For 3,000 machines, remote server management is easier than managing locally, but for business intelligence software company SAS, wrestling with multiple management interfaces was only marginally helpful.
…Reducing the divorce rate
Do not underestimate the power of remote server management, warned Dennis Drogseth, a vice president and analyst at Enterprise Management Associates. Marx, for example, says that he can now sit at his desk, perform remote server management tasks like installing software or doing a reboot, and all while checking email. But Drogseth said the benefits extend further, especially for IT staffers on call at odd hours.
…VMware support breaks the tie
According to Drogseth, there are two major players in the KVM management space: Avocent and Raritan, both of which SAS evaluated closely.
Avocent already had the edge in Marx’s mind because SAS was already using Avocent’s KVM switches. Still, the company went through a two- to three-month evaluation, and Marx said he prefers Avocent’s roadmap. He thought Avocent seemed to be more on top of the game in terms of various vendors’ remote console access methods. He was also encouraged by Avocent’s ability to manage virtual VMware servers as well as physical devices. So, about a year ago, SAS settled on Avocent’s digital switches and its DSView 3 management software.
Click here to find out more about Avocent and Raritan products.
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