Remote Server Management: IT staff's magic cane (1)

There is no doubt that enterprises welcome service integration because it can improve efficiency and save costs. Although this is difficult for the initial data center, it still means configuring remote servers to provide basic services and applications to various branches and partners. This article describes how to efficiently manage and maintain remote servers.

　What prompted you to choose a remote server?

What drives you to adopt a remote server? Is the performance and practice of business software. At least theoretically, many servers provide services to users in the world, but it is still a challenge to achieve a satisfactory customer experience.

Note that remote server management does not automatically imply that the enterprise configures distributed servers. Enterprises may be able to successfully integrate servers into one place. These servers may be managed by the same routing rule.

For example, shut down a local data center, but this is operated by another place or a mobile place. Ian Parker, Senior Web Service Manager at Thomson-Reuters, does that. Move the distributed server to a central location. Before virtualization technology, it is all started by the central management. "I haven't touched my server for at least five years, unless I pass by," said Parker ."

Remote servers can be managed using multiple technologies, each of which meets the specific needs of specific enterprises. For simple management tasks, such as software O & M upgrades and status checks, tools such as Windows Remote Desktop are more suitable. However, the software only works when the managed server is running normally. When an application is suspended, or the server has hardware problems, the software may not work properly.

　Remote Management also includes hardware-based

Hardware-based tools include HP Integrated Lights-OutiLO) and Dell Remote Access ControllerDRAC) cards, which simplify operations and allow Remote managers to monitor, configure, and control more server hardware on the network, it is as convenient as working in the data center. Many blade systems also provide remote management functions to remote administrators to diagnose server conditions based on Web methods and obtain most of the control.

KVM-over-IP technology is another hardware-based method that can control the mouse and keyboard, and operate servers from the Administrator's location in an Ethernet network. The increase in the number of UPS also enhances remote management capabilities, allowing managers to cycle power when necessary.

However, server virtualization does not have much impact on remote server management. Parker believes: "the server is 50 feet or 500 kilometers away from me. There is no difference for me. Of course, the server is still the same in the physical box as in the virtualized box ."

However, compared with the traditional virtualization box, virtualization has indeed brought more options and control convenience. For example, if you want to dynamically migrate virtual machines, to maintain or reduce the risk of remote restart, remote administrators can move virtual machines between remote physical servers. Similarly, you can remotely supply new virtual machines at the same speed to ease virtual machines that have already been moved. In the end, virtualization brings significant flexibility to remote management, but the internal goal of the remote server will not change.