ABB’s Latest DCIM System Offers New Reports, More Safeguards

ABB has introduced Decathlon Version 3.1, the latest release of its data center infrastructure management (DCIM) system, which offers new reports, increased flexibility and more safeguards for managing a flexible network of power, cooling and IT systems, the company says.

ABB Decathlon Version 3.1 offers increased reporting capabilities that allow users to create snapshot and genset reports. Snapshot reports provide an efficient way to monitor and query specific aspects of and the status of the data center. For example, users can elect to show all breakers that are not racked in, UPSs that are not running in economizer mode, or identify all racks with temperatures higher than 78 degrees Fahrenheit or 25.5 degrees Celsius.

Automated genset reports can be created at preset time periods or on-demand, allowing users a way to maintain and validate system health, as well as provide a flexible format to meet regulatory requirements. These reports enable users to monitor, assess and relay information in a single report, which ABB says saves both time and resources.

The new monitoring functions within ABB Decathlon Version 3.1 also include real-time access and more flexible viewing options, such as live video. ABB Decathlon’s video system features instant, user-controlled views of the facility, allowing users to monitor the data center from a remote location and also record those videos for later reference. Users can direct the camera at different angles or predetermined settings to see and record operations, from maintenance to environmental and security conditions.

Additionally, ABB Decathlon Version 3.1 provides increased flexibility with application delivery, allowing the Decathlon system to reside on a customer’s host system. Users still have the option for the application to be delivered on an appliance.

The company says its Decathlon Version 3.1 also provides greater reliability for data center infrastructure management. Though a common safeguard for mission critical systems, redundancy is often overlooked for the server that hosts the application, the company says.

This latest version of the ABB Decathlon application provides improved redundant operation, ensuring the application continues to run without loss of data in the event of host failure. ABB says Decathlon offers full end-to-end redundancy — from redundancy in the host system application to redundant servers, redundant network, redundant power supplies, redundant and hot-swappable IO modules, and building management controllers.