Modeling in IT Expert

[JLehr]

IT Expert subscribers and trial users can model rooms and racks using basic floor and rack editors in IT Expert.

The Modeling option is available to all users to manage the location hierarchy. No other modeling features are available without a subscription, including assigning genomes to devices.

Note: If you set up any modeling during a trial but did not purchase a subscription, you can view the preview of your models only.

  Watch the video: Room and Rack visuals in IT Expert

To model your organization:

• Create locations.
• Move devices into locations.
• Associate genomes with devices if necessary.
• Use the floor editor to create rows and racks and to place floor mounted devices in the model.
• Use the rack editor to place devices in a rack in the model.

Modeling overview

  3:25  Modeling overview

Icons in the location hierarchy

-  Group   -  Site    -  Building    -  Room

- Click to open the room or rack editor  - Click to zoom to a row, rack, or device    - Device not yet placed on the room floor      - Device not yet placed in a rack     - No genome assigned to the device.             Click to assign a genome to the device.

About locations

  9:12  Edit hierarchy from modeling view

Create or edit locations

Click the toggle to create or edit locations. You can create groups, sites, buildings, and rooms.

Note: You create rows and racks in the floor editor.

Click the pencil icon to edit or delete an existing location. Click the plus icon to add a location.

To move devices into locations:

• Click the devices(s) and drag into a location in the hierarchy on the Modeling tab
• Select the device(s) and move them into locations on the Devices tab.

When you delete a location, any sublocations and devices move up to the level above the deleted location. For example, if you delete a location that is directly under All locations, any sublocations and devices will move into All locations.

How to create locations in IT Expert 

About genomes

  6:40  Device without an assigned genome

Modeling in IT Expert uses the same Genome Library as IT Advisor. At this time, you cannot import your genomes or other data from IT Advisor into IT Expert.

What is a genome?

A genome defines the physical properties of a device, such as dimensions or power requirements.

Select a location to see its map and how many devices at that location have genomes assigned.

Genomes must be assigned to devices before they can be placed in the floor or rack editor. 

IT Expert matches discovered devices to their genomes whenever possible. You can manually assign a genome to a device if necessary.

1. Click Assign genome.
2. Select the device to assign a genome. You assign genomes one device at a time. 
3. Select the appropriate genome. You can filter the list to narrow the selection.
4. View the device properties of the genome and Confirm.

About the floor editor

  12:26 Floor editor overview

Select a room and click the icon to open the floor editor   or click the button in the room preview.

Filter

Filter the list of assets by one or more options:

• Unplaced floor mountable devices (default)
• Unplaced rack mountable devices
• Missing genome

Hover over a node in the tree to zoom to that asset.   

Tools in the floor editor

Select a tool on the left side of the page to create and view the model.

- Select	Click an unplaced row or rack in the list and drag it to the floor. Snap it to the grid, and click to place. Move items on the floor. Move racks into rows.
- Pan	Move the floor to better view it.
- Create	Create a row or rack. The row or rack sticks to the cursor. Snap it to the grid, and click to place.
- Undo  - Redo	Undo or redo your last action
Zoom	Zoom in, out, and to fit
History	View the history of changes

Select a rack and right click to access options:

• Edit properties
• Unplace
• Open in rack editor
• Delete

Floor editor properties

View and edit the properties on the right of the page for the selected room, row, rack, or other asset.

- Information	General information about the selection such as model and manufacturer
-  Physical	Physical properties for the selection such as dimensions Select Edit properties to change the genome for the rack if needed.
- Rack preview	Opens the rack preview when a rack is selected in the list

About the rack editor

  18:38  Rack editor overview

Select a rack and click the icon to open the rack editor or click the button in the rack preview.

Hover over a node in the tree to zoom to that asset   or launch the rack editor.  

Filter

Filter the list of assets by one or more options:

• Unplaced floor mountable devices (default)
• Unplaced rack mountable devices
• Missing genome

Create server

For modeling purposes only, you can create servers in the rack editor that are not discovered by an EcoStruxure IT Gateway. All other device types must be discovered by a Gateway to be modeled.

Servers created in the rack editor using a genome are not monitored by IT Expert.

To create a server:

1. Select the rack where you want to place the server.
2. Click the Create tool.  
3. Select Server.
4. Search for and select the genome for the server.
5. Click Create.
6. Drag the server to place it in the rack.

You can model front and rear rack positions. Depth is not considered at this time; only one device can be placed per U position.

Tools in the rack editor

Select a tool on the left of the page to create and view the model.

- Select	Click a rack or server in the list to view its properties.
- Create	Create a server.  Snap it to the grid, and click to place. Note: Servers created in the rack editor using a genome are not monitored by IT Expert.
- Undo  - Redo	Undo or redo your last action
History	View the history of changes

Right click the rack to access options:

• Edit properties
• Unplace

Rack editor properties

View and edit the properties for the selected rack or other asset on the right of the page.

- Information	General information about the selection such as model, manufacturer
-  Physical	Physical properties for the selection such as dimensions. Change the U order for the rack. Default rack U order is decending order. Change the genome for the rack if needed.

[aseams]

Changing room dimensions produces the error "Input has to be a number", even if it is a number. Was any of this tested?

[grybak]

Where do I start? So let me start with the basics:

• Cannot adjust room dimensions (even retyping default numbers throws an error)
• Genome (models) library is missing entire group of device types: network switches
• No custom room shapes (not every room is a square)

[JLehr]

Hi Greg,

Thanks for your feedback about the new Modeling feature. I'll pass it along to the team.

You can also share feedback directly in ITE. Click the ? icon in the upper right then select Feedback.

Best,

Jackie

[JLehr]

Hi @aseams and @grybak,

This issue you both reported about room dimensions has been addressed.

This is the first iteration of modeling in IT Expert. Watch for improvements in the future.

Best,

Jackie