Avocent Cyclades ACS 32 Quick start guide

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.

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
its affi liates. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. © 2007
Avocent Corporation. All rights reserved.
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.
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Avocent Cyclades ACS 32 Quick start guide

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.

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