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.

OBTAIN service level 23 will be available in the near future and we hope to work with you to maximize your benefit from its capabilities.

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 1.22.5.023
• Version 1.22.4.020
• Version 1.22.3.032
• Version 1.22.2.034
• Version 1.22.1.198
• Version 1.22.1.188

---

Version 1.22.5.023 - February 26, 2008

Assets

• [New] Added two new check box features to the OBTAIN Preferences. Now Devices Names and/or Device Serial Numbers must be unique, after the check box has been activate.
• [New] To more accurately reflect the current terminology, Slots have been renamed as Ports.

Device Page

• [New] The Z-position of device is now synched with its Device Rack position and can be used in 'scripted connection sides' for Cable Labels.

Symbols

• [Fix] Floor symbols with text elements are now saved correctly within workorders and sync with production data.

Rack Mounted Panels

• [New] The hierarchy of Rack Mounted Patch Panels have been changed from 'Group/Cabinet/Panel' to 'Group/Sub-Group/Panel' in an effort to relieve confusion.
• [New] Added a Cable Labels link button to quickly allow users the ability to Label Cables from panels.

Power Manager

• [Fix] Importing power receptacles from a spreadsheet could cause 'Data Match Error'.

Web Client

• [Fix] If a device had a quotation in its name, it would produce and error on screen.

Location View

• [New] Improved asset list dialog for locating assets on the floor. Changed the menu button name from 'List Assets' to 'Find Assets' from the 'Floor Menu'.
• [Fix] Device Racks could not be manually sized on the Location View Floor and would only have the actual dimensions of the Rack displayed.
• [Fix] The Default 'Set Asset Reference Point' in the GUI would not save the selection, but would save the functionality.

HCD Import

• [New] Added the ability to import IBM's updated HCD format for the Z/OS 1.9 systems.

Return to Top of Page

---

Version 1.22.4.020 - January 21, 2008

Assets

• [New] OSA CHPIDs can now be given an IP Address, which can be found by an IP Address search.
• [New] Increased the limit of I/O Strings from 52 to 64.
• [New] Added the ability to view all the Asset Group associations of a particular asset.
• [New] CTC CHPIDs can now be given an Address Range that are compatible with the Control Unit address ranges, which can be included in the Search by Address Range from the search menu.
• [New] Added new category types to the Asset Category drop down list (Patch Panel, Trunk, PDU, Power Board and Power Panel) to better define Group associations.

Card Cages

• [Fix] Selecting the various Card type definitions with the up/down arrow keys would not display the correct information or image.

Device Racks

• [New] Now Device racks can be assigned rack allocation categories for better filtering in the 'Free RU Spreadsheet' through the Rack Properties dialog.
• [New] Free RU Spreadsheet has been expanded dramatically to incorporate the capacity calculation values for items installed, Used and percentage available in the following categories; RUs, Amps, Fiber Ports, and Copper Ports.
• [Fix] Free RU Spreadsheet would hang at times.

Power Manager

• [New] Added the ability to name each power set for more accurate documentation of device frame power sets. These power sets can also be changed through the power information dialog via the device page.

Data Sevices

• [Fix] After a install and update of older data, the WWPNs would not keep their correct numbers.

Reports & Diagrams

• [Fix] When making a selection of items for a report the "Selected" items count would not update as you were selecting the various items.
• [New] Added the Maintenance Vendor and Maintenance Code as Data Items for output of Device Reports via (One Device Per Line Fields).

Location View

• [Fix] Power Bus Bars that were assigned floor layers in Power Manager were not being filtered correctly in Location View.
• [Fix] When working with multiple workorders, Locations would lock and prevent saves in other workorders.

Return to Top of Page

---

Version 1.22.3.032 - December 10, 2007

Client Notebook

• [New] Added a warning message for Data and Software release level differences.

Assets

• Paths Page - Connectivity Mode
• [New] Can now display X/Y co-ordinate of panels in the Paths View of Devices.
• Devices
• [New] Added Path type option "Other" for the Path View display types to show different devices than Servers, Storage and Switches.
• Spreadsheet
• [New] Added the ability to view Device Rack information such as Rack Name,RU Position, RU Size.
• Directors
• [Fix] When viewing the Director Alloweds for a specific port in Read-Only mode, users are unable to scroll the list to view all the alloweds.
• Cable Assets
• [Fix] Cable Export filter would not filter selection criteria for export.
• [Fix] Connecting a Single-Data-Channel side of an MTP Trunk using the "Connect All" button would only connect up a single ribbon.
• Fiber Trunks
• [Fix] Problems with connecting Ficon Director Ports to Trunk Fibers.
• Path View Spreadsheet
• [Fix] When exporting data from the "Path View" spreadsheet if a field contains a comma the export would fail.
• Model Definitions
• [Fix] Hidden Model components cause problems when attempting to update environmentals data in Models.

Device Racks

• [New] Patch Panels can have a maximum of 475 slots.
• [Fix] The Device Rack ruler seem to show a 0.25 RU variance from the position shown and the item info.
• [Fix] When moving a device from one rack to another in Device Racks the XY coordinates would not update.
• [Fix] When adding a Chassis of x RU to a Device Rack the properties would show the Chassis as x.4 RU instead of the correct RU number.
• [Fix] When using the arrow keys to move a device up or down in a Device Rack the increments could be tenths of a RU.
• [Fix] When adding devices to a Device Rack, the height could be listed as a tenth increment which would cause the device to appear invalid.
• [Fix] When changing the RU Starting Position of rack the chassis bays would display the incorrect RU position
• [Fix] When using print preview of a Device Rack Group the Preview action could lock up the system.
• [Fix] The Rack properties dialog measurement differed from how the racks measurement appeared to be drawn in Rack View.
• [Fix] When using the scrollbar Racks would get cut off on the screen.
• [Fix] Multi-update of a device rack size did not resize the icons in Location View.
• [Fix] When printing device racks with Cable Managers, the Cable Managers were not included in the final print out.

Location View

• [New] Power Bus Bar systems can now be documented in Location View.
• [New] Added Combination From 1A-9Z numbering system for Bays.
• [New] Added Letter From A-Z, AA-ZZ numbering system for Bays.
• [Fix] Sub-Area would not display in main dialogs tree control.
• [Fix] When changing the position of a rack in Location View, the width of the rack appeared to change.
• [Fix] A Location would not delete if there was non-asset linked objects associated with the location.

Power Manager

• [New] Power Bus Bar systems can now be documented in Power Manager.
• [New] Added Power Bus Bar connection in the Strip data for Power Strips.
• [Fix] When connecting a device to a Strip Socket the Strip Socket resets to the First Socket.
• [Fix] Users were unable to delete a Device Rack Strip who had a blank name.
• [Fix] Power Panel Window titles did not display the currently viewed Panel.
• [Fix] Power Panels - Connector and Receptacle Inventory list would not update on arrow key selection.
• [Fix] Users were unable to jump to External Frame from the PDUs and Main Power Panels window.
• [Fix] After connecting a receptacle in power, "Selected Connector" dialogs do not repopulate.
• [Fix] After upgrading to 1.22.2.034, user received an error message regarding oPROD_USERID class Full, or hangs in Power Panel View.
• [Fix] Connected devices and device racks in the receptacle list only showed the device model/rack group and not the device or rack name.

HCD Import

• [Fix] Scroll bar on HCD Report Column configuration was not wide enough for the full width of the page.
• [Fix] HCD Import processor reconciliation dialog did not display the HCD Processor Model or the HCD Processor Serial Number if the details contain a blank line.

Custom Diagram

• [New] Added the ability to turn on/off Staggered Nodes for import into custom diagrams.

Web Client

• [New] Added a search feature for Devices.

FTS

• [Fix] The CPU Internal displayed all non connected slots as free slots even (Bad, Spare) slot types.

Reports & Diagrams

• [Fix] EMIF field would display incorrectly.
• [Fix] Not all Asset Data fields were available for selection in Device Report.

Backup & Restore

• [Fix] Backup & Restore utility would allow users to Restore a database when the OBTAIN Server was running when using (Windows Remote Desktop).

Return to Top of Page

---

Version 1.22.2.034 - October 23, 2007

OBTAIN

• [Fix] Conflict between OBTAIN and Windows XP password encryption would result in users not being able to log on to OBTAIN and receiving an error message (1308).

Assets

• Rack Mounted Panels
• [New] Can now choose to define slot numbering by column or by row during the panel creation process.
• [New] A Connect All option has been added to the Rack Mounted Panels window for connections to Copper Trunks.
• Cable Assets
• [Fix] Use of the State filter on the Cable Export window would cancel out other filter selections.
• [Fix] The Workorders filter option on the Cable Export cable selection area was not working.
• Device Assets
• [Fix] The numbers on the Set button did not update to reflect the selected item in the UA list on the I/O Device String page.
• [Fix] Including any of the User Defined fields in a Device Export file would result in the the field data being repeated within the column.
• [Fix] When dragging and dropping multiple cables on the Device Assets window, the ability to adjust the display of ports using the cursor keys was lost after the connection of a single cable.
• Asset Groups
• [Fix] Device and Device Rack names and serial numbers were being displayed incorrectly on the Asset Group window.
• Smart Views
• [Fix] The Card Type, Sub-type and Feature Code field sizes have been increased.

Device Racks

• [Fix] When a rack-mounted device was deleted from the inventory, the associated module was not deleted from the rack.
• [Fix] Location information for patch panels mounted in Device Racks was not being passed back to the panel when viewed via the Rack Mounted Panels window.
• [Fix] Shelving Unit Shelves can now be assigned a height value.
• [Fix] Could not connect the same device to two different power strips in the same device rack.
• [Fix] Connecting devices to device rack power strips would result in a transaction cancelled message.
• [Fix] The Switch Set drop down list was occasionally disabled when attempting connections to device rack power strips.
• [Fix] Serial number data was not being saved during rack and shelving unit creation.

Power Manager

• [New] The Power Strips window has been redesigned.
• [Fix] The Total KVA bar was showing 100 percent usage when no KVA was actually being used.
• [Fix] Calculation of amps for power panels was incorrect. Now if the panel has a value set for Amps, that value will be used for the Total Amps field. However, if it is not set, the total amps will be calculated by totalling up the values for the breakers.
• [Fix] Preferences were not being saved while operating in Client/Server environment.

HCD Import

• [Fix] Merging IODF reports would crash the HCD Import.
• [Fix] The Update button on the Import CHPID Types dialog would enable but not allow the update.

Location View

• [Fix] Conversion errors between Kcal and BTU values in devices were causing problems with Hilter displays.
• [Fix] Changes to the physical dimensions of device racks (width & depth values) will now be reflected in the Location View drawing.

Reports & Diagrams

• [Fix] Trunks and harnesses were not being displayed correctly in the CHPID Spreadsheet when they were connected to brackets.
• [Fix] The Free PCHIDs/Ports/Intf format of the Device Report would omit items locked by Workorders when the Assume Free if No Logical Connection option was selected.
• [Fix] Device Height and Position for Tailoring Fields was displaying incorrect measurements.

Return to Top of Page

---

Version 1.22.1.198 - June 28, 2007

Device Racks

• [Fix] The maximum number of device racks in a group has been changed to 70.
• [Fix] Chassis were displaying incorrect text.
• [Fix] Problems deleting chassis from Device Racks.

Power Manager

• [Fix] Incorrect KVA and amperage totals displayed in Power Panel Internal View header.

Location View

• [Fix] Upgrading to Service Level 22 occasionally resulted in layer preferences being turned off.
• [Fix] Fonts were changed to strikethrough. If this occurs after having upgraded to 1.22.1.188, simply reload the Default Text settings.

Rack Mounted Panels

• [Fix] The cable type could be incorrect when creating a cable via the Rack Mounted Panels Cable Connection dialog.

Return to Top of Page

---

Version 1.22.1.188 - June 15, 2007

New Modules

Nexus - A project management and planning tool.

Smart Views - Define, via Model Definitions, each physical item that makes up the device - each card, fan, slot, etc. Any time a device of that model is added to the OBTAIN inventory, a graphical depiction of the asset will be shown on the Device Page.

RFID/Genesys Panels - Service Level 22 includes an interface with ConTech’s Genesys Intelligent Panels.

Browser Interface - A web-based Client that will feature all major asset types (Cables, Trunks, Devices, Panels and Device Racks). The User Interface will include all fields found on these Asset windows in classic OBTAIN and will also list pathing information. The initial offering of this feature will be Read-Only - no updates will be allowed from the Web UI.

Action/Request - A Web Services function has been enabled in Service Level 22.

Device Assets

• [New] Chargeback Codes allow the assignment and calculation of costs for connectivity usage. Accessed via a button on the Server Page, the Chargeback Code allows the assignment of costs to each element in the path.
• [New] The Address Range field has been added to the window for the Search - Different Model function.
• [New] Two new items have been added to the Device Status field: Development and Disaster Recovery Resource.
• [New] New field on the Device Page: Tier Level.
• [New] On the Midrange Processor component page, a new section has been added: Processor Allocation. It allows each CP to be assigned a domain and have its status set (Open, Unused, Used).
• [New] The Add Paths dialog on the Paths Page will remember the Cable Type of the last port created for future use.
• [New] Import World Wide Port Name data into OBTAIN via the Transfer item on the menu bar of the Device Assets window.
• [Fix] When attempting to connect a trunk fiber to a port from the Fabric Switch device, the ports list would always be empty.
• [Fix] When adding a cable from the paths page, the Set Preferences button was not enabled.
• [Fix] When deleting a component from a device, any ports/interface would also be deleted. A new dialog allows the user to choose to keep ports or delete them along with the component.
• [Fix] The Decrease Slot Numbering radio button on the Cage Types Definition window had no effect on slot numbering.
• [Fix] Environmental values, such as Height, Width and Depth, can now be defined with decimal points.
• [Fix] When the MOD type of a director was changed and the Add/Delete Ports view was open, the window was not refreshed to display the new configuration.
• [Fix] The maximum number of devices that can be included in the Associated Devices dialog has been increased to 32.
• [Fix] The Address Range fields on the Control Unit component page would allow the end value to be lower than the start value, leading to misleading results when the Search - 390 Address range option was used.
• [Fix] Noteboxes were being discarded when the Replace Cable function was being used.
• [Fix] The Ports Per Card radio buttons on the Director and Fabric Switch component pages have been replaced with a text box.
• [Fix] When creating alloweds in a Director device, the mirrored port would not be displayed in the matrix until the screen was refreshed.
• [Fix] Incompatibility message was mistakenly displayed when attempting to create a Fibre Channel PCHID.
• [Fix] The Ports Per Card radio buttons on the Director and Fabric Switch component pages have been replaced with a text box
• [Fix] The Fabric Switch and Director components allowed the definition of only 255 ports, not the required 256.

Device Racks

• [New] The total power usage for a rack is now displayed on the Rack Properties dialog. In order for this value to be populated, the fields must be populated in either the Model Definition or on the Device Environmentals dialogs.
• [New] A new display area has been added to the Free RU Spreadsheet in Device Racks. When a cell in the spreadsheet is selected, the area populates with the names of the racks that contain the free space indicated in the cell. After the rack names, a number is displayed in brackets, indicating the number of instances of free space of the required size in the rack.
• [New] Can now define wire/cable managers in Device Racks.
• [New] The maximum width of Shelving Units has been increased to 90 inches.
• [New] New menu option: Clear Clipboard. Removes cut and/or copied items form the clipboard and removing the highlighting of the selected items in the graphical display.
• [New] New button on the Device Racks Properties dialog: Multi-Update. This will allow the various physical attributes of a selected rack to be applied to multiple other racks.
• [Fix] Garbage characters would occur following the Group name in the results window for the Search Device Racks function.
• [Fix] Pasting two modules from one shelf to another flipped their vertical position.
• [Fix] The ability to cut copy and paste Device Racks assets has been changed in Service Level 22. The Clipboard cache button has been removed.
• [Fix] When a patch panel was mapped to a slot in a chassis, a device name was displayed instead of the correct panel name.
• [Fix] If a chassis module was placed underneath a device module, the chassis would inherit the color settings of the device module when updated.
• [Fix] Moving a device to a different rack via cut & paste did not sever power strip connections.

Cable Assets

• [New] A Find text box has been added to the MTP Brackets/Coupling Blocks window to facilitate searching the list of brackets.
• [New] Noteboxes can now be created at the Cable and Trunks windows, instead of just at the Device Assets window.
• [New] New Asset Type: Copper Trunks.
• [Fix] The name field for Copper Trunks and Fiber Trunks has been increased from 16 characters to 24 characters.
• [Fix] UTP and STP type Miscellaneous Cables have been renamed to be CAT5 and CAT6 cables.
• [Fix] The Cable Type combo box would display 'Coax' when a Logical Cable was selected in the Misc. Cables window.

Rack Mounted Panels

• [New] A spreadsheet feature has been added to the Rack Mounted Panel Assets. View the connectivity for the current panel in spreadsheet form.
• [Fix] When a Logical Cable was connected to a patch panel slot, the display text indicated that the cable was 'Coax' instead of 'Logical'.
• [Fix] The Enter key did not activate the Update buttons on the Panels tab.

Fabrics

• [New] Zone data can be imported into OBTAIN using .xml output from McData's Enterprise Fabric Connectivity Management (EFCM) software.
• [New] The Zones and Zone Sets name fields have been expanded to 50 characters.
• [New] Create Unassigned WWPNs in Fabrics Zones, if you know the WWPN but not the port and device information.

Power Manager

• [New] The maximum number of power switch sets has been expanded from 5 to 6.
• [New] Environmental values, such as height and depth, are now available to be set for PDU Types and Power Distribution Units. These fields will help size symbols correctly when the PDU are added to a Location View drawing.
• [New] Input breakers can now be defined on a per-panel basis on the PDU window.
• [New] The PDU window has been renamed to be the PDUs and Main Panels window.
• [New] The UPS Information window now displays their feeds and draws.
• [New] A Secondary Input breaker has been added to the PDUs and Main Panels window.
• [Fix] Duplicate data was being displayed in the PDU Connection Spreadsheet.
• [Fix] The list of receptacles/connectors was not refreshing after an update to an item was made.
• [Fix] Additional fields have been added to the PDU Connection Spreadsheet: the Location fields for the receptacle and the receptacle type.
• [Fix] The Note field on Power Panel breakers has been expanded from 12 to 24.
• [Fix] The Quick Connect option in the Power Panel internal view would skip the occasional available breakers.
• [Fix] The Load in (KVA) field on the Device tab of the Connector/Receptacles dialog would only populate for connections to devices, not for any other type of connection.
• [Fix] The Power Board name was not being displayed in the Power Information dialog on the Device Rack Power Strips window.
• [Fix] Fields were being reversed during the export of connector/receptacle information.
• [Fix] Duplicate data was being displayed in the PDU Connection Spreadsheet.

Custom Diagrams

• [New] Ability to alter the size of connector areas within asset symbols. The user can determine the percentage of the symbol that will be occupied by connector information.
• [New] The Reposition Diagram option allows the moving of an entire diagram to a new position on the canvas.
• [New] New options when printing a Custom Diagram: optionally include or remove nodes and grid lines.
• [New] The cursor keys on keyboards can now be used to move objects in Custom Diagrams, as well being able to control the movement of scroll bars if no object on the drawing is selected.
• [Fix] LPAR names were not being displayed on multiple lines when selected as a Data Field Selection in a Connector Based Text Area.

Custom Diagrams

• [New] The Trunk Report will now include both Copper and Fiber Trunks. A new option allows the display of all trunks or allows filtering by type.
• [New] The Access Permissions level for reports and diagrams will now be displayed next to the Ownership in the Reports and Diagrams main window list. Access permission can be changed by right clicking on the permission type and selecting a new level from the resulting pop-up menu.
• [Fix] The link from HTML output to download the OBTAIN Diagram viewer used an incorrect address.
• [Fix] The Path Length option has been removed as an option on the CHPID Diagram tailoring.
• [Fix] The Device Rack Report would not recognize a change in Output Type unless the Tailoring options were updated.
• [Fix] The Processor box on the Control Unit Diagram would not increase to display added Data Field Selections.
• [Fix] Lines were being drawn incorrectly to and from director ports in the Physical Path Diagram if the path did not terminate at a CHPID/PCHID.
• [Fix] Butted MTP trunks would dead end in diagrams.

Location View

• [New] Asset Hi-Lites option allows a temporary color-by-category display of assets on the Floor Plan drawing. Use this feature to view power consumption, heat dissipation, etc.
• [New] A list box has been added to the Custom Symbol Editor to allow the preview of symbols.
• [New] Auxiliary Panels can now be added as symbols to floor plan drawings.
• [New] The Generated Text Font Scales option on the Settings menu allows the option of having font displayed in symbols to scale or not when zooming in/out.
• [New] The x/y coordinates of an asset on a Location View drawing are determined by the origin point. OBTAIN's default value for this (the top left corner of the symbol) did not suit all users. A new Preferences option allows the setting of the origin point and calculation of the correct grid coordinate.
• [New] New floor tile size: 18 inches.
• [New] New Bay numbering option: Combination 1A-9Z
• [Fix] Even if a symbol type was locked on a floor plan drawing, the cursor keys could be used to move symbols.
• [Fix] The Automatically Place Assets option did not work when Sequential Count was used as the increment for Bay coordinate numbering.
• [Fix] The Save As dialog accessed from the Custom Symbol Editor would only allow the entry of 39 characters when the maximum field length is 40.
• [Fix] The graphical depiction of the bay outline would twist when attempting to create a bay from right to left, instead of left to right.
• [Fix] When a UserID did not have Product Access to peripheral products such as Power Manager they lost the ability to create new Locations.
• [Fix] The default Custom Symbols provided with OBTAIN will no longer be displayed with an asterisk in front of them. They will now be displayed in red text. Custom symbols created by users will be displayed in black text.
• [Fix] Custom Symbol elements were not being cleared if a new custom symbol was chosen to represent a device while in a workorder.
• [Fix] When printing from Location View, selecting the Fit to Page option would result in the edges of the drawing being cut off.
• [Fix] Grid co-ordinate numbering was off by one when printing the drawing.

Workorders

• [New] The Workorders Login window now allows double clicking on the workorder or site name, instead of having to select it and then click the Login button.
• [New] Audit Trail Transactions can now be exported to a comma-delimited file or printed via the Audit Trail Spreadsheet.
• [Fix] To avoid user confusion, a message will now be displayed when one of a Mutually Exclusive pair of Workorders is applied, to indicate that the other Workorder will be discarded.

HCD Import

• [Fix] After selecting a report type from the Column Configuration window, the fields displayed might not match the chosen report.

Network Manager

• [Fix] Access issues with making updates to User Groups. From now on only the ADMIN can make updates to all User Groups. Users with Administrator rights can only update membership to those groups in which they have been given Read/Write access.

Assets

• [New] You determine the content - 5 User Defined Fields have been added to the Asset Data window. The titles for these fields are set in the Preferences dialog in Network Manager.
• [New] A field to document RFIDs has been added to all Asset dialogs, including the UserID window.
• [New] Two new fields have been added to the Asset Data window: Primary Contact and Secondary Contact. These fields use the Contact information defined in the UserID window in Network Manager.
• [New] Historical Notes can now be edited.

Miscellaneous Assets

Linked Documents

• [New] New Jump button on the Linked Documents Manager allows you to jump directly to any device that has been linked to the currently selected item.

Asset Groups

• [Fix] Deleting a device in an Asset Group caused a crash.

FTS

• [Fix] The Exploded Panel View did not follow the panel's correct structure (column x row).

Import/Export

• [New] Additional data fields have been made available for import or export. These field include all of the fields on the Asset Data window, more fields from the Device Page and Device Rack information.
• [New] The number of possible fields that can be included in an import or export has been expanded to 24.

OBTAIN

• [Fix] The Vendors field has been renamed to be Manufacturers.
• [Fix] OBTAIN would retain hot key action even when it was not the active application.

Return to Top of Page

---

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.

Return to Top of Page

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.

Return to Top of Page