Our goal: improve your data center planning and documentation.

We work closely with many customers worldwide. Improvement boils down to 3 interrelated items.

The OBTAIN software has played a part in your planning and documentation Repository. There are probably many other data sources used at your site during the MAC process. Look for increased synchronization between the OBTAIN database and other tools to help build a more effective, integrated Repository for your vital configuration and planning data.

To facilitate this, we have improved the scope of OBTAIN so you can zoom from macro to micro views quickly.

Location View Site PlanZoomed in Location View Drawing

… and jump to other, related views just as quickly

Rack Elevation ViewDevice Level

… right down to the card or blade level

Card Cage

Our intention has always been to provide you with a database you can interact with intuitively. Actions performed in your data center, such as the insertion of a new card, blade or board into a device have an impact. OBTAIN increasingly models the same impacts. Insert an OBTAIN server blade into a blade chassis and the database also creates a mapped server image that can be searched on. Insert an I/O card and you get new ports or HBAs.

Now we are focused on extending this to include features which can improve other aspects of your planning and documentation workflow. Here are some examples to look for.

Capacity Planning

As you go about your normal work order planning and implementation, OBTAIN collects and propagates Power, Cooling and Space Utility data across zones, locations, sites and even the whole enterprise. You can view the impact of this capacity trend from any level, enterprise down to a single zone in a single floor location.

You can also set future capacity projection values for each location and have the impact of each value propagate up to the enterprise level. Historical capacity values and projections can be exported for use in common display and graphing software.

Cable Activity and Ordering

The cost of cables has dropped very significantly during the past 5 years. Unfortunately, all the other costs associated with making cabling changes have risen to the point that the fiber cable itself may only constitute 25% of the total cost. Copper cables are even less expensive.

OBTAIN has always been a great tool to design the physical implementation of “logical” connectivity. Engineering specifies how many connections between which devices and other departments make it happen. OBTAIN is used to help make it happen and now the actions you perform as part of that planning in a work order are captured and compiled into a Cable Activity List.

This is a detailed action list that can be passed to folks not directly involved in the cable path planning with assurance they will know what to do completely and precisely. This is especially true if the Cable Activity list is used in conjunction with the Cable Label capabilities of OBTAIN.

Key customers have worked with us to design a very precise and concise label format. Combined with a new, simple scripting feature, OBTAIN can generate labels for each cable in the Cable Activity list. Each label shows exactly where the other end of the cable is (will be).

Removing some of the costs and tedium from the cable installation process is only the start of what we are developing. Work Orders can also be flagged to collect all the data necessary to generate a fiber or power cable order to your vendor or an RFQ to several vendors.

We are working on features to streamline the cable ordering, shipping, receiving and installation process and will be pleased to work with your internal team and preferred suppliers to cut costs from your cable process.

Workflow Definition

Historically, OBTAIN has played a role as a database in your planning and documentation process. We hope that our new features will elevate that role but our key customers have made us aware of the need to more fully integrate the Repository aspects of OBTAIN with their work flow definition and execution. A Repository on its own has little value. It is only one leg of the Process Trifecta.

We are working on a new product called OBTAIN Nexus. It will help with the precise and complete definition of data center planning workflow … and be fully integrated with the OBTAIN database.

Every data center has a workflow process:

Sometimes it is ill-defined or open to “interpretation” on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes it is only know at a data center in an abstract, conceptual manner. Nexus is designed to tighten the workflow definition and improve the Feedback, Notification and Control. It starts with a simple concept: all change requests begin as vague and incomplete ideas, possibly in a department that doesn’t even know what impact their idea will have on the corporate IT infrastructure. But, by the time this vague and incomplete idea is implemented, it has to evolve into a very precise and complete definition of exactly what needs to be done, by whom, when and in what order. The more complex the data center environment, more intense the need for precision and completeness.

We show this transition conceptually in the next 2 diagrams:

Along the way, each vague and incomplete Request is transformed by many people in several different departments until it is precise and complete enough to be executed. Unfortunately this transition is often “a difficult birth” as our German friends like to say.

Nexus is designed to lessen the pain and improve the results.

If you are interested in participating in an OBTAIN Web Seminar, contact us at support@obtain.com.

Tip - For preventing server hogs!

Client Inactivity Timer

To prevent cyber-squatting, a timer can be set on the OBTAIN server which will forcibly log off users after a set period of inactivity.

Simply add a line to the Server Config file (the file is named OSERVER.CFG and is located in the \\OBTSVR\ directory on the machine where the server software is installed) containing the phrase "INACTIVE CLIENT TIMEOUT". Tab over and enter a value in minutes (i.e. 30) to represent the amount of time a client may be idle before being logged off.

After the set period of inactivity had been reached by a Client, the user will receive a message indicating why their contact with the server has been terminated.

Tip - Create Automatic Workorder Updates to Production!

Workorder Maintenance

When Workorders are applied, they are placed in a queue to wait a time when no users are logged on to the system. Only then will any Workorders in the queue be applied to the production data.

If there is never a time during the day when no users are logged on, a time may be specified for all users to be automatically forcibly logged off the server.

Simply add a line to the Server Config file (the file is named OSERVER.CFG and is located in the \\OBTSVR\ directory on the machine where the server software is installed) containing the phase "SERVER MAINT". Tab over and enter a value in hours and minutes, using the 24-hour format (i.e. 23:30 = 11:30pm), to represent the time at which all users will be logged off and all queued Workorders will be applied.

Helpful Hint - Displaying Cable Run Lengths

Total Cable Run Lengths can be displayed in the Connector box on the paths page by selecting Options from the main menu bar and then Preferences from the pop out menu. On the resulting Device Assets Preferences dialog, click the box beside Show Cable Run Lengths in the Path Preferences section at the bottom left of the dialog. The total cable run lengths will be now be displayed for all devices when the paths page is open.

Tip - For Data Entry in OBTAIN!

Use the Device Spreadsheet to enter device data

If you have added numerous devices, rather than scrolling through the Device Assets to configure each Device Page individually, use the Device Spreadsheet to manage information regarding every device defined in the site. The Spreadsheet centralizes the information in a spreadsheet format to allow mass changes to the data, providing a far more efficient way of amending device data. Make individual changes, mass changes, copy data multiple cells in a column or copy data to all cells in a column. Double-click the icon spreadsheet on the Function toolbar to open the spreadsheet.

Tip - For creating Rack Mounted panel templates!

Using Templates to Add Panels/Renumber Slots

If the slots of a panel have been numbered in a unique manner, it may be selected as a template panel for use in numbering other panels. Click on the check box next to Use this panel as a template on the left side of the Panels tab control page. The next time you add a panel and want to match the configuration of this panel, you can use this template. Simply ‘Add’ the new panel with the correct number of slots, then in the Selected Slot’ area of the Panel tab control page, click the “Options” button. Select Renumber Slots from the pop-up menu. On the Renumber Slots dialog, select the “Use Template” button, which opens a dialog containing panel names that have been selected as templates. Choose one to copy its numbering style.

Tip - Update multiple cables in OBTAIN at once

Multi-Cable Functions

Changes may be made to many cables simultaneously, by choosing the Multi-Cable item on the menu bar in the Cable Assets window. This feature provides a variety of options, such as updating, renaming, replacing, reserving and renumbering, which allow you to quickly change a group of cables.

Tip - Changing your password

Once you are login to OBTAIN do the following:

1. Switch to the OBTAIN Network Manager tab from the main notebook window. This is the second tab from the left.
2. Launch the OBTAIN Network Manager.
3. Select the "Change Password" option from the top menu of the OBTAIN Network Manager window.

OBTAIN Version History

• Version 1.23.4.071
• Version 1.23.3.051
• Version 1.23.1.017

Version 1.23.4.071 - September 22, 2009

Assets

• Card Cages
• [Fix] Printing device-type card cages displays all slots as empty (or incorrect information).


• [Fix] Card cage window cuts off device name - increased size of static name fields.




• Connectivity
• [Fix] Filter by trunk connectivity excluded all panels with no connection on Slot 1, Side 2. - Filter now allows panels with no connections on Slot 1 Side 2.




• Devices
• [New] You can now specify the starting CUADD for each Channel Group of a Storage Device, as well as the ability to name the LCUs.


• [New] Added more fields to the Server/LPAR spreadsheet.


• [Fix] I/O string component does not save Note1 and Note2 fields.


• [Fix] Server spreadsheet is not available in read only mode.


• [Fix] Cannot update information on the CU Group page of a Control Unit Device.




• Racks
• [New] Racks can now be exported to an Image File in the JPG/PNG/TIF/BMP formats. Options -> Export to -> Image File


• [New] Added the ability to choose which digits of a rack to auto-increment when creating multiple device racks.


• [New] Added the ability to filter Device Rack search results by Location or Contiguous Free Space.


• [New] Custom Diagrams can now be exported to multiple formats (JPG/PNG/TIF/BMP).


• [New] Device Asset Diagrams can now be exported to multiple formats (JPG/PNG/TIF/BMP). Very large diagrams may still be restricted at the moment.

Diagrams

• Export
• [New] Custom Diagrams can now be exported to multiple formats (JPG/PNG/TIF/BMP).


• [New] Device Asset Diagrams can now be exported to multiple formats (JPG/PNG/TIF/BMP). Very large diagrams may still be restricted at the moment.

FTS

• Symbols
• [New] 2 new list-boxes at the top of the Contents List - Device Group dialog provide a way to filter the list by Location and model.

Location View

• Export
• [New] The current screen view of a Location View drawing can now be exported to the JPG/PNG/TIF/BMP/DXF formats. Select the Location -> Export Menu item.




• Locations
• [New] New Option to apply changes to the default asset reference point to all existing assets. Changing the asset default reference point setting will now prompt the user if they want to update all assets on the location to the coordinates of their new ref point. If yes, all assets will have been flagged as having 'changes made' to them -- will be updated when location is saved.


• [New] Power & Cooling Zones are a part of the capacity planning features of OBTAIN. They provide a way to segment an OBTAIN location into zones for capacity planning purposes. Data is gathered across multiple sites, and is displayed in the Capacity Planning Spreadsheet.


• [New] A new capacity planning tool - Floor Capacity View - has been added. This is a report and visual overlay, designed to provide horizontal capacity data for use in capacity planning. This report is helpful in determining free floor space on which to place new equipment or racks.

OBTAIN Pocket PC

• Rack Inventory
• [New] The OBTAIN database can now be exported to handheld devices which run the Windows® Mobile operating systems. This enables you to audit your data while you are on the floor.  In this new release you can also enter or change data on the handheld and import it back into OBTAIN when you plug the handheld back into its cradle at your PC.

Power Manager

• Power Panels
• [New] The PDU Inventory dialog now has a custom naming-option and label-set for Panels.


• [New] The Renumber Pole IDs dialog now has many new options for renumber the slot IDs for a Panel and/or an entire PDU.




• Power Screens/Reports
• [Fix] Power Information screens for Devices and Power Reports are only showing 2 characters for the Breaker label (could be up to 4 characters in length).




• Printing
• [New] The Power Board Internal View may now be printed or exported to multiple formats (JPG/PNG/TIF/BMP).


• [New] The Top Level View (Desktop) may now be printed or exported to multiple formats (JPG/PNG/TIF/BMP).


• [New] The Power Panel Internal View may now be printed or exported to multiple formats (JPG/PNG/TIF/BMP).




• Rack Power Strips
• [New] Multiple power-draws of different types may now be connected to a single cable. As long as there are available outlets for a cable, the blue 'connector-box' is visible at the end of a cable from a panel breaker in the Panel Internal View.




• Spreadsheets
• [Fix] PDU spreadsheet is misaligned when exported (breaker field, commas). - Commas within fields are no longer be misinterpreted as field breaks.

RDBQ

• Device Report
• [New] Added new Filter to Device Report - All Devices without any Complete Data Path.

Web UI

• Devices
• [New] The WebUI Search option has been made more obvious with the addition of a label for the search button.

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Version 1.23.3.051 - April 06, 2009

Assets

• Cables
• [Fix] Logical cable connect now lists the ports of a SAN switch or director.




• Devices


• [New] Channel Groups can now be created for storage type control units. Previously, you had to map interfaces with each control unit individually. Now, when you map an interface to a group, it automatically maps it to all control units in the group. You can also select different colors for each of the groups defined and when you open the Control Unit Diagram and scroll down to the bottom, the channel group and the associated interface are the color specified. You can look at the diagram and instantly see which interface are mapped to which group. Not only does the interface box tell you which group it is in, but it highlights it in the same color as the group.


• [New] The Paths Page of a Mainframe Server/Processor now shows both the PCHID and the mapped CHPID.


• [New] In order to sort through long lists of server images, users can now set a filter on the Search - Server Images dialog.


• [New] Added a Hard Allowed option on Directors that will override any allowed from HCD Import.


• [New] This new time saving feature provides a way to push or pull switch port addresses to/from connected devices. Depending on your workflow process, you can select to set up the addresses inside the switch and whenever you connect a switch port to a device, the address is pushed over to the connected device; OR you could choose to put the IP address into the device and then have it pulled over to the port of the switch when you make a connection. This new feature not only eliminates the need for entering an IP address twice, it ensures that both the switch port and the device port IP address are in sync.


• [Fix] Bulk changes to Connector Types on the Paths Spreadsheet (Data display mode of the Paths Page) can now be made.




• Device Racks


• [Fix] When jumping to a device in a rack, the Z value position was not the same as that listed for the device in the rack.


• Fabrics


• [Fix] Serial numbers now display correctly when mapping ports to a WWPN in a zone.


• [Fix] Fabrics Diagram now displays properly from the Fabrics Page.

Client Notebook

• Sites


• [Fix] Device Count in the Site Control Dialog is now accurate.




• Site Control


• [New] New options have been added to the Site Access Setup that allow the ADMIN to give users a quick way to identify changes that have been made in a workorder. As each change is made, OBTAIN is aware of which database items have been altered from production and will highlight graphical depictions of those items in the selected Highlight Color in various diagrams and views.

Device Asset Diagrams

• [Fix] Large diagrams now show text in all boxes of the device diagram.

Power Manager

• Import


• [Improved] he Power Import routine has been re-engineered to support a wider variety of import options. The routine may now be used to:
  
  Add new Power Cables
  Update attributes of existing Power Cables
  Add new Breakers to existing Power Panels
  Update attributes of existing Breakers
  Connect a Power Cable to a Breaker

Reports & Diagrams

• [Fix] Selections made on the CHPID Select dialog now save the correct selections.

Workorders

• [Fix] Selections made on the CHPID Select dialog now save the correct selections.

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Version 1.23.1.017 - December 15, 2008

Assets

• Cables
• [New] Cable Activity feature has been added to the Cables 'Workorders' menu options. Cable Activity will display every cable which has been added or modified in the current work order. A list is displayed that shows property attributes of the cable as well as the action of the cable before and after cable label info.


• Cable Labels


• [New] Added a new feature to Cable Labels that allows the selection of only Cables used in the current Work Order.


• Fiber Trunks


• [New] Redesign of the Fiber Trunk Dialog window enabling the display of path connectivity for all fibers in the list view.


• Model Definitions


• [New] KVM Switch definition enables a user to quickly and easily map a KVM Switch device to as many as 32 servers without cables.


• Symbol Editor


• [New] To help control the layer placement of objects, toolbar buttons have been added to enable a ‘Z-order nudge’. Now you can slowly move an object backwards or forwards in the layers Z-depth one object at a time.


• [New] Now you can map another symbol to a rectangle object in a different symbol. This will make drawing similar objects much easier by allowing you to create a library of parts, such as a hot swap Hard drive.


• [New] Added to this release is the ability to copy multiple objects at once in the symbol editor. By holding down the control key and left clicking on the desired objects you can make a copy of the group selection.


• Device Page


• [Improved] The functionality and layout of the Device Page has been enhanced by adding a Device List button to toggle between a NEW Device List and Device Details. The Device List will allow users to quickly navigate between devices as they will be able to scroll to a particular device in the list and jump to that device by highlighting the device asset in the list.


• [New] User now have the ability to rename an LCSS, providing more flexibility. Duplicate LCSS names will be prevented by OBTAIN.


• [Improved] To restrict PCHID<->CHPID mapping to a one to one relationship, PCHIDs will now be removed from the list as they are being assigned to CHPIDs and other CSS will also show spanning PCHID in the available list. This will give users a more precise environment for Spanning PCHIDs and CHPIDs over CSS.


• [New] Non-CTC CHPIDs can now be connected to CTCs. Both will have an Address Range available for documenting, ensuring that a Device Address search will find all non-CTC CHPIDs that are connected to CTCs.


• [New] A new spreadsheet for viewing or exporting Server LPARs can now be accessed directly from the Server Tab on the Device Page, just click on the Server Spreadsheet Icon to display LPAR information.


• [New] Frame Tab was added this enables a user to define one or more Frames and Modules as being part of a device. Then they can map or mount a Frame or Module to a Device Rack. This provides a way for multi*frame devices to be represented on the floor and in elevated rack views as well as documenting which Frames and Modules are part of a complex device.


• [New] Added a 'CHPID Swap*out' feature for the CSS Tab. The Target processor must have its PCHID mapping completed before a swap can be performed.

Location View

• [New] Now users can jump to a PDU from Location View.


• [New] Users can now add a Print Date Box to their Location View drawing to display the current date of the changes.


• [New] The ability to add a “Print Note Box” to a Location View Drawing has been added. This note box can be used to keep track of drawing revisions, or other noteworthy items. Once a Print Note Box has been placed on the drawing, the note can be edited on the Print Options dialog and displayed on the drawing dynamically.


• [New] Users now have the ability to control the Z-depth of objects/assets in Location View. Each object can be "pushed" to the bottom, middle or top of the Z-order.

Network Manager

• [New] On the Network Manager window, the site that each user is currently logged into will be displayed below the user name ... only the first 10 characters will be displayed.

Power Manager

• [New] Power Cable color groups, which are associated with power cables, PDUs and RPPs, have been added in this release to help users filter their power cables inventory. Cable Color Groups are created by the Admin in the Site Options window found in OBTAIN Notebook under Site -> Admin Site -> Site Options.


• [New] The Admin can now force the naming of power cables to follow a certain naming convention across multiple work orders and will maintain a consecutive cable ID numbering order. To activate this option, go to OBTAIN Notebook and choose Site -> Admin Site -> Site Options, put a checkmark in the checkbox “Force Power Cable…” and enter your naming convention in the Next ID field (ie. RC*0000001). Click on the Save ID button to complete this feature.


• [New] Users can export PDU spreadsheet Data for multiple PDUs at once.


• [New] Users can now export power circuit schedules in a csv file format and include several fields for each breaker in the selected PDU panels.


• [New] Users can now jump from the auxillary panel inventory window to Location View.


• [New] The user defined fields from the Asset Data dialog have been added to the PDU spreadsheet data export.


• [New] Receptacle type is now displayed on the various powered devices dialogs. 1. device rack power strip. 2. device 3. powered devices (main power menu)


• [New] A new option has been added to the "Receptacle Regions" setting in the panel internal view, that will display 'the number of connected outlets/number of total outlets' for each breaker. eg. 2/4 which means, 2 of the 4 available plugs of this receptacle are connected.


• [New] Added the ability for users to change the power factor for their site. This can be found under the Power Manager's Options -> Preferences.


• [New] Now a Power Summary report can be printed or exported from Power Manager through the Menu bar - Transfer -> Export -> Power Summary. This report will include Power (KVA), Heat (BTU), Number of Devices, Location and will be broken down by Power Boards and Power Panels sections.

Workorders

• [New] A new 'High Priority Workorder' option for applying workorders has been added. This will allow important workorders to be applied immediately by forcing out users in the applied work order site. All other users connected to the OBTAIN server will not be affected. This new option will allow minimal downtime and is great for users who have multiple sites. This option is activated by the Admin Userid in the Site Access window: Site -> Admin Site -> Site Options.


• [New] The OBTAIN Admin now has the option to generate historical notes for all workorders automatically. Users just have to enter a Historical Note once when they start a workorder and the note will be applied to all of their changes.


• [New] The Workorder audit trail now can be export to a 'csv' or 'txt' file format.


• [Fix] Previously deleted workorders attached to an applied mutually exclusive workorder would lock associated assets that were used in said deleted workorder. Now all previously associated assets are free and available after mutually exclusive workorders are applied.

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Check out some overlooked features in OBTAIN. They may enhance your work output.

Cable Label Script

Cable labels can be scripted to automate the labeling process in OBTAIN. When the following codes are entered into the OBTAIN Database: Building, Floor, X-tile position, Y-tile position, Z-title position, Device, and Connector. The Cable Label script can pull the information of the connected device and output it to the script label, saving you time and ensuring accurate label documentation.

A new Label format can easily be added from the Cable Labels window by clicking the View Label Formats button.

Click on the New button and setup your unique label specification and dimensions. From the Page Format Tab you will need to enter the script format in the Connection Point Script field. It will look something like this:   BB/FF/XXYY.ZZ.DD.CCCCCCCCCC

• B = Building Code (4 characters in length)
• F = Floor Code (4 characters in length)
• XX = X-tile Position (4 characters in length)
• YY = Y-tile Position (4 characters in length)
• ZZ = Z position in Rack (4 characters in length)
• D = Device or Panel label code (4 characters in length)
• C = Connector Code Label which uses the Port name to define it. (10 characters in length)

Only use the backslash character between the Building (B), Floor (F) code and to separate the X-tile (X) position from the Floor code. Use a period or dot character between Y-tile (Y), Z position (Z), Device or Panel (D) and the connector (C).

• Building Code & Floor Code: Are entered once from the Locations Window.
• Device Code: Can be entered from the device Page and is specific to the device.
• Panel Code: Can be entered from the Panel Tab in Rack Mounted Panel window.
• X-,Y-, Z-title position Code: Can be manually entered if the device is not already mounted in a rack, otherwise the rack mounted position will override the tile position.
• Connector Code: Uses the Port name up to 10 characters in length.

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Cable Run

Did you ever find the need to know how much cabling would be required to run connectivity for new devices?

Location View has the ability to measure out a cable run from a device anywhere on the floor.

This can easily be done by right clicking on the device and choosing Properties from the pop-up menu. Select the Cable Run Tab and click the create button. Draw the cable run by right clicking points on the floor, use a left click for the last point to finish the run. Enter in the object distances from the floor in the text field then click on the Set button, repeat for the other object end. This will display the new Cable Run Distance for the device.

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