February, 2008

Analytics; What are the top capabilities?

Recently, I made some adjustments to the Data Center Automation Blueprint where we combined 2 original areas and added a new one for Analytics.  Steve Henning just posted a great guest blog entry over at Doug McClure’s blog called “Why Real Time Analytics?” I personally liked the analogy to TQM and the manufacturing industry.

He also recently jotted down some of his thoughts on capabilities within the comments section for the posting “Data Center Automation Blueprint; now includes virtualization thoughts.”

Here are some of my initial thoughts that I will take another pass at cleaning up in the next week or two.  I wanted to get this posted in a timely manner to hopefully inspire some discussions:

1) Inter-domain Integrations - Steve called it “Cross Silo” in his comment post. But the analytics solutions need to have a data model and API/SDK that is not specific to one domain (e.g., databases, windows systems, network devices, websphere applications).  To perform holistic analysis you need more then one point of view.

2) Pattern Logic Automation- Automation through algorithms, rules etc that work to mimic the human problem solving / analysis process.

3) “Advanced” Graphical Visualization- more then summary graphics, pie charts etc…what I’m think here is something I can look at that helps me see the pattern or some unique situation/trend affecting the business (e.g., correlation of trouble ticket and performance monitoring details).  A better name then “advanced” is needed here for sure.

So far the vendors I’m thinking of when I’m creating the above functionality list (as noted in the DCAB) include;

• AlterPoint (offers specific analytic module “Lifecycle” built upon their NCCM product)
• ConfigureSoft (built upon their ECM product, integrations with MOM, Remedy)
• Opnet (variety of products)
• Netuitive (real-time performance analytics)
• Integrien (real-time performance analytics)
• BMC (acquried ProactiveNet, real-time performance analytics)

Who else do we believe should be in this analytics bucket? Thoughts on these 3 capabilities?  What are some others?

links for 2008-02-27

• Aperture Technologies acquired
  Data Center Asset and Facilities Management vendor acquired
  (tags: acquisitions)
• When Application Management Collides with SOA
  write-up that talks about some differences around discovery/asset management capabilities. Specifically mentions some of the DCAB Resource Reconciliation vendors; Collation (now part of IBM), Relicore Inc. (acquired by Symantec), Tideway Systems and a ne
  (tags: Resource-Reconciliation)
• A top-down approach to IT management
  write-up by Xangati talking about values/benefits/differentiators with their Application Performance Management solution
  (tags: application-performance-management)

links for 2008-02-25

• VMware has a 2-years lead over competitors but will face a harsh price war
  nice summary of new Yankee report on virtualization
  (tags: virtualization)
• OPNET announces Enhanced Capability for Ensuring Successful Server Virtualization Initiatives
  the ultimate planning/modeling/analytics product now has virtualization
  (tags: virtualization analytics)
• No shows at the security and log management feast
  nice summary of the players, or lack there of for log management
  (tags: security)
• Novell acquires PlateSpin
  not officially announced yet on their websites, early scoop by virtualization.info
  (tags: virtualization)

IT Resource Reconciliation (CMDB) - Top 5 Capabilities

The crew over a Tideway offered up and impressive in-depth product demo last week. It made me realize I haven’t circled back to throw down my top five features for this functional area of the Data Center Automation Blueprint we’ve been working on.

With that said, I was impressed with their comprehensive agent-less discovery vs. the agent centric approach of Symantec (Relicore), HP (Opsware), IBM (Collation), CA (Cendura) or the passive-flow based from EMC (nLayers). I know some of these vendors can do some discovery through an agent-less approach but to get comprehensive feature functionality they will lead you toward deploying their agents.

So on to the top five features…

1) Comprehensive discovery engine that can automate the identification of and it’s communications relationships for any IT resource (e.g., applications, databases, services, systems, storage, network etc)

2) Impressive visibility capabilities including multi-layer topological / dependency mapping illustrations while offering comprehensive reporting options (e.g., graphical summaries down to detailed lists)

3) Reconciliation automation where this solution serves as the “source of truth” for the current state of the IT resources in the data center. At a minimum this should offer the ability to report differences between this and other Data Center Automation solutions. The real deal would have embedded automation/integrations that keep all products synchronized, saving major amounts of time for the system administrators and avoiding an event from occurring when it unfortunately wasn’t being monitored.

4) Accurate fingerprinting (e.g., discovery-to-data model mapping). Making sure the discovery process has the ability to keep up with newer software versions, new vendors etc for all the possible IT resources in the data center.

5) A fast search engine to quickly find an IT resource you are: troubleshooting, need to review prior to putting in a change order to understand potential impact or may be susceptible to a recently announced security threat, etc.

5b) A policy engine, built on the search engine, that enables users to define desired attributes for specific types of IT resources and be notified immediately when something doesn’t match that desired state so it can be remediated.

One other thing I noticed about the Tideway product that was appealing was it’s transparent approach. All communications between their product and each IT resource are visible down to the specific commands that are run. This enable the product to quickly build trust with the user since they can see the specific queries/commands used and their results.

I know their are other desired features so let’s hear them!

Speaking of that, at some point I need to put together the “table stakes” features that any DCAB product should have. You know what I mean - slick dashboard (e.g. iGoogle), RBAC, SDK/API, Grouping, etc, etc, etc.

I’ve also made a few more updates to the wiki summary version of the Data Center Automation Blueprint, come take a look and throw down some feedback.

links for 2008-02-21

• Manage a Data Center Virtually in 3-D
  Data Center Automation meets SecondLife
  (tags: DCA)
• Tools Comparison: Coradiant vs. Tealeaf
  nice discussion thread for those wanting another application performance management perspective
  (tags: application-performance-management)
• FastScale Composer Suite 2.0 released
  Another player joins the VM Lifecycle Management space which also includes Embotics, FortiSphere and ManageIQ
  (tags: virtualization)

links for 2008-02-18

• Less than 23% of North American VARs sell virtualization

  another survey on virtualization to chew on

  (tags: virtualization)

Also, I’ve taken my second pass at updating the wiki page for the Data Center Automation Blueprint, I have the six areas with some of the vendors listed.  Next up is to round out each vendor list and also add in the key features/capabilities for each area.  Please come leave your comments or even make some edits yourself.

links for 2008-02-15

• Rolling Review Wrap-Up: APM Suites - Application Acceleration and Optimization
  NIce executive summary for players that would fit into the Performance & Availability category (e.g., BMC, Compuware, Indicative, NetIQ, NetQoS, Network General, Nimsoft, Quest Software, Symantec). When I update the new DCAB wiki page I’ll be making sure
  (tags: application-performance-management application-monitoring network-monitoring systems-monitoring)
• 7 virtual management companies to watch
  Snippets about; Embotics, Forisphere, ManageIQ, Niyuta, SignaCert, VKernel, VMLogix
  (tags: virtualization)

Data Center Automation Blueprint status

This is a work in progress as always, but here is a first stab at a round four graphic for the Data Center Automation Blueprint DCAB).

As always comments are welcome but it’s time to migrate to a wiki driven interface for the DCAB to allow others to contribute or add comments specific to this model that won’t get lost between blog postings or require me to link from version to version to version.  I will migrate/copy the capabilities and categories from previous blog postings next week.

Virtualization buzz even hits the comics, quick question on a Data Center Automation Blueprint wiki

Well I’m sure everyone who reads this blog has already seen one or all of the Dilbert comics this week poking fun with virtualization. If not the three comics this week are embedded below or you can head over to the Dilbert website.

Meanwhile, I’m planning to make another update to the Data Center Automation Blueprint which brings up an outstanding action item.  Instead of republishing the entire graphic again and reference previous posts it may be time for me to move that reference content to a wiki for me (and others) to make updates.  What are peoples thoughts/preferences/etc on a good public wiki site.  My plan on that wiki page is to create a new graphic and use the previous 6 posts on each functional areas.  Also, to consolidate 2 of the functional areas (Availability & Performance) while adding a new area called something like “analytics.”  I also want to be able to place a matrix/list on that page of all the functional areas each vendor/product fit as I learn or customers/vendors educate me on where they fit.  One place I’m looking at is here on the TechTarget IT Knowledge Exchange in the IT Answers section which has some wiki like capabilities.  Thoughts?

Otherwise, please enjoy the comics below…

links for 2008-02-11

• CA Announces Key Findings of Global Virtualization Management Study

  There is a link in this press release to some power point slides with all the details of the survey.

  (tags: virtualization)

• StackSafe Launches Enhanced Focus on ITIL with Online ITIL Knowledge Center

  interesting technology/approach…appear to be leveraging virtualization technology to make a carbon copy of an application’s configuration, then allowing changes/upgrades etc to be tested versus that “sandbox” version.

  (tags: configuration)