General

VA Linux Debuts Remote Management System

VA Linux 100 manages 1U server farms with powerful VACM technology—eliminates need to spend valuable tech time trying to locate a specific node in a large server cluster.

by ISP-Planet Staff [March 22, 2001]

VA Linux Systems, Inc. this week introduced its remote management solution for 1U server farms dubbed the VA Linux 100.

Leveraging its cluster management software, the VA Linux 100 turns racks of VA Linux 1120 and 1220 1U servers into unified server arrays, enabling systems administrators to manage networks securely from anywhere in the world.

The compact VA Linux 100 features server power management capabilities and a built-in LCD interface for easy access to system information. Each VA Linux 100 can manage up to 42 server nodes and multiple VA Linux 100 systems can be managed through a single VACM interface.

Server sweeper
The Linux distributor's VACM—pronounced vacuum—program is a powerful yet flexible tool for monitoring and managing a large cluster of nodes. VACM sweeps the nodes for status information and displays it all on the system administrator's desktop in an easy to view format. The administrator can then perform many important tasks to keep the cluster running at peak performance without leaving their station.

Ali Jenab, VA Linux Systems president and chief operating officer, said secure, remote infrastructure management is critical for its enterprise-class customers.

VA Linux 100 Unit.

"Used with our 1120 and 1220 servers, VACM and the VA Linux 100 are designed to manage thousands of servers distributed among data centers," Jenab said.

The Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) is a high-energy, particle physics research branch of the renowned learning institution. SLAC selected VA Linux to provide a cluster of 280 1U servers and then deployed VA Linux 100 systems to provide systems management for its network.

Chuck Boeheim, assistant director of SLAC Computing Services, explained that remote management is critical to its program, which operates over 1,000 servers in a lights-out environment.

"VA Linux had the most complete cluster management package that we evaluated," Boeheim said. "It was also the most affordable solution we were offered, and along with VA's outstanding Linux software expertise, it was the clear choice for us."

Pricing and availability
The VA Linux 100 is a system monitoring and management device for the VA Linux 1120 and 1220 servers, currently available for shipping at $995 U.S. Whether down the hall or half way around the world this small, paperback size unit allows administrators to efficiently manage entire racks of production servers.

The VA Linux 100 provides out-of-band power management that is critical for operation of a lights-out data center. Administrators can view the power state of each system, turn it on/off, reset, detect fan alarms and physically identify a unit on site by flashing the system's indicator light. The VA 1220 also supports remote access to the console and BIOS settings. The VA Linux 100 is part of a comprehensive management solution that includes VACM and VA SystemImager software. One caveat—the system requires use with VACM 2.0.4 or later.

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