Streamline Deployments Archives - ZPE Systems https://zpesystems.com/category/streamline-deployments/ Rethink the Way Networks are Built and Managed Wed, 11 Sep 2024 18:13:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://zpesystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/flavicon.png Streamline Deployments Archives - ZPE Systems https://zpesystems.com/category/streamline-deployments/ 32 32 3 Reasons to Use Starlink for Out-of-Band (and How to Set it Up) https://zpesystems.com/3-reasons-to-use-starlink-for-out-of-band-and-how-to-set-it-up/ Fri, 06 Sep 2024 21:14:53 +0000 https://zpesystems.com/?p=226193 Starlink is a high-speed alternative to POTS lines, and offers plenty of flexibility when cellular coverage is lacking. Here's our setup guide.

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ZPE Systems and Starlink setup guide

Most organizations rely on critical IT in order to serve their essential business functions. A reliable method to maintain critical IT is to use dedicated out-of-band (OOB) management networks, which traditionally have relied on plain old telephone service (POTS) lines or dedicated telephony circuits for remote access. However, these traditional links come with high costs, lots of complexity, and slow performance, which make them difficult to deploy and maintain.

Enter Starlink, a satellite-based Internet service that offers a cost-effective and scalable alternative for out-of-band remote access. This post discusses how Starlink solves these common problems and gives you a free guide that walks you through the setup process.

 

Problem: POTS and Telephony Lines Are Expensive

For decades, IT professionals have relied on POTS and telephony lines for OOB management, mainly because these lines remain operational even when the primary data network goes down. A major problem is that POTS lines are increasingly expensive to install and maintain, particularly in remote or rural areas. Additionally, 4G/5G LTE options aren’t always available due to coverage limitations or large enough data plans. The shift towards VoIP (Voice over IP) and digital communications has made POTS lines even less relevant, with many service providers phasing out support. This leaves businesses with fewer options and higher costs for maintaining these legacy systems.

Solution: Starlink is Cost-Effective

Starlink offers a much more cost-effective solution. You can use off-the-shelf routers to set up an OOB management network for a fraction of the cost of traditional methods. Starlink also has a relatively low monthly subscription fee and straightforward pricing model, which make it easy to budget and plan IT expenditures. If components fail or break, you can typically repair or replace them yourself to get back up and running quickly.

An image of a Starlink dish

Figure 1: Starlink requires only a dish, router, and few other components, making it a cost-effective alternative to expensive POTS lines.

Problem: Traditional Lines Are Difficult To Scale

Traditional POTS-based systems are notoriously difficult to scale, often requiring significant infrastructure investments and complex configurations. Copper wiring is expensive to install and maintain, and as more connections come online, switching systems must be upgraded. On top of this, POTS lines are being phased out, which means there are fewer resources being devoted to scaling and maintaining them.

Solution: Starlink is Simple to Set Up and Scale

Starlink entirely eliminates the need for telephony lines, and is a simple and scalable solution for OOB remote access. You can find the full list of components in our setup guide below, but with a Starlink terminal, compatible router, and minimal configuration, you can scale your OOB network wherever you have Starlink coverage. This ease-of-use extends to day-to-day management as well. Starlink’s satellite service offers global coverage, meaning you can manage your network devices, servers, and other critical infrastructure from virtually anywhere in the world.

The setup process for Starlink includes simple instructions that you can follow on your smartphone

Figure 2: Starlink comes with a straightforward out-of-box experience and step-by-step instructions. You can set up an out-of-band network in about one hour.

Problem: POTS Lines Lack Performance

POTS is designed primarily for voice communication and offers extremely limited bandwidth. It can’t support modern data services (such as video or high-speed internet) efficiently. As out-of-band management advances with data and video monitoring capabilities (such as AI computer vision), POTS infrastructure just doesn’t have the bandwidth to keep up.

Solution: Starlink Meets Modern Performance Requirements

Starlink provides high-speed internet, at speeds that typically range from 50 to 200Mbps. The connection handles much larger volumes of data than POTS lines are capable of, and Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellites reduce latency to as low at 25ms compared to the typical 150ms of POTS lines. Out-of-band using Starlink means that IT teams can manage more systems and data, and have a more responsive experience, whether they’re managing edge routers across their bank branches or monitoring the cooling systems in their distributed colocations.

Image of the Starlink speed test performed on a smartphone

Figure 3: Starlink provides high-speed connectivity, with speeds ranging from 50 to 200Mbps.

Get Started With Starlink Using Our Setup Guide

We created this step-by-step walkthrough that shows how to set up Starlink for out-of-band. It instructs how to connect the components according to a wiring diagram, configure your ZPE Nodegrid hardware, and test your connection performance using free tools. Read it now using the button below.

Get Starlink Setup Guide

Starlink setup guide

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What is Passive Optical Networking? https://zpesystems.com/what-is-passive-optical-networking/ Fri, 06 Sep 2024 20:02:49 +0000 https://zpesystems.com/?p=226178 Passive optical networking (PON) is a high-speed broadband technology that enables the delivery of multiple services over a single fiber optic cable.

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What is Passive Optical Networking (PON)?

Passive optical networking (PON) is a high-speed broadband technology that enables the delivery of multiple services over a single fiber optic cable. XGS-PON – 10G Symmetrical PON –  offers speeds of up to 10 Gbps downstream and 10 Gbps upstream (hence the term ‘symmetrical’), making it ideal for applications such as video streaming, online gaming, and cloud computing.

 

What Problems Does PON Solve for Out-of-Band Management?

PON addresses the issue of efficiency in terms of both uplink costs and bandwidth usage. Traditional POTS lines and dedicated circuits rely on legacy infrastructure that requires regular maintenance. This infrastructure must scale as more out-of-band devices are added to the network, which increases costs and energy consumption. On top of this, using a 10G uplink for a serial console’s 10K traffic is like throwing away 99% of that high bandwidth. Per Gartner’s Market Guide for Optical Transport Systems report (Published 20 November 2023) the best way to “lower cost and energy per transported bit” is by using technologies such as passive optical networking.

Because PON uses passive optical splitters that have no moving parts or powered components between the central hub and end users, PON is much more efficient for deploying serial consoles close to target assets. These out-of-band devices can be deployed in large quantities and close to the network edge, with up to 256 devices sharing one uplink. This reduces cabling and power requirements, and is ideal for MSP and campus operators, where there are many out-of-band devices distributed over long distances. 

 

More About PON: GPON and XGS-PON Technologies

Passive Optical Networking (PON) leverages time-division multiplexing (TDM) and different wavelengths of light to transmit and receive data on a single fiber strand. This allows efficient communication among up to 256 devices over a single fiber. Initially developed for fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployments, PON technology has evolved to facilitate the addition of network nodes with minimal infrastructure changes. GPON (gigabit-capable PON) and XGS-PON use different frequencies for upstream and downstream data transmission. The upstream headend, known as the Optical Line Terminal (OLT), manages and coordinates the time slots allocated to downstream Optical Network Units (ONUs) for data transmission.

 

GPON and XGS-PON Support on ZPE Systems’ Nodegrid SR Gateway

ZPE Systems’ Nodegrid SR appliances, which are used as out-of-band access nodes or complete branch gateways, now support GPON and XGS-PON technology (patent pending) via SFP and SFP+ ports. The Nodegrid SR family is offered in multiple form factors to be right-sized for deployments in branch offices, factories, smart buildings, and industrial environments (such as for SCADA).

Having support for GPON and XGS-PON means network engineers now have a flexible choice of high-speed uplink technologies. This versatility makes the Nodegrid SR gateway suitable for edge deployments, where it can establish an OOBI-WAN™ (out-of-band infrastructure WAN) link, and for data centers, where it enhances uplink efficiency. Given the low bandwidth requirements of serial console and out-of-band communications, PON technology is well-suited for these applications. A single fiber strand can be shared among hundreds of out-of-band and serial console devices using passive optical splitters. Organizations can deploy out-of-band devices close to the racks and edges of the network in a cost- and energy-efficient manner. Additionally, ZPE devices support ONU SFPs compatible with third-party OLT headends, ensuring broad interoperability and integration.

 

Benefits of Using XGS-PON with ZPE Systems’ Nodegrid SR Gateway

The benefits of using XGS-PON with ZPE Systems’ Nodegrid SR gateway include:

  • High-Speed Connectivity: XGS-PON delivers symmetrical speeds of up to 10 Gbps, making it ideal for high-bandwidth applications like video streaming, online gaming, and cloud computing. This ensures consistent and high-quality service for end-users.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Deploying XGS-PON is a cost-effective solution for delivering high-speed broadband services, especially in scenarios where upgrading existing infrastructure may be challenging.
  • Scalability: The Nodegrid SR Gateway, acting as an ONU, can connect up to 256 serial consoles through a single fiber strand. PON’s use of asymmetric wavelengths and TDM enables multiple devices to share the same fiber strand efficiently. Optical splitters, which require no external power, facilitate the sharing of fiber between multiple ONUs, which makes scaling much more cost and energy efficient.
  • Reliability: The Nodegrid SR gateway is proven by service providers worldwide. Its robust design and compatibility with various network configurations make it a reliable choice for delivering high-quality broadband services.

A network diagram showing a PON Uplink on Nodegrid SR Gateway

Figure 1: ZPE Nodegrid SR gateway with XGS-PON ONU support

 

XGS-PON Enhances Efficiency of Out-of-Band

XGS-PON is a significant advancement over traditional, copper-based uplinks. The integration of XGS-PON support in the ZPE Systems Nodegrid SR Gateway allows network architects to deploy a dedicated out-of-band ring that is not only high-speed but also cost-effective, energy-efficient, and capable of covering longer distances. PON technology, with its ability to handle the lower data rates of out-of-band transmissions, is an ideal uplink medium for serial console transmission. The combination of XGS-PON and the Nodegrid SR Gateway provides a powerful and flexible solution for modern network infrastructure.

Be one of the first to try PON on the Nodegrid SR Gateway

Set up a demo for a deeper dive into PON use cases and how it can benefit your organization.

Schedule a demo

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Comparing Console Server Hardware https://zpesystems.com/console-server-hardware-zs/ Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:03:31 +0000 https://zpesystems.com/?p=226111 Console server hardware can vary significantly across different vendors and use cases. Learn how to find the right solution for your deployment.

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Console servers – also known as serial consoles, console server switches, serial console servers, serial console routers, or terminal servers – are critical for data center infrastructure management. They give administrators a single point of control for devices like servers, switches, and power distribution units (PDUs) so they don’t need to log in to each piece of equipment individually. It also uses multiple network interfaces to provide out-of-band (OOB) management, which creates an isolated network dedicated to infrastructure orchestration and troubleshooting. This OOB network remains accessible during production network outages, offering remote teams a lifeline to recover systems without costly and time-consuming on-site visits. 

Console server hardware can vary significantly across different vendors and use cases. This guide compares console server hardware from the three top vendors and examines four key categories: large data centers, mixed environments, break-fix deployments, and modular solutions.

Console server hardware for large data center deployments

Large and hyperscale data centers can include hundreds or even thousands of individual devices to manage. Teams typically use infrastructure automation, like infrastructure as code (IaC), because managing devices at such a large scale is impossible to do manually. The best console server hardware for high-density data centers will include plenty of managed serial ports, support hundreds of concurrent sessions, and provide support for infrastructure automation.

Click here to compare the hardware specs of the top providers, or read below for more information.

Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP)

The Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP) from ZPE Systems is the only console server providing up to 96 RS-232 serial ports in a 1U rack-mounted form factor. Its quad-core Intel processor and robust (as well as upgradable) internal storage and RAM options, as well as its Linux-based Nodegrid OS, support Guest OS and Docker containers for third-party applications. That means the NSCP can directly host infrastructure automation (like Ansible, Puppet, and Chef), security (like Palo Alto’s next-generation firewalls and Secure Access Service Edge), and much more. Plus, it can extend zero-touch provisioning (ZTP) to legacy and mixed-vendor devices that otherwise wouldn’t support automation.

The NSCP also comes packed with hardware security features including BIOS protection, UEFI Secure Boot, self-encrypted disk (SED), Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, and a multi-site VPN using IPSec, WireGuard, and OpenSSL protocols. Plus, it supports a wide range of USB environmental monitoring sensors to help remote teams control conditions in the data center or colocation facility.

Advantages:

  • Up to 96 managed serial ports in a 1U appliance
  • Intel x86 CPU and 4GB of RAM for 3rd-party Docker and VM apps
  • Extends ZTP and automation to legacy and mixed-vendor infrastructure
  • Robust on-board security features like BIOS protection and TPM 2.0
  • Supports a wide range of USB environmental monitoring sensors
  • Wi-Fi and 5G/4G LTE options available
  • Supports over 1,000 concurrent sessions

Disadvantages:

  • USB ports limited on 96-port model

Opengear CM8100

The Opengear CM8100 comes in two models: the 1G version includes up to 48 managed serial ports, while the 10G version supports up to 96 serial ports in a 2U form factor. Both models have a dual-core ARM Cortex processor and 2GB of RAM, allowing for some automation support with upgraded versions of the Lighthouse management software. They also come with an embedded firewall, IPSec and OpenVPN protocols for a single-site VPN, and TPM 2.0 security.

Advantages:

  • 10G model comes with software-selectable serial ports
  • Supports OpenVPN and IPSec VPNs
  • Fast port speeds

Disadvantages:

  • Automation and ZTP require Lighthouse software upgrade
  • No cellular or Wi-Fi options
  • 96-port model requires 2U of rack space

Perle IOLAN SCG (fixed)

The IOLAN SCG is Perle’s fixed-form-factor console server solution. It supports up to 48 managed serial ports and can extend ZTP to end devices. It comes with onboard security features including an embedded firewall, OpenVPN and IPSec VPN, and AES encryption. However, the IOLAN SCG’s underpowered single-core ARM processor, 1GB of RAM, and 4GB of storage limit its automation capabilities, and it does not integrate with any third-party automation or orchestration solutions. 

Advantages:

  • Supports ZTP for end devices
  • Comprehensive firewall functionality

Disadvantages

  • Very limited CPU, RAM, and flash storage
  • Does not support third-party automation

Comparison Table: Console Server Hardware for Large Data Centers

Nodegrid NSCP Opengear CM8100 Perle IOLAN SCG
Serial Ports 16 / 32 / 48 / 96x RS-232 16 / 32 / 48 / 96x RS-232 16 / 32 / 48x RS-232
Max Port Speed 230,400 bps 230,400 bps 230,000 bps
Network Interfaces

2x SFP+ 

2x ETH

1x Wi-Fi (optional)

2x Dual SIM LTE (optional)

2x ETH 1x ETH
Additional Interfaces

1x RS-232 console

2x USB 3.0 Type A

1x HDMI Output

1x RS-232 console

2x USB 3.0

1x RS-232 console

1x Micro USB w/DB9 Adapter

Environmental Monitoring Any USB sensors
CPU Intel x86_64 Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A9 1.6 GHz Dual-Core ARM 32-bit 500MHz Single-Core
Storage 32GB SSD (upgrades available) 32GB eMMC 4GB Flash
RAM 4GB DDR4 (upgrades available) 2GB DDR4 1GB
Power

Single or Dual AC

Dual DC

Dual AC

Dual DC

Single AC
Form Factor 1U Rack Mounted

1U Rack Mounted (up to 48 ports)

2U Rack Mounted (96 ports)

1U Rack Mounted
Data Sheet Download

CM8100 1G

CM8100 10G

Download

Console server hardware for mixed environments

Data center deployments that include a mix of legacy and modern solutions from multiple vendors benefit from console server hardware that includes software-selectable serial ports. This feature allows administrators to manage devices with straight or rolled RS-232 pinouts from the same console server. 

Click here to compare the hardware specs of the top providers, or read below for more information.

Nodegrid Serial Console S Series

The Nodegrid Serial Console S Series has up to 48 auto-sensing RS-232 serial ports and 14 high-speed managed USB ports, allowing for the control of up to 62 devices. Like the NSCP, the S Series has a quad-core Intel CPU and upgradeable storage and RAM, supporting third-party VMs and containers for automation, orchestration, security, and more. It also comes with the same robust security features to protect the management network.

Advantages:

  • Includes 14 high-speed managed USB ports
  • Intel x86 CPU and 4GBof RAM for 3rd-party Docker and VM apps
  • Supports a wide range of USB environmental monitoring sensors
  • Extends ZTP and automation to legacy and mixed-vendor infrastructure
  • Robust on-board security features like BIOS protection and TPM 2.0
  • Supports 250+ concurrent sessions

Disadvantages

  • Only offers 1Gbps and Ethernet connectivity for OOB

Opengear OM2200

The Opengear OM2200 comes with 16, 32, or 48 software-selectable RS-232 ports, or, with the OM2224-24E model, 24 RS-232 and 24 managed Ethernet ports. It also includes 8 managed USB ports and the option for a V.92 analog modem. It has impressive storage space and 8GB of DDR4 RAM for automated workflows, though, as with all Opengear solutions, the upgraded version of the Lighthouse management software is required for ZTP and NetOps automation support.

Advantages:

  • Optional managed Ethernet ports
  • Optional V.92 analog modem for OOB
  • 64GB of storage and 8GB DDR4 RAM

Disadvantages:

  • Automation and ZTP require Lighthouse software upgrade
  • No cellular or Wi-Fi options

Comparison Table: Console Server Hardware for Mixed Environments

  Nodegrid S Series Opengear OM2200
Serial Ports

16 / 32 / 48x Software Selectable RS-232

14x USB-A serial

16 / 32 / 48x Software Selectable RS-232
8x USB 2.0 serial

 

 

 

(OM2224-24E) 24x Software Selectable RS-232 and 24x Managed Ethernet

Max Port Speed

230,400 bps (RS-232)

921,600 bps (USB)

230,400 bps
Network Interfaces 2x1Gbps or 2x ETH

2x SFP+ or 2x ETH

1x V.92 modem (select models)

Additional Interfaces

1x RS-232 console

1x USB 3.0 Type A

1x HDMI Output

1x RS-232 console

1x Micro USB

2x USB 3.0

Environmental Monitoring Any USB sensors
CPU Intel x86_64 Dual-Core AMD GX-412TC 1.4 GHz Quad-Core
Storage 32GB SSD (upgrades available) 64GB SSD
RAM 4GB DDR4 (upgrades available) 8GB DDR3
Power

Single or Dual AC

Dual DC

Dual AC

Dual DC

Form Factor 1U Rack Mounted 1U Rack Mounted
Data Sheet Download Download

Console server hardware for break-fix deployments

A full-featured console server solution may be too complicated and expensive for certain use cases, especially for organizations just looking for “break-fix” OOB access to remotely troubleshoot and recover from issues. The best console server hardware for this type of deployment provides fast and reliable network access to managed devices without extra features that increase the price and complexity.

Click here to compare the hardware specs of the top providers, or read below for more information.

Nodegrid Serial Console Core Edition (NSCP-CE)

The Nodegrid Serial Console Core Edition (NSCP-CE) provides the same hardware and security features as the NSCP, as well as ZTP, but without the advanced automation capabilities. Its streamlined management and affordable price tag make it ideal for lean, budget-conscious IT departments. And, like all Nodegrid solutions, it comes with the most comprehensive hardware security features in the industry. 

Advantages:

  • Up to 48 managed serial ports in a 1U appliance
  • Extends ZTP and automation to legacy and mixed-vendor infrastructure
  • Robust on-board security features like BIOS protection and TPM
  • Supports a wide range of USB environmental monitoring sensors
  • Analog modem and 5G/4G LTE options available
  • Supports over 100 concurrent sessions

Disadvantages

  •  Supports automation only via ZPE Cloud

Opengear CM7100

The Opengear CM7100 is the previous generation of the CM8100 solution. Its serial and network interface options are the same, but it comes with a weaker, Armada 800 MHz CPU, and there are options for smaller storage and RAM configurations to reduce the price. As with all Opengear console servers, the CM7100 doesn’t support ZTP without paying for an upgraded Lighthouse license, however.

Advantages:

  • Can reduce storage and RAM to save money
  • Supports OpenVPN and IPSec VPNs
  • Fast port speeds

Disadvantages:

  • Automation and ZTP require Lighthouse software upgrade
  • No cellular or Wi-Fi options
  • 96-port model requires 2U of rack space

Comparison Table: Console Server Hardware for Break-Fix Deployments

  Nodegrid NSCP-CE Opengear CM7100
Serial Ports 16 / 32 / 48 / RS-232 16 / 32 / 48 / 96x RS-232
Max Port Speed 230,400 bps 230,400 bps
Network Interfaces

2x SFP ETH

1x Analog modem (optional)

2x 5G/4G LTE (optional)

2x ETH
Additional Interfaces

1x RS-232 console

2x USB 3.0 Type A

1x RS-232 console

2x USB 2.0

Environmental Monitoring Any USB sensors Smoke, water leak, vibration
CPU Intel x86_64 Dual-Core Armada 370 ARMv7 800 MHz
Storage 16GB Flash (upgrades available) 4-64GB storage
RAM 4GB DDR4 (upgrades available) 256MB-2GB DDR3
Power

Dual AC

Dual DC

Single or Dual AC
Form Factor 1U Rack Mounted

1U Rack Mounted (up to 48 ports)

2U Rack Mounted (96 ports)

Data Sheet Download Download

Modular console server hardware for flexible deployments

Modular console servers allow organizations to create customized solutions tailored to their specific deployment and use case. They also support easy scaling by allowing teams to add more managed ports as the network grows, and provide the flexibility to swap-out certain capabilities and customize their hardware and software as the needs of the business change. 

Click here to compare the hardware specs of the top providers, or read below for more information.

Nodegrid Net Services Router (NSR)

The Nodegrid Net Services Router (NSR) has up to five expansion bays that can support any combination of 16 RS-232 or 16 USB serial modules. In addition to managed ports, there are NSR modules for Ethernet (with or without PoE – Power over Ethernet) switch ports, Wi-Fi and dual-SIM cellular, additional SFP ports, extra storage, and compute. 

The NSR comes with an eight-core Intel CPU and 8GB DDR4 RAM, offering the same vendor-neutral Guest OS/Docker support and onboard security features as the NSCP. It can also run virtualized network functions to consolidate an entire networking stack in a single device. This makes the NSR adaptable to nearly any deployment scenario, including hyperscale data centers, edge computing sites, and branch offices.

Advantages:

  • Up to 5 expansion bays provide support for up to 80 managed devices
  • 8GB of DDR4 RAM
  • Robust on-board security features like BIOS protection and TPM 2.0
  • Supports a wide range of USB environmental monitoring sensors
  • Wi-Fi and 5G/4G LTE options available
  • Optional modules for various interfaces, extra storage, and compute

Disadvantages

  • No V.92 modem support

Perle IOLAN SCG L/W/M

The Perle IOLAN SCG modular series is customizable with cellular LTE, Wi-Fi, a V.92 analog modem, or any combination of the three. It also has three expansion bays that support any combination of 16-port RS-232 or 16-port USB modules. Otherwise, this version of the IOLAN SCG comes with the same security features and hardware limitations as the fixed form factor models.

Advantages:

  • Cellular, Wi-Fi, and analog modem options
  • Supports ZTP for end devices
  • Comprehensive firewall functionality

Disadvantages

  • Very limited CPU, RAM, and flash storage
  • Does not support third-party automation

Comparison Table: Modular Console Server Hardware

  Nodegrid NSR Perle IOLAN SCG R/U
Serial Ports

16 / 32 / 48 / 64 / 80x RS-232 with up to 5 serial modules

16 / 32 / 48 / 64 / 80x USB with up to 5 serial modules

Up to 50x RS-232/422/485

Up to 50x USB

Max Port Speed 230,400 bps 230,000 bps
Network Interfaces

1x SFP+ 

1x ETH with PoE in

1x Wi-Fi (optional)

1x Dual SIM LTE (optional)

2x SFP or 2x ETH
Additional Interfaces

1x RS-232 console

2x USB 2.0 Type A

2x GPIO

2x Digital Out

1x VGA

Optional Modules (up to 5):

16x ETH

8x PoE+

16x SFP

8x SFP+

16x USB OCP Debug

1x RS-232 console

1x Micro USB w/DB9 adapter

 

Environmental Monitoring Any USB sensors
CPU Intel x86_64 Quad- or Eight-Core ARM 32-bit 500MHz Single-Core
Storage 32GB SSD (upgrades available) 4GB Flash
RAM 8GB DDR4 (upgrades available 1GB
Power

Dual AC

Dual DC

Dual AC

Dual DC

Form Factor 1U Rack Mounted 1U Rack Mounted
Data Sheet Download Download

Get the best console server hardware for your deployment with Nodegrid

The vendor-neutral Nodegrid platform provides solutions for any use case, deployment size, and pain points. Schedule a free Nodegrid demo to learn more.

Want to see Nodegrid in action?

Watch a demo of the Nodegrid Gen 3 out-of-band management solution to see how it can improve scalability for your data center architecture.

Watch a demo

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Data Center Scalability Tips & Best Practices https://zpesystems.com/data-center-scalability-zs/ Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:25:32 +0000 https://zpesystems.com/?p=225881 This blog describes various methods for achieving data center scalability before providing tips and best practices to make scalability easier and more cost-effective to implement.

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Data center scalability is the ability to increase or decrease workloads cost-effectively and without disrupting business operations. Scalable data centers make organizations agile, enabling them to support business growth, meet changing customer needs, and weather downturns without compromising quality. This blog describes various methods for achieving data center scalability before providing tips and best practices to make scalability easier and more cost-effective to implement.

How to achieve data center scalability

There are four primary ways to scale data center infrastructure, each of which has advantages and disadvantages.

 

4 Data center scaling methods

Method Description Pros and Cons
1. Adding more servers Also known as scaling out or horizontal scaling, this involves adding more physical or virtual machines to the data center architecture. ✔ Can support and distribute more workloads

✔ Eliminates hardware constraints

✖ Deployment and replication take time

✖ Requires more rack space

✖ Higher upfront and operational costs

2. Virtualization Dividing physical hardware into multiple virtual machines (VMs) or virtual network functions (VNFs) to support more workloads per device. ✔ Supports faster provisioning

✔ Uses resources more efficiently

✔ Reduces scaling costs

✖ Transition can be expensive and disruptive

✖ Not supported by all hardware and software

3. Upgrading existing hardware Also known as scaling up or vertical scaling, this involves adding more processors, memory, or storage to upgrade the capabilities of existing systems. ✔ Implementation is usually quick and non-disruptive

✔ More cost-effective than horizontal scaling

✔ Requires less power and rack space

✖ Scalability limited by server hardware constraints

✖ Increases reliance on legacy systems

4. Using cloud services Moving some or all workloads to the cloud, where resources can be added or removed on-demand to meet scaling requirements. ✔ Allows on-demand or automatic scaling

✔ Better support for new and emerging technologies

✔ Reduces data center costs

✖ Migration is often extremely disruptive

✖ Auto-scaling can lead to ballooning monthly bills

✖ May not support legacy software

It’s important for companies to analyze their requirements and carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of each method before choosing a path forward. 

Best practices for data center scalability

The following tips can help organizations ensure their data center infrastructure is flexible enough to support scaling by any of the above methods.

Run workloads on vendor-neutral platforms

Vendor lock-in, or a lack of interoperability with third-party solutions, can severely limit data center scalability. Using vendor-neutral platforms ensures that teams can add, expand, or integrate data center resources and capabilities regardless of provider. These platforms make it easier to adopt new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) while ensuring compatibility with legacy systems.

Use infrastructure automation and AIOps

Infrastructure automation technologies help teams provision and deploy data center resources quickly so companies can scale up or out with greater efficiency. They also ensure administrators can effectively manage and secure data center infrastructure as it grows in size and complexity. 

For example, zero-touch provisioning (ZTP) automatically configures new devices as soon as they connect to the network, allowing remote teams to deploy new data center resources without on-site visits. Automated configuration management solutions like Ansible and Chef ensure that virtualized system configurations stay consistent and up-to-date while preventing unauthorized changes. AIOps (artificial intelligence for IT operations) uses machine learning algorithms to detect threats and other problems, remediate simple issues, and provide root-cause analysis (RCA) and other post-incident forensics with greater accuracy than traditional automation. 

Isolate the control plane with Gen 3 serial consoles

Serial consoles are devices that allow administrators to remotely manage data center infrastructure without needing to log in to each piece of equipment individually. They use out-of-band (OOB) management to separate the data plane (where production workflows occur) from the control plane (where management workflows occur). OOB serial console technology – especially the third-generation (or Gen 3) – aids data center scalability in several ways:

  1. Gen 3 serial consoles are vendor-neutral and provide a single software platform for administrators to manage all data center devices, significantly reducing management complexity as infrastructure scales out.
  2. Gen 3 OOB can extend automation capabilities like ZTP to mixed-vendor and legacy devices that wouldn’t otherwise support them.
  3. OOB management moves resource-intensive infrastructure automation workflows off the data plane, improving the performance of production applications and workflows.
  4. Serial consoles move the management interfaces for data center infrastructure to an isolated control plane, which prevents malware and cybercriminals from accessing them if the production network is breached. Isolated management infrastructure (IMI) is a security best practice for data center architectures of any size.

How Nodegrid simplifies data center scalability

Nodegrid is a Gen 3 out-of-band management solution that streamlines vertical and horizontal data center scalability. 

The Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP) offers 96 managed ports in a 1RU rack-mounted form factor, reducing the number of OOB devices needed to control large-scale data center infrastructure. Its open, x86 Linux-based OS can run VMs, VNFs, and Docker containers so teams can run virtualized workloads without deploying additional hardware. Nodegrid can also run automation, AIOps, and security on the same platform to further reduce hardware overhead.

Nodegrid OOB is also available in a modular form factor. The Net Services Router (NSR) allows teams to add or swap modules for additional compute, storage, memory, or serial ports as the data center scales up or down.

Want to see Nodegrid in action?

Watch a demo of the Nodegrid Gen 3 out-of-band management solution to see how it can improve scalability for your data center architecture.

Watch a demo

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Understanding Serial Console Interfaces https://zpesystems.com/serial-console-interface-zs/ Thu, 22 Aug 2024 07:59:02 +0000 https://zpesystems.com/?p=225865 This blog defines serial console interfaces and describes their technological evolution before discussing the benefits of using a modern serial console solution.

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A serial console (also known as a console server or terminal server) is a device that allows admins to manage critical network infrastructure like servers, routers, switches, and power distribution units (PDUs) without needing to log in to each piece of equipment individually. It also provides out-of-band (OOB) management, which creates an isolated network dedicated to infrastructure orchestration and troubleshooting. Serial console interfaces help improve management efficiency, accelerate recovery from outages and cyberattacks, and isolate the control plane from malicious actors. 

This blog defines serial console interfaces and describes their technological evolution before discussing the benefits of using a modern serial console solution. 

What is a serial console interface?

The term serial console interface could mean different things depending on the context and who’s saying it.

1. Some people use this term to refer to the serial console’s management GUI (graphical user interface), which administrators use to view and control data center devices.

Clusters 2000×1250 (1)

2. Others use this term to refer to the individual connections between a serial console and each managed data center device. In addition to traditional RS-232 serial interfaces, a serial console may support RJ45, KVM (keyboard, video, mouse), IPMI (intelligent platform management interface), and USB (universal serial bus) interfaces.

NSRSTACK2-1 1920×1052

3. Another potential (but less common) use of the term is for the text-based console interface (also known as a CLI, or command-line interface) used to configure and manage data center devices without a GUI. The console interface could be accessed in several ways, such as through a serial console’s GUI, or via a Telnet or SSH (secure shell) client like PuTTY.

Console 2

4. Finally, it’s quite common to use the term serial console interface to describe the entire serial console solution, from the hardware itself to its managed ports, GUI, and CLI. The serial console acts as an interface between the production network (a.k.a., the data plane) and the management network (a.k.a., the control plane). 

For the purposes of this discussion, we will use this fourth definition of serial console interfaces.

The evolution of serial console interfaces

First-generation

The first generation of serial consoles provides the basics: unified management of multiple data center devices, and an OOB network connection (such as a dial-up modem or cellular SIM card) so management workflows don’t rely on the main production network. A Gen 1 serial console interface allows administrators to access the CLI for each connected device even if the production network goes down from an ISP outage, equipment failure, or cyberattack. However, these serial consoles lack many of the advanced features required for modern network infrastructures, such as hardware encryption, third-party integrations, and automation capabilities. They typically only support standard RS-232 serial interfaces using a specific pinout.

ZPE Systems Review Serial Console (1)

Second-generation

The second generation added built-in security features, advanced authentication methods, and the ability to manage multi-vendor devices. Some vendors also added support for Python scripts and other automation, as well as zero-touch provisioning (ZTP) for supported end devices. However, Gen 2 serial console interfaces have closed architectures that prevent full automation of multi-vendor infrastructure. Their management GUIs are also typically only available as an on-premises virtual machine (VM), so remote administrators must be on the enterprise network or connected via VPN to access them.

Third-generation

Third-generation serial consoles are completely vendor-neutral, so they can control – and extend automation to – every physical and virtual asset in your environment. They use high-speed OOB network interfaces such as 5G cellular, and offer cloud-based management software so teams can manage and troubleshoot remote infrastructure from anywhere in the world. Gen 3 serial console interfaces are built on an open, x86 Linux-based architecture that supports third-party integrations and can run other vendors’ software. They accommodate legacy pinouts to control a variety of devices, such as PDUs, IPMI devices, and environmental monitoring sensors, and also feature modules that allow you to customize or modify interface types.

NSR Diagram

Gen 3 serial consoles have enterprise-grade security features like an encrypted disk and TPM 2.0 security. They also support integrations with Zero Trust providers for multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO). The third generation enables end-to-end network infrastructure automation using third-party tools like Ansible, Chef, and Puppet, as well as customer-built tools in VMs, Docker, or Kubernetes. Gen 3 serial console interfaces are essentially infrastructure multi-tools capable of running and deploying any solution, at any time, from anywhere.

The benefits of a Gen 3 serial console interface

The latest generation of serial consoles provides three major advantages:

  • Improved management efficiency. A vendor-neutral serial console allows administrators to manage infrastructure workflows and automation for large, complex network architectures from a single pane of glass. Teams can also extend automation to every infrastructure device, even legacy solutions that wouldn’t support it otherwise.
  • Reduced network downtime. With fast, reliable Gen 3 OOB, infrastructure teams have a lifeline to troubleshoot and recover remote infrastructure when the WAN (wide area network) or LAN (local area network) goes down. They can remotely power-cycle frozen devices, view environmental monitoring logs, and automatically provision replacement equipment without the time or expense of on-site visits. 
  • Isolated management infrastructure (IMI). Gen 3 OOB creates an isolated control plane for network infrastructure, which helps protect management interfaces from malicious actors who have breached the production network. It also helps establish an isolated recovery environment (IRE) where teams can rebuild and restore systems without risking re-infection or re-compromise. 

IMI with NSCP

Want to learn more about serial consoles?

Gen 3 serial console interfaces like the Nodegrid Serial Console (NSC) from ZPE Systems use vendor-neutral architectures and end-to-end automation capabilities to help companies improve operational efficiency and network resilience. To learn more about how a Gen 3 solution can help with your biggest infrastructure pain points, watch a Nodegrid demo.

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Edge Computing Use Cases in Banking https://zpesystems.com/edge-computing-use-cases-in-banking-zs/ Tue, 13 Aug 2024 17:35:33 +0000 https://zpesystems.com/?p=225762 This blog describes four edge computing use cases in banking before describing the benefits and best practices for the financial services industry.

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financial services

The banking and financial services industry deals with enormous, highly sensitive datasets collected from remote sites like branches, ATMs, and mobile applications. Efficiently leveraging this data while avoiding regulatory, security, and reliability issues is extremely challenging when the hardware and software resources used to analyze that data reside in the cloud or a centralized data center.

Edge computing decentralizes computing resources and distributes them at the network’s “edges,” where most banking operations take place. Running applications and leveraging data at the edge enables real-time analysis and insights, mitigates many security and compliance concerns, and ensures that systems remain operational even if Internet access is disrupted. This blog describes four edge computing use cases in banking, lists the benefits of edge computing for the financial services industry, and provides advice for ensuring the resilience, scalability, and efficiency of edge computing deployments.

4 Edge computing use cases in banking

1. AI-powered video surveillance

PCI DSS requires banks to monitor key locations with video surveillance, review and correlate surveillance data on a regular basis, and retain videos for at least 90 days. Constantly monitoring video surveillance feeds from bank branches and ATMs with maximum vigilance is nearly impossible for humans, but machines excel at it. Financial institutions are beginning to adopt artificial intelligence solutions that can analyze video feeds and detect suspicious activity with far greater vigilance and accuracy than human security personnel.

When these AI-powered surveillance solutions are deployed at the edge, they can analyze video feeds in real time, potentially catching a crime as it occurs. Edge computing also keeps surveillance data on-site, reducing bandwidth costs and network latency while mitigating the security and compliance risks involved with storing videos in the cloud.

2. Branch customer insights

Banks collect a lot of customer data from branches, web and mobile apps, and self-service ATMs. Feeding this data into AI/ML-powered data analytics software can provide insights into how to improve the customer experience and generate more revenue. By running analytics at the edge rather than from the cloud or centralized data center, banks can get these insights in real-time, allowing them to improve customer interactions while they’re happening.

For example, edge-AI/ML software can help banks provide fast, personalized investment advice on the spot by analyzing a customer’s financial history, risk preferences, and retirement goals and recommending the best options. It can also use video surveillance data to analyze traffic patterns in real-time and ensure tellers are in the right places during peak hours to reduce wait times.

3. On-site data processing

Because the financial services industry is so highly regulated, banks must follow strict security and privacy protocols to protect consumer data from malicious third parties. Transmitting sensitive financial data to the cloud or data center for processing increases the risk of interception and makes it more challenging to meet compliance requirements for data access logging and security controls.

Edge computing allows financial institutions to leverage more data on-site, within the network security perimeter. For example, loan applications contain a lot of sensitive and personally identifiable information (PII). Processing these applications on-site significantly reduces the risk of third-party interception and allows banks to maintain strict control over who accesses data and why, which is more difficult in cloud and colocation data center environments.

4. Enhanced AIOps capabilities

Financial institutions use AIOps (artificial intelligence for IT operations) to analyze monitoring data from IT devices, network infrastructure, and security solutions and get automated incident management, root-cause analysis (RCA), and simple issue remediation. Deploying AIOps at the edge provides real-time issue detection and response, significantly shortening the duration of outages and other technology disruptions. It also ensures continuous operation even if an ISP outage or network failure cuts a branch off from the cloud or data center, further helping to reduce disruptions and remote sites.

Additionally, AIOps and other artificial intelligence technology tend to use GPUs (graphics processing units), which are more expensive than CPUs (central processing units), especially in the cloud. Deploying AIOps on small, decentralized, multi-functional edge computing devices can help reduce costs without sacrificing functionality. For example, deploying an array of Nvidia A100 GPUs to handle AIOps workloads costs at least $10k per unit; comparable AWS GPU instances can cost between $2 and $3 per unit per hour. By comparison, a Nodegrid Gate SR costs under $5k and also includes remote serial console management, OOB, cellular failover, gateway routing, and much more.

The benefits of edge computing for banking

Edge computing can help the financial services industry:

  • Reduce losses, theft, and crime by leveraging artificial intelligence to analyze real-time video surveillance data.
  • Increase branch productivity and revenue with real-time insights from security systems, customer experience data, and network infrastructure.
  • Simplify regulatory compliance by keeping sensitive customer and financial data on-site within company-owned infrastructure.
  • Improve resilience with real-time AIOps capabilities like automated incident remediation that continues operating even if the site is cut off from the WAN or Internet
  • Reduce the operating costs of AI and machine learning applications by deploying them on small, multi-function edge computing devices. 
  • Mitigate the risk of interception by leveraging financial and IT data on the local network and distributing the attack surface.

Edge computing best practices

Isolating the management interfaces used to control network infrastructure is the best practice for ensuring the security, resilience, and efficiency of edge computing deployments. CISA and PCI DSS 4.0 recommend implementing isolated management infrastructure (IMI) because it prevents compromised accounts, ransomware, and other threats from laterally moving from production resources to the control plane.

IMI with Nodegrid(2)

Using vendor-neutral platforms to host, connect, and secure edge applications and workloads is the best practice for ensuring the scalability and flexibility of financial edge architectures. Moving away from dedicated device stacks and taking a “platformization” approach allows financial institutions to easily deploy, update, and swap out applications and capabilities on demand. Vendor-neutral platforms help reduce hardware overhead costs to deploy new branches and allow banks to explore different edge software capabilities without costly hardware upgrades.

Edge-Management-980×653

Additionally, using a centralized, cloud-based edge management and orchestration (EMO) platform is the best practice for ensuring remote teams have holistic oversight of the distributed edge computing architecture. This platform should be vendor-agnostic to ensure complete coverage over mixed and legacy architectures, and it should use out-of-band (OOB) management to provide continuous remote access to edge infrastructure even during a major service outage.

How Nodegrid streamlines edge computing for the banking industry

Nodegrid is a vendor-neutral edge networking platform that consolidates an entire edge tech stack into a single, cost-effective device. Nodegrid has a Linux-based OS that supports third-party VMs and Docker containers, allowing banks to run edge computing workloads, data analytics software, automation, security, and more. 

The Nodegrid Gate SR is available with an Nvidia Jetson Nano card that’s optimized for artificial intelligence workloads. This allows banks to run AI surveillance software, ML-powered recommendation engines, and AIOps at the edge alongside networking and infrastructure workloads rather than purchasing expensive, dedicated GPU resources. Plus, Nodegrid’s Gen 3 OOB management ensures continuous remote access and IMI for improved branch resilience.

Get Nodegrid for your edge computing use cases in banking

Nodegrid’s flexible, vendor-neutral platform adapts to any use case and deployment environment. Watch a demo to see Nodegrid’s financial network solutions in action.

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AI Data Center Infrastructure https://zpesystems.com/ai-data-center-infrastructure-zs/ https://zpesystems.com/ai-data-center-infrastructure-zs/#comments Fri, 09 Aug 2024 14:00:01 +0000 https://zpesystems.com/?p=225608 This post describes the key components of AI data center infrastructure before providing advice for overcoming common pitfalls to improve the efficiency of AI deployments.

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ZPE Systems – AI Data Center Infrastructure
Artificial intelligence is transforming business operations across nearly every industry, with the recent McKinsey global survey finding that 72% of organizations had adopted AI, and 65% regularly use generative AI (GenAI) tools specifically. GenAI and other artificial intelligence technologies are extremely resource-intensive, requiring more computational power, data storage, and energy than traditional workloads. AI data center infrastructure also requires high-speed, low-latency networking connections and unified, scalable management hardware to ensure maximum performance and availability. This post describes the key components of AI data center infrastructure before providing advice for overcoming common pitfalls to improve the efficiency of AI deployments.

AI data center infrastructure components

A diagram of AI data center infrastructure.

Computing

Generative AI and other artificial intelligence technologies require significant processing power. AI workloads typically run on graphics processing units (GPUs), which are made up of many smaller cores that perform simple, repetitive computing tasks in parallel. GPUs can be clustered together to process data for AI much faster than CPUs.

Storage

AI requires vast amounts of data for training and inference. On-premises AI data centers typically use object storage systems with solid-state disks (SSDs) composed of multiple sections of flash memory (a.k.a., flash storage). Storage solutions for AI workloads must be modular so additional capacity can be added as data needs grow, through either physical or logical (networking) connections between devices.

Networking

AI workloads are often distributed across multiple computing and storage nodes within the same data center. To prevent packet loss or delays from affecting the accuracy or performance of AI models, nodes must be connected with high-speed, low-latency networking. Additionally, high-throughput WAN connections are needed to accommodate all the data flowing in from end-users, business sites, cloud apps, IoT devices, and other sources across the enterprise.

Power

AI infrastructure uses significantly more power than traditional data center infrastructure, with a rack of three or four AI servers consuming as much energy as 30 to 40 standard servers. To prevent issues, these power demands must be accounted for in the layout design for new AI data center deployments and, if necessary, discussed with the colocation provider to ensure enough power is available.

Management

Data center infrastructure, especially at the scale required for AI, is typically managed with a jump box, terminal server, or serial console that allows admins to control multiple devices at once. The best practice is to use an out-of-band (OOB) management device that separates the control plane from the data plane using alternative network interfaces. An OOB console server provides several important functions:

  1. It provides an alternative path to data center infrastructure that isn’t reliant on the production ISP, WAN, or LAN, ensuring remote administrators have continuous access to troubleshoot and recover systems faster, without an on-site visit.
  2. It isolates management interfaces from the production network, preventing malware or compromised accounts from jumping over from an infected system and hijacking critical data center infrastructure.
  3. It helps create an isolated recovery environment where teams can clean and rebuild systems during a ransomware attack or other breach without risking reinfection.

An OOB serial console helps minimize disruptions to AI infrastructure. For example, teams can use OOB to remotely control PDU outlets to power cycle a hung server. Or, if a networking device failure brings down the LAN, teams can use a 5G cellular OOB connection to troubleshoot and fix the problem. Out-of-band management reduces the need for costly, time-consuming site visits, which significantly improves the resilience of AI infrastructure.

AI data center challenges

Artificial intelligence workloads, and the data center infrastructure needed to support them, are highly complex. Many IT teams struggle to efficiently provision, maintain, and repair AI data center infrastructure at the scale and speed required, especially when workflows are fragmented across legacy and multi-vendor solutions that may not integrate. The best way to ensure data center teams can keep up with the demands of artificial intelligence is with a unified AI orchestration platform. Such a platform should include:

  • Automation for repetitive provisioning and troubleshooting tasks
  • Unification of all AI-related workflows with a single, vendor-neutral platform
  • Resilience with cellular failover and Gen 3 out-of-band management.

To learn more, read AI Orchestration: Solving Challenges to Improve AI Value

Improving operational efficiency with a vendor-neutral platform

Nodegrid is a Gen 3 out-of-band management solution that provides the perfect unification platform for AI data center orchestration. The vendor-neutral Nodegrid platform can integrate with or directly run third-party software, unifying all your networking, management, automation, security, and recovery workflows. A single, 1RU Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP) can manage up to 96 data center devices, and even extend automation to legacy and mixed-vendor solutions that wouldn’t otherwise support it. Nodegrid Serial Consoles enable the fast and cost-efficient infrastructure scaling required to support GenAI and other artificial intelligence technologies.

Make Nodegrid your AI data center orchestration platform

Request a demo to learn how Nodegrid can improve the efficiency and resilience of your AI data center infrastructure.
 Contact Us

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AI Orchestration: Solving Challenges to Improve AI Value https://zpesystems.com/ai-orchestration-zs/ Fri, 02 Aug 2024 20:53:45 +0000 https://zpesystems.com/?p=225501 This post describes the ideal AI orchestration solution and the technologies that make it work, helping companies use artificial intelligence more efficiently.

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AI Orchestration(1)
Generative AI and other artificial intelligence technologies are still surging in popularity across every industry, with the recent McKinsey global survey finding that 72% of organizations had adopted AI in at least one business function. In the rush to capitalize on the potential productivity and financial gains promised by AI solution providers, technology leaders are facing new challenges relating to deploying, supporting, securing, and scaling AI workloads and infrastructure. These challenges are exacerbated by the fragmented nature of many enterprise IT environments, with administrators overseeing many disparate, vendor-specific solutions that interoperate poorly if at all.

The goal of AI orchestration is to provide a single, unified platform for teams to oversee and manage AI-related workflows across the entire organization. This post describes the ideal AI orchestration solution and the technologies that make it work, helping companies use artificial intelligence more efficiently.

AI challenges to overcome

The challenges an organization must overcome to use AI more cost-effectively and see faster returns can be broken down into three categories:

  1. Overseeing AI-led workflows to ensure models are behaving as expected and providing accurate results, when these workflows are spread across the enterprise in different geographic locations and vendor-specific applications.
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  2. Efficiently provisioning, maintaining, and scaling the vast infrastructure and computational resources required to run intensive AI workflows at remote data centers and edge computing sites.
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  3. Maintaining 24/7 availability and performance of remote AI workflows and infrastructure during security breaches, equipment failures, network outages, and natural disasters.

These challenges have a few common causes. One is that artificial intelligence and the underlying infrastructure that supports it are highly complex, making it difficult for human engineers to keep up. Two is that many IT environments are highly fragmented due to closed vendor solutions that integrate poorly and require administrators to manage too many disparate systems, allowing coverage gaps to form. Three is that many AI-related workloads occur off-site at data centers and edge computing sites, so it’s harder for IT teams to repair and recover AI systems that go down due to a networking outage, equipment failure, or other disruptive event.

How AI orchestration streamlines AI/ML in an enterprise environment

The ideal AI orchestration platform solves these problems by automating repetitive and data-heavy tasks, unifying workflows with a vendor-neutral platform, and using out-of-band (OOB) serial console management to provide continuous remote access even during major outages.

Automation

Automation is crucial for teams to keep up with the pace and scale of artificial intelligence. Organizations use automation to provision and install AI data center infrastructure, manage storage for AI training and inference data, monitor inputs and outputs for toxicity, perform root-cause analyses when systems fail, and much more. However, tracking and troubleshooting so many automated workflows can get very complicated, creating more work for administrators rather than making them more productive. An AI orchestration platform should provide a centralized interface for teams to deploy and oversee automated workflows across applications, infrastructure, and business sites.

Unification

The best way to improve AI operational efficiency is to integrate all of the complicated monitoring, management, automation, security, and remediation workflows. This can be accomplished by choosing solutions and vendors that interoperate or, even better, are completely vendor-agnostic (a.k.a., vendor-neutral). For example, using open, common platforms to run AI workloads, manage AI infrastructure, and host AI-related security software can help bring everything together where administrators have easy access. An AI orchestration platform should be vendor-neutral to facilitate workload unification and streamline integrations.

Resilience

AI models, workloads, and infrastructure are highly complex and interconnected, so an issue with one component could compromise interdependencies in ways that are difficult to predict and troubleshoot. AI systems are also attractive targets for cybercriminals due to their vast, valuable data sets and because of how difficult they are to secure, with HiddenLayer’s 2024 AI Threat Landscape Report finding that 77% of businesses have experienced AI-related breaches in the last year. An AI orchestration platform should help improve resilience, or the ability to continue operating during adverse events like tech failures, breaches, and natural disasters.

Gen 3 out-of-band management technology is a crucial component of AI and network resilience. A vendor-neutral OOB solution like the Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP) uses alternative network connections to provide continuous management access to remote data center, branch, and edge infrastructure even when the ISP, WAN, or LAN connection goes down. This gives administrators a lifeline to troubleshoot and recover AI infrastructure without costly and time-consuming site visits. The NSCP allows teams to remotely monitor power consumption and cooling for AI infrastructure. It also provides 5G/4G LTE cellular failover so organizations can continue delivering critical services while the production network is repaired.

A diagram showing isolated management infrastructure with the Nodegrid Serial Console Plus.

Gen 3 OOB also helps organizations implement isolated management infrastructure (IMI), a.k.a, control plane/data plane separation. This is a cybersecurity best practice recommended by the CISA as well as regulations like PCI DSS 4.0, DORA, NIS2, and the CER Directive. IMI prevents malicious actors from being able to laterally move from a compromised production system to the management interfaces used to control AI systems and other infrastructure. It also provides a safe recovery environment where teams can rebuild and restore systems during a ransomware attack or other breach without risking reinfection.

Getting the most out of your AI investment

An AI orchestration platform should streamline workflows with automation, provide a unified platform to oversee and control AI-related applications and systems for maximum efficiency and coverage, and use Gen 3 OOB to improve resilience and minimize disruptions. Reducing management complexity, risk, and repair costs can help companies see greater productivity and financial returns from their AI investments.

The vendor-neutral Nodegrid platform from ZPE Systems provides highly scalable Gen 3 OOB management for up to 96 devices with a single, 1RU serial console. The open Nodegrid OS also supports VMs and Docker containers for third-party applications, so you can run AI, automation, security, and management workflows all from the same device for ultimate operational efficiency.

Streamline AI orchestration with Nodegrid

Contact ZPE Systems today to learn more about using a Nodegrid serial console as the foundation for your AI orchestration platform. Contact Us

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Edge Computing Use Cases in Telecom https://zpesystems.com/edge-computing-use-cases-in-telecom-zs/ https://zpesystems.com/edge-computing-use-cases-in-telecom-zs/#comments Wed, 31 Jul 2024 17:15:04 +0000 https://zpesystems.com/?p=225483 This blog describes five potential edge computing use cases in retail and provides more information about the benefits of edge computing for the retail industry.

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This blog describes four edge computing use cases in telecom before describing the benefits and best practices for the telecommunications industry.
Telecommunications networks are vast and extremely distributed, with critical network infrastructure deployed at core sites like Internet exchanges and data centers, business and residential customer premises, and access sites like towers, street cabinets, and cell site shelters. This distributed nature lends itself well to edge computing, which involves deploying computing resources like CPUs and storage to the edges of the network where the most valuable telecom data is generated. Edge computing allows telecom companies to leverage data from CPE, networking devices, and users themselves in real-time, creating many opportunities to improve service delivery, operational efficiency, and resilience.

This blog describes four edge computing use cases in telecom before describing the benefits and best practices for edge computing in the telecommunications industry.

4 Edge computing use cases in telecom

1. Enhancing the customer experience with real-time analytics

Each customer interaction, from sales calls to repair requests and service complaints, is a chance to collect and leverage data to improve the experience in the future. Transferring that data from customer sites, regional branches, and customer service centers to a centralized data analysis application takes time, creates network latency, and can make it more difficult to get localized and context-specific insights. Edge computing allows telecom companies to analyze valuable customer experience data, such as network speed, uptime (or downtime) count, and number of support contacts in real-time, providing better opportunities to identify and correct issues before they go on to affect future interactions.

2. Streamlining remote infrastructure management and recovery with AIOps

AIOps helps telecom companies manage complex, distributed network infrastructure more efficiently. AIOps (artificial intelligence for IT operations) uses advanced machine learning algorithms to analyze infrastructure monitoring data and provide maintenance recommendations, automated incident management, and simple issue remediation. Deploying AIOps on edge computing devices at each telecom site enables real-time analysis, detection, and response, helping to reduce the duration of service disruptions. For example, AIOps can perform automated root-cause analysis (RCA) to help identify the source of a regional outage before technicians arrive on-site, allowing them to dive right into the repair. Edge AIOps solutions can also continue functioning even if the site is cut off from the WAN or Internet, potentially self-healing downed networks without the need to deploy repair techs on-site.

3. Preventing environmental conditions from damaging remote equipment

Telecommunications equipment is often deployed in less-than-ideal operating conditions, such as unventilated closets and remote cell site shelters. Heat, humidity, and air particulates can shorten the lifespan of critical equipment or cause expensive service failures, which is why it’s recommended to use environmental monitoring sensors to detect and alert remote technicians to problems. Edge computing applications can analyze environmental monitoring data in real-time and send alerts to nearby personnel much faster than cloud- or data center-based solutions, ensuring major fluctuations are corrected before they damage critical equipment.

4. Improving operational efficiency with network virtualization and consolidation

Another way to reduce management complexity – as well as overhead and operating expenses – is through virtualization and consolidation. Network functions virtualization (NFV) virtualizes networking equipment like load balancers, firewalls, routers, and WAN gateways, turning them into software that can be deployed anywhere – including edge computing devices. This significantly reduces the physical tech stack at each site, consolidating once-complicated network infrastructure into, in some cases, a single device. For example, the Nodegrid Gate SR provides a vendor-neutral edge computing platform that supports third-party NFVs while also including critical edge networking functionality like out-of-band (OOB) serial console management and 5G/4G cellular failover.

Edge computing in telecom: Benefits and best practices

Edge computing can help telecommunications companies:

  • Get actionable insights that can be leveraged in real-time to improve network performance, service reliability, and the support experience.
  • Reduce network latency by processing more data at each site instead of transmitting it to the cloud or data center for analysis.
  • Lower CAPEX and OPEX at each site by consolidating the tech stack and automating management workflows with AIOps.
  • Prevent downtime with real-time analysis of environmental and equipment monitoring data to catch problems before they escalate.
  • Accelerate recovery with real-time, AIOps root-cause analysis and simple incident remediation that continues functioning even if the site is cut off from the WAN or Internet.

Management infrastructure isolation, which is recommended by CISA and required by regulations like DORA, is the best practice for improving edge resilience and ensuring a speedy recovery from failures and breaches. Isolated management infrastructure (IMI) prevents compromised accounts, ransomware, and other threats from moving laterally from production resources to the interfaces used to control critical network infrastructure.

IMI with Nodegrid(2)
To ensure the scalability and flexibility of edge architectures, the best practice is to use vendor-neutral platforms to host, connect, and secure edge applications and workloads. Moving away from dedicated device stacks and taking a “platformization” approach allows organizations to easily deploy, update, and swap out functions and services on demand. For example, Nodegrid edge networking solutions have a Linux-based OS that supports third-party VMs, Docker containers, and NFVs. Telecom companies can use Nodegrid to run edge computing workloads as well as asset management software, customer experience analytics, AIOps, and edge security solutions like SASE.

Vendor-neutral platforms help reduce hardware overhead costs to deploy new edge sites, make it easy to spin-up new NFVs to meet increased demand, and allow telecom organizations to explore different edge software capabilities without costly hardware upgrades. For example, the Nodegrid Gate SR is available with an Nvidia Jetson Nano card that’s optimized for AI workloads, so companies can run innovative artificial intelligence at the edge alongside networking and infrastructure management workloads rather than purchasing expensive, dedicated GPU resources.

Edge-Management-980×653
Finally, to ensure teams have holistic oversight of the distributed edge computing architecture, the best practice is to use a centralized, cloud-based edge management and orchestration (EMO) platform. This platform should also be vendor-neutral to ensure complete coverage and should use out-of-band management to provide continuous management access to edge infrastructure even during a major service outage.

Streamlined, cost-effective edge computing with Nodegrid

Nodegrid’s flexible, vendor-neutral platform adapts to all edge computing use cases in telecom. Watch a demo to see Nodegrid’s telecom solutions in action.

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Edge Computing Use Cases in Retail https://zpesystems.com/edge-computing-use-cases-in-retail-zs/ Thu, 25 Jul 2024 21:01:34 +0000 https://zpesystems.com/?p=225448 This blog describes five potential edge computing use cases in retail and provides more information about the benefits of edge computing for the retail industry.

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Automated transportation robots move boxes in a warehouse, one of many edge computing use cases in retail
Retail organizations must constantly adapt to meet changing customer expectations, mitigate external economic forces, and stay ahead of the competition. Technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and other forms of automation help companies improve the customer experience and deliver products at the pace demanded in the age of one-click shopping and two-day shipping. However, connecting individual retail locations to applications in the cloud or centralized data center increases network latency, security risks, and bandwidth utilization costs.

Edge computing mitigates many of these challenges by decentralizing cloud and data center resources and distributing them at the network’s “edges,” where most retail operations take place. Running applications and processing data at the edge enables real-time analysis and insights and ensures that systems remain operational even if Internet access is disrupted by an ISP outage or natural disaster. This blog describes five potential edge computing use cases in retail and provides more information about the benefits of edge computing for the retail industry.

5 Edge computing use cases in retail

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1. Security video analysis

Security cameras are crucial to loss prevention, but constantly monitoring video surveillance feeds is tedious and difficult for even the most experienced personnel. AI-powered video surveillance systems use machine learning to analyze video feeds and detect suspicious activity with greater vigilance and accuracy. Edge computing enhances AI surveillance by allowing solutions to analyze video feeds in real-time, potentially catching shoplifters in the act and preventing inventory shrinkage.

2. Localized, real-time insights

Retailers have a brief window to meet a customer’s needs before they get frustrated and look elsewhere, especially in a brick-and-mortar store. A retail store can use an edge computing application to learn about customer behavior and purchasing activity in real-time. For example, they can use this information to rotate the products featured on aisle endcaps to meet changing demand, or staff additional personnel in high-traffic departments at certain times of day. Stores can also place QR codes on shelves that customers scan if a product is out of stock, immediately alerting a nearby representative to provide assistance.

3. Enhanced inventory management

Effective inventory management is challenging even for the most experienced retail managers, but ordering too much or too little product can significantly affect sales. Edge computing applications can improve inventory efficiency by making ordering recommendations based on observed purchasing patterns combined with real-time stocking updates as products are purchased or returned. Retailers can use this information to reduce carrying costs for unsold merchandise while preventing out-of-stocks, improving overall profit margins.
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4. Building management

Using IoT devices to monitor and control building functions such as HVAC, lighting, doors, power, and security can help retail organizations reduce the need for on-site facilities personnel, and make more efficient use of their time. Data analysis software helps automatically optimize these systems for efficiency while ensuring a comfortable customer experience. Running this software at the edge allows automated processes to respond to changing conditions in real-time, for example, lowering the A/C temperature or routing more power to refrigerated cases during a heatwave.

5. Warehouse automation

The retail industry uses warehouse automation systems to improve the speed and efficiency at which goods are delivered to stores or directly to users. These systems include automated storage and retrieval systems, robotic pickers and transporters, and automated sortation systems. Companies can use edge computing applications to monitor, control, and maintain warehouse automation systems with minimal latency. These applications also remain operational even if the site loses internet access, improving resilience.

The benefits of edge computing for retail

The benefits of edge computing in a retail setting include:
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Edge computing benefits

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Reduced latency

Edge computing decreases the number of network hops between devices and the applications they rely on, reducing latency and improving the speed and reliability of retail technology at the edge.

Real-time insights

Edge computing can analyze data in real-time and provide actionable insights to improve the customer experience before a sale is lost or reduce waste before monthly targets are missed.

Improved resilience

Edge computing applications can continue functioning even if the site loses Internet or WAN access, enabling continuous operations and reducing the costs of network downtime.

Risk mitigation

Keeping sensitive internal data like personnel records, sales numbers, and customer loyalty information on the local network mitigates the risk of interception and distributes the attack surface.

Edge computing can also help retail companies lower their operational costs at each site by reducing bandwidth utilization on expensive MPLS links and decreasing expenses for cloud data storage and computing. Another way to lower costs is by using consolidated, vendor-neutral solutions to run, connect, and secure edge applications and workloads.

For example, the Nodegrid Gate SR integrated branch services router delivers an entire stack of edge networking, infrastructure management, and computing technologies in a single, streamlined device. The open, Linux-based Nodegrid OS supports VMs and Docker containers for third-party edge computing applications, security solutions, and more. The Gate SR is also available with an Nvidia Jetson Nano card that’s optimized for AI workloads to help retail organizations reduce the hardware overhead costs of deploying artificial intelligence at the edge.

Consolidated edge computing with Nodegrid

Nodegrid’s flexible, scalable platform adapts to all edge computing use cases in retail. Watch a demo to see Nodegrid’s retail network solutions in action.

Watch a demo

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