Rack mount per outlet metered PDU socket inventory in DCO

[DCIM_Support]

I have couple of rack mount per outlet metered PDU in my environment.

Is there any custom solution how I can create an inventory about which device is connected to which PDU socket?

I think it is not just interesting for outlet metered PDU. On a standard basic

APC PDU the outlets are numbered and it would worth to know which outlet is allocated to which device.

(CID:132651187)

[DCIM_Support]

Hi Mate,

Currently that's not supported, I can capture a feature request for you? Might not be so practical, but perhaps using custom properties could help a little.

Kind regards

(CID:132651245)

[DCIM_Support]

Work around then,manual mapping using custom properties per what Jef said:create 2 custom properties template

1.for rack pdu outlet at rack pdu itself,to track which outlet is being used,or to which server.

2.On the individual server,to track the outlet number of the rack pdu.

Its manual and prone to entry error,still better than not tracking.

I would suggest to name the rack pdu outlet on the rpdu nmc itself,especially if this is switched outlet rpdu, to avoid switching the wrong outlet....

(CID:132651330)

[DCIM_Support]

Thank you both. I think create a future request would worth as I can see the upvotes not just me interested.

I also thought on custom properties but on PDU side it will be huge amount. For example on a PDU where I have 36 outlets I have to create:

• outlet1
• outlet2
• ...
• outlet36

Which means 36 custom properties only for a PDU?

(CID:132651349)

[DCIM_Support]

Hi Mate,

I have now registered this as a feature request for you - will send you a direct confirmation as well, thanks.

Kind regards

(CID:132651367)

[DCIM_Support]

On custom property of rack pdu itself,yes unfortunately 

Only one cp per server,set the cp template as a list of fixed number,so user can then just select when setting on server.

For rack pdu cp,yes per you said,each cp is for the outlet,to list which server it is connected,or at leat to tell if outlet is in use/available.

p.s did raise similar request previously, for the same reason as you....

(CID:132651378)

[DCIM_Support]

Hi Mate

As others have suggested, if you do decide to try something, I recommend A) focusing on keeping the device to port mapping in one place only and B) ensuring it can be kept up to date.  There's no point starting if you can't pretty much guarantee B.  AFAIK there is no automated way to do either so there is risk involved - this only means that your reward must be sufficient to take the risk.

I would keep the detail on the rPDU (agree with Christopherus' comments above) but I would automate the writing to DCO.  You could use web service calls to read rPDU names from DCE (assuming its included), SNMP to get port/server info from each rPDU and web service calls to write the rPDU name and outlet number to a custom property on the DCO device.

For giggles, it might work something like this.....

• user (thats you) maintains a text list of all the rPDU model types that are switched
  • could work with APC as well as 3rd party switched  rPDUs!
  • could maintain a list of the rPDU names but I reckon easier this way
• user ensures the rPDU SNMP / DNS names are unique and matches the name in DCO
  • should be standard practice
• user ensures the unique DNS names of the connected servers (short or FQDN) are unique and set
  • again should be standard practice.

• The process (to read DCE and write DCO) runs as often as required via cron on DCO server 
  • Gets the list of all rPDU names by model name from DCE
  • Knows the SNMP objects (OIDs) that hold the server names
    • I don't believe DCE holds the info? so have to read from rPDU
  • Reads the port number / server name list
  • Writes the rPDU name and port number to the device in DCO
    • perhaps checking the device is in the same rack as the rPDU?
    • perhaps alerting for server names set on the rPDU which aren't in DCO?
    • perhaps alerting for DCO servers in racks with switched rPDUs that aren't set on rPDU?
  • Logs activity / send email summary 

Just thinking out loud.  Let me know if you'd like to have a go.

Cheers

Ed

(CID:132651605)

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