Avocent Cyclades ACS 32 Quick start guide

Brand: Avocent

Model: Cyclades ACS 32

Type: Quick start guide

Avocent Cyclades ACS 32 is an advanced console server that provides secure remote management of serial devices and servers. It features 32 serial ports, each with independent baud rate and flow control settings, allowing you to connect to a wide range of devices. With its dual power supplies and redundant network connections, the ACS 32 ensures continuous availability and reliability.

CASE STUDY

IT infrastructure upgrade impacts system security,

data center management, compliance requirements

SUMMARY

Driven by new requirements for security and audit logging, PSCU Financial

Services, the nation’s largest credit union service organization, wanted to upgrade

their two data centers to take advantage of the latest technological innovations

while improving access to their systems. With a heterogeneous network, the

organization needed a single solution that would deliver centralized and secure

remote access to all their servers and connected network devices.

Having great success with an IP-based KVM solution from Avocent, PSCU Financial

Services again turned to the company for their recent network refurbishment

project. Newly introduced to their network are the 16-port Avocent DSR2020

KVM switches, which provide two simultaneous digital paths for emote access to

devices, and the DSR4030 KVM switches, which provide four simultaneous digital

paths. Both offer BIOS-level control of all connected servers and serial-based

devices in the data center. With the newer KVM switches, PSCU Financial Services

is able to take advantage of a faster data transfer rate, better views into their system

and centralized management of their entire infrastructure via a single interface.

Also part of the network upgrade is the introduction of Cyclades® ACS advanced

console servers which help administrators and engineers conduct secure remote

data center management of serial devices and servers. When deployed with

DSView® 3 management software and the KVM over IP switches, the Cyclades

console servers round out a complete, centralized management solution.

The result is a system that can more easily comply with industry and internal audit

requirements, and improved response time when issues arise– all contributing to a

highly available network.

PROFILE

Customer

PSCU Financial Services

Type of Business

America’s largest credit union service

organization

Web site

http://www.pscufs.com

Applications

Centralized infrastructure management and

BIOS-level control of all connected servers

“We know we have huge advantages with

the Avocent products. We have found that

the organization, ease of use and security

have been excellent. Combined with the

DSView 3 software, the Avocent solution

gives us per rack information allowing us

to streamline response, reduce our mean

time to repair, and meet both internal and

external audit requirements.”

Bob Perini

Data Center Manager

PSCU Financial Services

CUSTOMER

PSCU Financial Services

PSCU Financial Services is a

cooperative owned by more than 500

credit unions. Founded in 1977, the

organization provides its members

with a variety of technical and ﬁ nancial

services, including processing for

more than eleven million credit and

debit cardholder accounts, online bill

payment, lending, collections, fraud

management and strategic consultation.

Headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL, the

company employs over 1,100 people to

support its operations.

THE CHALLENGE

Complying with heightened security

requirements and streamlining

response time

Prior to installing Avocent equipment,

administrators and engineers at PSCU

Financial Services relied on analog KVM

to gain access to their systems. In addition

to taking up a lot of space in the server

racks, the analog solution allowed for just

one monitor and keyboard per switch,

prohibiting multiple users from gaining

simultaneous access to equipment. As a

result, engineers were forced to wait for

console availability and were unable to

rapidly restore system health when

issues arose.

Also limiting their ability to quickly

respond was the lack of remote access

capability. Any network equipment

failure required the IT staff to physically

travel to the data center, and manually

identify the location of the downed

system to begin troubleshooting. As the

number of systems in their data centers

grew, and as system management needs

increased, PSCU Financial Services

required improved and remote access to

their systems.

In the fall of 2003, they chose a digital

KVM over IP switching system from

Avocent to give administrators remote

access to their systems as well as

enhanced management capabilities.

Allocation of IT resources improved,

response time was shortened and

network availability increased.

Although server management and

uptime improved, data center sprawl and

heightened requirements for security

and logging encouraged the company to

reassess their infrastructure and embark

on a recent network upgrade.

“One of the key challenges we face

internally is to ensure the network is

up and running as well as providing

an acceptable response time to

resolve issues,” said Bob Perini, data

center manager for PSCU Financial

Services. “In addition to managing

rapid expansion, we have additional

requirements for security. We wanted

to upgrade to the newest and best

network solutions to increase our

capabilities and extend the lifespan of

our technology investments.”

THE SOLUTION

Avocent KVM over IP switching

systems, Cyclades ACS advanced

console servers

PSCU Financial Services complemented

their initial deployment of Avocent

KVM switches with a combination of

DSR2020 and DSR4030 digital switches,

and Cyclades console servers. While

the initial installation in 2003 helped

clean up their data center and deliver

remote access, the newest round of

equipment has delivered a much faster

data rate, better scrolling and more

comprehensive views into their systems.

Along with upgrading their KVM

switches, they upgraded to DSView

3 software, gaining control of their

network from a single integrated

interface. When used in conjunction

with any DS Series KVM switch,

MergePoint® service processor

managers or Cyclades console

servers, DSView 3 software allows IT

administrators to remotely access,

monitor and control target devices on

multiple platforms no matter

their location.

“While we gain a lot of advantages

through the DSView 3 software, the

Cyclades console servers will deliver

even greater functionality,” said Anthony

Reggi, senior systems engineer for

PSCU Financial Services. “Our network

team has praised the Web interface and

additional security features. Bringing

Cyclades into the Avocent family has

paired the best KVM product with the best

serial product, delivering a fuller package

to meet our administration needs.”

Avocent DSR KVM over IP switches provide analog and

digital switching solutions for multiplatform, multilocation

and multidevice access and control.

HIGHLIGHTS

• PSCU Financial Services needed a solution that would offer secure, remote

access to their systems, enable compliance with audit requirements, and

increase network availability to ensure delivery of services to their member

organizations.

• The Avocent DSR® KVM switches deliver remote server management and

BIOS-level control of all connected servers and serial-based devices. DSView

3 management software provides comprehensive system management and

activity logging to ease compliance with audit requirements and ensure

optimal uptime. The Cyclades ACS advanced console server offers complete

and centralized secure console management.

• Through the solution, the company has improved remote management

capabilities with better organization and enhanced security. Staging of

equipment is managed remotely, automated inventory of rack and server

locations allows for faster troubleshooting and analysis of system availability,

and logging features within DSView 3 software provide an audit trail of all

access and events.

www.avocent.com/contacts

Avocent, the Avocent logo, DSR, Cyclades, DSView, MergePoint, LANDesk and

The Power of Being There are registered trademarks of Avocent Corporation or

0807-PSCU-FS-CS

THE BENEFITS

Secure remote access,

comprehensive system inventory and

increased productivity

With Avocent solutions in place,

PSCU Financial Services has boosted

productivity through remote access

capabilities. One advantage is gaining

the ability to stage equipment without

physically accessing the data center.

Now, engineers can rack mount servers

in the data center and then work on

them from their desks. In doing so, they

are able to save time and get their server

environment up and running as quickly

as possible.

Having a comprehensive view of all

their servers and connected devices

has also delivered improved network

management. Through the DSView 3

software, servers and devices can be

easily categorized based on location,

operating system, department,

application, or other custom categories.

Another advantage is the ability to

maintain accurate user permission

rights and detailed data and event logs

across multiple sites and appliances.

All access to the appliances is

logged for compliance, auditing and

troubleshooting, including who accessed

what and when. DSView 3 software

also provides real-time email and pager

event notiﬁ cation with SNMP traps to

help IT administrators address potential

bottlenecks before they can affect server

throughput and availability.

“We know we have huge advantages

with the Avocent products,” said Perini.

“We have found that the organization,

ease of use and security have been

excellent. Combined with the DSView

3 software, the Avocent solution gives

us per rack information allowing us to

streamline response, reduce our mean

time to repair, and meet both internal

and external audit requirements.”

THE FUTURE

Supporting future growth

Expected to continue on an accelerated

growth track, PSCU Financial Services

appreciates the improved categorization

offered through the system and

recognizes that capability as key to

managing their expanding network.

Reggi notes that the Virtual Media

functionality of the 4030 switches will

“open a whole new world of actually

being in front of the computer without

being physically connected” and

anticipates using that functionality to

perform remote tasks such as patching

and distributing ﬁ les in the near future.

About Avocent

Avocent delivers IT operations and

infrastructure management solutions

for enterprises worldwide, helping

customers to reduce costs and simplify

complex IT environments via integrated,

centralized in-band and out-of-band

hardware and software. Through

LANDesk®, Avocent also is a leading

provider of systems, security, and

process management solutions. Find

more information at www.avocent.com.

ACS console servers provide secure, in-band and out-of-

band access to IT assets, and console port management

for serial-based servers and network appliances.

Avocent Cyclades ACS 32 Quick start guide

Avocent Cyclades ACS 32 Quick start guide

Avocent Cyclades ACS 32 Quick start guide

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