Abstract:
According to one example, there is provided a method of managing an information technology (IT) system that comprising items of IT equipment. The method comprises obtaining a set of characteristics from items of IT equipment in the IT system, generating, using the obtained sets of characteristics, a consolidated set of characteristics representing at least part of the IT system, identifying, based on the generated consolidated set of characteristics, an item of IT equipment to be replaced, determining a set of minimum characteristics for a replacement item to replace the identified item; and selecting, from an IT equipment database, based on the determined characteristics, a replacement item of IT equipment.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The management of IT infrastructures, especially large IT infrastructures having many hundreds or thousands of items of IT equipment, is a particularly complex task. Often, computer hardware in the IT infrastructure has a shelf-life longer than that of the operating systems and software applications that run on the computer hardware. Accordingly, as operating systems and software applications are added, replaced, or are upgraded, at some point in time computer hardware in the IT infrastructure may be deemed to no longer be suitable. However, determining which items of IT equipment to replace and when they should be replaced is a non-trivial exercise for an IT manager. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
         [0002]    Examples will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0003]      FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram showing part of an IT infrastructure; 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a simplified block diagram showing an IT infrastructure planning module according to principles described herein; 
           [0005]      FIG. 3   a  is a simplified flow diagram outlining an example method according to principles described herein; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3   b  is a simplified flow diagram outlining an example method according to principles described herein; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3   c  is a simplified flow diagram outlining an example method according to principles described herein; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a simplified block diagram outlining an example implementation according to principles described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  there is shown a block diagram illustrating a set of items of IT equipment, or IT assets,  102   a  to  102   n  in an IT environment or system  100 . The IT equipment  102   a  to  102   n  may include, for example, computer servers, desktop computers, tablet computing devices, laptop computers, and the like. At least some of the IT equipment may be connected to a network  104 . The IT environment  100  may form, for example, part of a data center and the IT equipment  102   a  to  102   n  may be located in the same or in diverse geographic locations. 
         [0010]    Each item of IT equipment  102  may be used, for example, for running one or multiple operating systems, and one or multiple software applications. 
         [0011]    Over time, items of the IT equipment  102   a  to  102   n  may have to be replaced or updated, or new items of IT equipment may be added to the IT environment  100 . This may be due, for example, to existing equipment becoming old, malfunctioning, becoming obsolete, no longer having suitable processing characteristics to meet the demands of the IT environment  100 , and so on. 
         [0012]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a simplified block diagram of a system  200  according to principles described herein. The system  200  includes a planning module  202  which may be used to analyze the IT infrastructure  100  and to identify an item or items of the IT infrastructure suitable for being replaced. Additionally, the planning module  202  may identify a new item of IT equipment (e.g. a replacement item) that may be used to replace the identified item. The planning module  202  may further ensure that the selected replacement item is compatible with other items of IT equipment in the IT infrastructure  100 . The planning module  202  may additionally ensure that the selected replacement item remains suitable for use at a future time, based on projected changes in different characteristics of the IT infrastructure and its usage. In a further example, the planning module  202  may generate a model of the state of the IT infrastructure including the selected replacement item, to allow further items of the IT infrastructure to be selected for replacement. 
         [0013]    Operation of the planning module  202  will now be described with further reference to  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b , and  3   c.    
         [0014]    The planning module  202  comprises an infrastructure view generator  204  which obtains (block  302 ,  FIG. 3   a ) a set  214  of parameters from different ones of the items of IT equipment  102 . Each set  214  of parameters may comprise data relating to different types of IT equipment characteristics. In one example a set  214  of parameters may include data relating to technical characteristics, service characteristics, and financial characteristics of an item of IT equipment. In other examples a set of parameters may comprises data relating to more or less types of equipment characteristics. 
         [0015]    Technical characteristics  216  may include, for example, details of network interfaces, power consumption, amount of memory installed, number and type of core processing units, operating system installed, physical server dimensions, and the like. Service characteristics  218  may include, for example, details of software applications installed or executing on a server, details of a service level agreement (SLA), length of support contract, and warranty length. Financial characteristics  220  may include, for example, details of the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the server, a lease period (where applicable), and server cost. 
         [0016]    Example technical characteristics, service characteristics, and financial characteristics are shown below in Tables 1, 2, and 3. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 EXAMPLE OF TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 PARAMETER 
                 VALUE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Operating System: 
                 Windows Server 2008 64 bits 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Minimum memory required: 
                 8 
                 GB 
               
               
                   
                 Average memory utilization: 
                 5 
                 GB 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Average CPU utilization: 
                 30% 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Minimum local storage: 
                 500 
                 GB 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 No. of IP addresses required: 
                  1 
               
               
                   
                 No. of ports required: 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 Redundancy level: 
                 High 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 EXAMPLE OF SERVICE CHARACTERISTICS 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PARAMETER 
                 VALUE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Security Classification: 
                 Stringent 
               
               
                 Service Level Agreement: 
                 (performance) 3 ms user response time 
               
               
                 Min. support contract: 
                 1 year 
               
               
                 Warranty period: 
                 3 years 
               
               
                 Desired currency: 
                 N 
               
               
                 Application #1 - Name: 
                 Microsoft Exchange Server 
               
               
                 Application #1 - Version 
                 X.Y 
               
               
                 Application #1 - Response lime 
                 N seconds 
               
               
                 Application #1 Interface (Port 
                 Port K, Protocol L 
               
               
                 and protocol) 
               
               
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 EXAMPLE OF FINANCIAL CHARACTERISTICS 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 PARAMETER 
                 VALUE 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Availability: 
                 99.9% in 1 year 
               
               
                   
                 TCO: 
                 $1 per day 
               
               
                   
                 Environmental Factor: 
                 250 W power consumption 
               
               
                   
                 Lease period: 
                 2 years 
               
               
                   
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0017]    In one example a set of parameters  214  may include threshold data that indicates when a particular item may be considered to be overloaded, or be considered for replacement. For example, a threshold value may indicate an average acceptable memory or processor utilization level over a given period of time. 
         [0018]    In one example a parameter may have an associated weighting factor or prioritization level. Such weightings may, for example, be assigned manually by an IT manager, or automatically using predetermined weightings based on parameter type. The weightings may be used to indicate the relative importance of different parameters. 
         [0019]    The infrastructure view generator  204  obtains the sets  214  of parameters in any suitable manner. For example, it may interrogate individual items of IT equipment, may use remote monitoring applications, may interrogate a computer management database (CMDB), an enterprise architecture data store, or use other suitable techniques. 
         [0020]    At  304  the infrastructure view generator  204  generates a consolidated data view or dataset representing at least part of the IT infrastructure  100 . In one example, the server estate data includes data relating to all of the computing devices  102 . In another example, the server estate data includes data relating to a sub-set of the computing devices  102 . An example extract of a consolidated dataset from one of the computing devices  102  is shown below in Table 4. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 EXAMPLE EXTRACT OF CONSOLIDATED DATASET 
               
             
          
           
               
                 CATEGORY 
                 ATTRIBUTE/PARAMETER 
                 DESCRIPTION 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 General 
                 Server 
                 GB001WASH2001 
               
               
                   
                 Rack 
                 AE2B 
               
               
                   
                 Data-centre 
                 Washington 
               
               
                   
                 I/P Address 
                 10.6.1.125 
               
               
                   
                 Model 
                 BL680c 
               
               
                   
                 Physical Memory 
                 64 GB 
               
               
                   
                 Number of CPUs 
                 4 
               
               
                   
                 CPU type 
                 Intel Xeon 2.4 GHz 
               
               
                   
                 Warranty end date 
                 24-01-2015 
               
               
                   
                 Date of Purchase 
                 25-01-2010 
               
               
                   
                 Power Consumption 
                 80 W 
               
               
                   
                 VM Host 
                 Yes 
               
               
                   
                 Operating System 
                 VMWare 
               
               
                 Applications 
               
               
                 Application #1 
                 Name of application 
                 General Ledger v1 
               
               
                   
                 Guest Operating System 
                 Windows Server 2008 R2 
               
               
                   
                 Integration 
                 Oracle 11g; Account Profiler v2; Kondor+. 
               
               
                   
                 Ports 
                 121 
               
               
                   
                 Function 
                 Aggregates the open positions on a daily 
               
               
                   
                   
                 basis for accounting and risk exposure. 
               
               
                 Application #2 
                 Name of application 
                 Oracle 11g 
               
               
                   
                 Guest Operating System 
                 RHEL 6 
               
               
                   
                 Integration 
                 General Ledger v1. 
               
               
                   
                 Ports 
                 454 
               
               
                   
                 Function 
                 Database for general ledger trades and open 
               
               
                   
                   
                 positions. 
               
               
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0021]    At  306  a data processor  206  is used to process the generated consolidated dataset to identify an item or items of IT equipment in the IT infrastructure  100  that may benefit from being replaced. 
         [0022]    In one example, the data processor  206  analyzes the generated consolidated dataset to identify an item of IT equipment  102  suitable for being replaced. 
         [0023]    In one example, the data processor  206  determines whether an item of IT equipment  102  has particular characteristics that have a value above an associated threshold value. The associated threshold value may, in one example, be included in the set of characteristics  214 , or may, in a further example, be specific to the item of IT equipment  102  associated therewith. In a further example, a threshold value may be a general threshold value used by the planning module  202  and applicable to multiple items of IT equipment  102 . 
         [0024]    In one example, the data processor  206  analyzes the generated consolidated data set and assigns a score, ranging, for example, from 0 to 99, to each item of IT equipment based on how that item compares to an associated threshold value. In one example a weighting value may be used in the generation of the score. The final score may be used to identify an item of IT equipment as being suitable for replacement. For example, the data processor  206  may identify a computer server having an average CPU utilization and memory utilization above a predetermined threshold level for over a predetermined duration as being suitable for replacement. 
         [0025]    In a further example, the data processor  206  may analyze the generated consolidated data set and assign a rank or score to each item of IT equipment based on how up-to-date the particular item of IT equipment is, or how up-to-date an operating system or application running on that item is. For example, an item of IT equipment having a previous version of a particular operating system may obtain a higher score than an item of IT equipment having the latest version of the operating system. 
         [0026]    In one example multiple characteristics and factors may be taken into account when assigning a score. 
         [0027]    In a further example the data processor  206  generates a visual representation of the consolidated dataset. A visual representation may include, for example, a textual or data view of the data, and a graphical view of the data. In one example, a graphical view may be generated using gridmaps, treemaps, or any other suitable visualization technique. The visual representation may be displayed, for example or a suitable computer display (not shown), using an interactive visualization application, such as a browser application, to an IT manager who may then use the visualization to browse the consolidated data set and to manually identify an item or items for replacement. The manually identified item may be sent, by the visualization application, to be received by the data processor  206 . 
         [0028]    Once an item of IT equipment to be replaced has been determined, the data processor  206  determines ( 308 ) a minimum set of characteristics that a replacement item of IT equipment should have. For example, if the current item of IT equipment has 5 Gb of memory, has an associated memory usage threshold of 45%, and has an average actual memory usage of 50%, the data processor  206  may determine that a replacement item of IT equipment should have at least 7.5 Gb of memory to enable the average memory usage (based on current usage levels) to be 25% or some other predetermined percentage. 
         [0029]    At  310  the data processor  206  selects, using the identified minimum set of characteristics, an item of IT equipment described in an IT item database  208 . The database  208  comprises data relating to items of IT equipment available for purchase or order along with corresponding characteristics, such as technical characteristics or technical specifications, financial characteristics, and service characteristics. The data processor  206  may search the database  208  using the identified minimum set of characteristics as search keys. In one example the IT item database  208  may have a search interface (not shown) that enables the data processor  206  to identify, for example based on a closest match, best suitability, or other satisfactorily suitable replacement item of IT equipment. 
         [0030]    Once the data processor  206  has selected a replacement item of IT equipment a compatibility checker module  210  determines ( 312 ) whether the selected replacement item is compatible with other items of IT equipment  102  in the IT infrastructure. Compatibility may be determined in a number of different manners. In one example, the infrastructure view generator  204  may determine that one item of IT equipment is linked in some way to or has a dependency on another item of IT equipment. Such information may be detailed in, or be derivable from, the previously generated consolidated dataset. Accordingly, the data processor  206  checks compatibility with any IT equipment linked to or associated with an identified item of IT equipment. 
         [0031]    For example, a first application running on a first computer server may provide data to a second application running on a second computer server. In such a case, if the first server is replaced with a new server running a later version of an operating system on which the first application is not able to run, it can be determined that replacement computer server is not compatible. 
         [0032]    If the compatibility checker  210  determines that the selected replacement item is not compatible, it informs ( 312 ) the data processor  206  which then selects ( 310 ) an alternative item of IT equipment from the IT item database  208 . An alternative item may be selected in a similar manner to the way in which the original replacement item was selected, ensuring that the originally selected replacement item is not re-selected. 
         [0033]    In a further example, in case of non-compatibility the data processor  206  may determine whether any linked items may additionally be selected as being suitable for being replaced. 
         [0034]    In one example, at this point the selected replacement item (or items) may be ordered automatically through a procurement system (not shown). 
         [0035]    In a further example a report is generated for an IT manager detailing the item identified to be replaced and the replacement item chosen from the IT item database, to enable an IT manager to verify the selection and to manually place an order using an appropriate procurement system (not shown). 
         [0036]    The above-described examples enable the planning module  202  to select an item of IT equipment to replace an existing item of IT equipment such that the replacement item meets the current usage requirements of the selected item. 
         [0037]    In a further example, however, a modeling module  212  is used to help ensure that the selected replacement item is a suitable choice taking into account projected future characteristics of the IT infrastructure  100 , as described below with further reference to  FIG. 3   b.    
         [0038]    At block  314  the modeling module  212  estimates or calculates projected characteristics of different items of IT equipment  102  at some point in the future. In one example, the modeling module  212  determines a set of future minimum characteristics at a future point in time of the selected replacement item selected in block  310 . 
         [0039]    The estimated characteristics may be derived, for example, by deriving future projections based on historical data relating to different ones of the item of IT equipment  102 . For example, for each or multiple items of IT equipment  102  a trend may be determinable for a particular characteristic or characteristics, and a future projection may be made based on the determined trend. For example, if historical data shows that, for a given server, processor usage has increased 5% per year for the last 3 years, the modeling module  212  may determine that this trend will continue for the coming years. In one example historical data may be stored in a CMDB or other suitable repository. 
         [0040]    The modeling module  212  therefore determines ( 314 ) a projected or estimated consolidated dataset or view at a future point in time. In one example, the future point in time is selected by an IT manager and may, for instance, be a time period from 1 to 5 years. In other examples a longer or shorter period may be chosen. 
         [0041]    At  316  the compatibility checker module  210  determines whether the replacement item of IT equipment selected in block  310  is compatible with the projected future state of the IT infrastructure  100 . If the compatibility checker  210  determines that the selected item of IT equipment is not compatible the data processor  206  determines ( 318 ) a new or updated set of characteristics that would be suitable, and these are used to select an alternative item in block  318 . Compatibility may be determined, for example, using techniques similar to those described above. 
         [0042]    Otherwise, at block  320 , the data processor  206  determines whether the selected replacement item is compatible with the other items of IT equipment in the projected future state of the IT infrastructure  100 . If no, a new replacement item is selected at block  318 . Otherwise, the selected replacement item is deemed to be a suitable replacement item, having taken into account current and present IT infrastructure characteristics, as well as having taken into account the characteristics of other items of IT infrastructure in the IT infrastructure  100 . 
         [0043]    In a further example, once a replacement item of IT equipment has been selected the modeling module  212  updates ( 322 ) the projected state of the IT infrastructure  100  including characteristics of the selected replacement item, and the process returns to block  306  to identify a further item of IT equipment that is suitable for replacement. 
         [0044]    In this way multiple items of replacement IT equipment may be selected one-by-one in which each replacement item is checked to ensure both compatibility with future requirements for that item, as well as ensuring compatibility with other items in the IT infrastructure. 
         [0045]    In a yet further example the planning module  202  generates an output of the projected state of the IT infrastructure generated at block  322  in a suitable format. For example, a suitable format may be a file or document using a markup language such as XML. In another example, the planning module may provide a visual representation of the projected state of the IT infrastructure generated at block  322 , for example using a treemap, gripmap, or other suitable visualization technique. In this way, an IT manager can view and browse the projected state of the IT infrastructure to make additional planning or management decisions. 
         [0046]    In a still further example the planning module  202  determines whether an item determined as being suitable for replacement may be upgraded, for example by adding or changing components such as memory components, storage components, networking components, etc. rather than replaced with a new replacement item. In this case, the data processor  206  may, at block  310 , identify one or more components from an IT component database (not shown) the addition of which would enable an existing item of IT equipment to meet the minimum set of characteristics determined at block  308 . 
         [0047]    In a further example, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , at least part of the planning module  202  may be implemented using a microprocessor  402  coupled, via a communication bus  404 , to an input/output module  406 , a datastore  408 , and a memory  410 . The datastore  408  stores IT equipment catalog data. The memory  410  stores infrastructure view generator instructions  412 , data processor instructions  414 , compatibility checker instructions  416 , and modeling module instructions  418 . The instructions  412 ,  414 ,  416 , and  418  are processor understandable instructions that when executed by the processor  402  provide functionality of a planning module as described above. 
         [0048]    It will be appreciated that examples of the present invention can be realized in the form of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. As described above, any such software may be stored in the form of volatile or non-volatile storage such as, for example, a storage device like a ROM, whether erasable or rewritable or not, or in the form of memory such as, for example, RAM, memory chips, device or integrated circuits or on an optically or magnetically readable medium such as, for example, a CD, DVD, magnetic disk or magnetic tape. It will be appreciated that the storage devices and storage media are examples of machine-readable storage that are suitable for storing a program or programs that, when executed, implement examples of the principles described herein. Examples may be conveyed electronically via any medium such as a communication signal carried over a wired or wireless connection and examples suitably encompass the same. 
         [0049]    All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. 
         [0050]    Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.