Hitachi IT Operations Analyzer FAQ
How is IT Operations Analyzer different from system management software from other companies?
It has all the essential features that are needed to monitor the performance and availability of data center IT assets and offers new, innovative features including:
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Server, network and storage monitoring (most competitors do not monitor all of these
infrastructures)
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Root Cause Analysis (It includes a patented analysis engine for diagnosing problems, much more
thorough than available by competitors)
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Designed for the mid-market, full featured with ease-of-use (not a complex, stripped down enterprise design like major competitors)
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Logical path view topology with health status (A patented technology. Others provide topologies, but with more complex, cumbersome views, particularly as the number of devices increases)
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Agentless architecture (many use agents)
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Easy-to-use by IT generalists, such as a Microsoft® Windows or Linux systems administrator
Isn’t Hitachi Data Systems a storage company? Is this a storage software product?
Yes, Hitachi Data Systems sells storage systems, software and solutions. IT Operations Analyzer is a software product in a new category for Hitachi Data Systems, extending beyond storage into overall data center monitoring. This leverages Hitachi’s experience in storage and its experience in software development. Hitachi is the world’s tenth largest software company, including extensive experience in system management software.
Do I need training to install and use this software?
IT Operations Analyzer was designed for IT professionals, but does not require in depth expertise in specific technologies, nor extensive training. The software includes online help and Hitachi Data Systems has developed training modules, available on the internet, to help customers learn how to use the software.
Product Features and Capabilities
What is the Network Path view or Topology view?
The Topology List View is a patent pending technology for viewing the data center infrastructure, paths and
relationship. Its unique capabilities help customers view the networks at-a-glance.
What is the Root Cause Analysis? How does it work?
The Root Cause Analysis in the Analyzer software examines messages and events monitored, and then correlates the information and automatically tries to identify the primary event, root cause, that was responsible for the problem or failure. This helps customers to sift through multiple, related messages and events that can flood administrators and allow them to quickly and easily identify and resolve problems.
What do you mean by “agentless” architecture?
Unlike many alternative software products, IT Operations Analyzer software monitors all the devices in a datacenter without having to install agents on servers or network devices. Installing agents can be problematic, requiring server reboots, affecting application performance and ongoing maintenance to insure that the latest versions of the agents are properly installed and operating. Analyzer uses industry standard protocols including SMI-S, SNMP, WMI and SSH, to monitor the devices in the data center. This simplifies and speeds the deployment of the Analyzer software. In addition when new software versions are released there are no agents that have to be updated or re-installed.
Is the trial software a fully featured copy of the Analyzer software? Are there any limitations in it?
The trial software is a full featured copy of the software. It can discover your entire data center infrastructure, but it is limited to monitoring a maximum of 25 devices (servers, switches or storage systems). The trial license will expire 30 days after it is installed. The trial software can be upgraded to the full software product simply by purchasing a software license,
without needing to re-download or reinstall the software.
Do I need someone to install the software for me?
The Analyzer software is designed to be installed by end users. but please call if you would like to discuss this.
How long will it take to install and setup the Analyzer software?
The software can usually be installed in 30 minutes or less. The time required to discover the devices in your data center will vary depending on the size and configuration. Typically the Analyzer software can be fully installed and deployed in as little as 90 minutes.
System Requirements and Software Compatibility
What are the server requirements for Hitachi IT Operations Analyzer software?
Hardware requirements (all of the following)
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CPU: x86 or x64 with 2 GHz or faster
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Memory: 2 GB or more
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HDD: 60 GB or more free space Operating System (one of the following)
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Microsoft® Windows Server 2003
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Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2
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Microsoft Windows Server 2008
What devices can Analyzer monitor?
Analyzer can monitor the following types of devices:
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Windows servers using WMI
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Red Hat Linux servers using SSH
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Sun Solaris Servers
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VMware ESX server
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IP switches using SNMP
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FC switches using SMI-S
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Storage systems using SMI-S
What if I have device that’s not on the list of supported devices? For example, can Analyzer monitor any storage system that has an SMI-S provider?
If the device supports one of the interfaces described above then Analyzer can monitor the device. The list of supported devices includes devices that Hitachi Data Systems has tested for use with the Analyzer software.
Does Analyzer monitor VMware ESX servers? Will Analyzer recognize both physical ESX servers and the virtual machines within that server?
Yes. Analyzer can monitor VMware ESX servers and will recognize the physical ESX server and can associate the virtual machines to that server.
Does Analyzer monitor Microsoft Hyper-V or Citrix Xen servers?
Analyzer can monitor the virtual servers within other virtualized environments, but can not associate them with the physical server. Full support for Microsoft Hyper V virtual server environments is planned for an upcoming release of the Analyzer software.
Licensing
How does the licensing of Analyzer work?
Analyzer software is licensed based on the number of devices, or nodes, that it monitors. Licenses are sold in increments of 25 devices. To monitor 100 devices, purchase 4 25-device licenses.
If I have, for example, a 50 device license, how do I upgrade to a 100 device license?
To upgrade, simply purchase additional 25-device licenses. To upgrade from 50 devices to 100 devices, purchase two additional 25-device licenses.
Do I need to reinstall the software if I already have the trial copy of the software?
No. If you have installed the 30-day trial software, simply purchase a software license for the number of devices that you want to have monitored and upgrade the license on the trial software already installed.
Is support and maintenance included when I purchase the software?
Yes, the price for the software license includes the first year’s software support and maintenance.
What is included in Support and Maintenance?
“Support” includes access tot Hitachi Data Systems’ Technical Resource Center to ask technical questions and help resolving problems. |
