports to be filed with the SEC. Avocent does not undertake any obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements based on events or circumstances after the date hereof.
Copyright © 2009, Avocent Corporation. All rights reserved. Avocent, LANDesk, and their respective logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Avocent Corporation, its subsidiaries or its affiliated companies in the United States and/or other countries. Other brands and names may be claimed as the property of others.
