R&M and FNT Collaborate to Launch Comprehensive Solution for Data Center Cable Management in MEA

Dubai, United Arab Emirates- 22 May, 2016- Reichle & De-Massari (R&M) and FNT Software today unveiled their joint solution for data center cable management. Built on the integration of two market leading infrastructure management products, the R&MinteliPhy and FNT’s Command software package, the solution delivers the functionality needed to mitigate typical data center challenges including data transmission errors, performance issues and downtime.

Through seamless API integration of their products, the technology vendors have designed a comprehensive solution that can monitor all changes to a physical network, including switches, servers and patch panels, while also offering functions for mapping, managing, analysing and planning cabling and network cabinets, including asset management, planned and unplanned changes and alarms.

“Today, the average data center surface area measures 1,000 to 2,50m2 and has thousands of network ports. With ever growing complexity, IT teams need the right tools for administration and to make critical capacity and compliance decisions to increase data center efficiency,” said Syed Akhtar, Vice-President MEA & Emerging Markets at FNT Software.

In the Middle East and Africa, R&M and FNT have been working closely and have successfully co-hosted a number of ‘Data Center Network Day'. Akhtar said, “The alliance between our companies has developed around driving the most value and benefit to our joint customers. Besides collaborating on the technology front, we are also working closely in the MEA to educate customers, raise awareness and nurture joint revenue opportunities.”

Information gathered from R&MinteliPhy’s RFID sensors flows into FNT Command software, providing a consolidated view of all cabling and port data. This data includes real-time physical connectivity monitoring and documentation, which R&M’s sensor collects from RFID-tags on the cabling connectors. The solution increases security and mitigates the downtime by raising alerts on unsolicited changes, and aids planning by automatically generating trending information and alarms on port capacity. At the same time, all work orders from FNT Command’s work order management can be sent to R&MinteliPhy for visual guidance, task tracking, and permission configuration.

Commenting on the need for a holistic data center cable management solution, Nabil Khalil, Executive Vice-President of R&M Middle East, Turkey and Africa said, “The impact poor connectivity visibility can have on data availability or uptime brings the topic of automation of connectivity documentation onto the task list - whether from an availability, operations, risk or compliance perspective. This is especially true for the software-defined data center as customers today need appropriate agile methods on the physical level in order to continuously support changes and adapt with their evolving requirements.”

The integrated solution will be available to customers in the Middle East and Africa through the network of channel partners for R&M and FNT.